Moms to be Part 4

[Piecey]

Oh yeah, I told DH no taking off the week I'm in!
He did take the day after since he didn't get home until after midnight, but it worked out since I was discharged on Saturday instead of Friday. Originally, he was scheduled to take my discharge day off.

This time around he'll just take the day the baby is born and the next week. My mom might end up taking more time... she is irritated at only getting 2wks vacation and not being allowed to take unpaid leave so I think she plans to utilize FMLA
I guess I'm the odd one out, but I'm going to ask my OB to leave me in an extra day. I had Lucas on a Wednesday, went home on a Saturday and waaay overdid it. Of course, I also labored a really long time like Christina which everyone says makes recovery much worse.
If I'm in the hospital, I won't overdo it. I'll wait to see how I feel but I plan to ask to stay the extra day.
My insurance covers maternity/prenatal care at 100% of everything... and they pay for 4 day hospital stay with a c-section. So, why not? I didn't mind the hospital, and if it keeps me from doing anything stupid at home I should probably do it. It might also depend on what day she does the c-section, too... because that would obviously change what day I am discharged. We have still yet to figure out care for DS while I'm in the hospital!!

 

[DMickey28]

Patsy - I am all about milking the hospital stay for all it's worth! I'll be bringing some movies, my kindle, the computer and plan on only having visitors for a little time throughout the day. I am also going to take advantage of the nursery at night for DS#2 so I can sleep. I am looking forward to being in the hospital!!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I had such an awful experience in the hospital - maybe I would have liked it better if I hadn't.

My primary day nurse kept hitting on my DH in front of me, the lactation consultant was a nasty piece of work, and the nurses forgot to give me my pain meds the night right after my section. Eek! I was happy to go home. I am trying a different hospital this time around.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Hi All
What "items" do you consider "must-have's"? What should we be sure we have before baby arrives? and what can wait a little while but we should still put on our must buy list?
Note: I will be unable to BF

I am glad I am not the only one who has people telling her not to buy things yet - I can't help it I see a great clearance deal and I just get one in pink and one in blue!

I don't have many must-haves. So many things I thought I *NEEDED*... I didn't even use.
-One thing I liked having was a diaper basket in the main rooms with cream, diapers, and wipes. That way I'm not running to the "changing" room for every change. I still don't understand changing tables!
-I swear everyone and their brother told me to buy a Bumbo... DD hated it, I sold the darn thing!
-A foamy pad for the bathtub. We got three, yes three, bathtubs for my baby shower (I didn't register for one! for a reason!) They were such a PITA. We used the little foam pads for the bathtub and it worked like a charm. Minimal clean up, just drain the tub and wring it out. Easy peasy.
-Oh! a sling/carrier type thing. I have a small collection at this point, I love them.
-EXERSAUCER! We used ours until DD was almost two, she loved it. It was her "spot." She hated the high chair and would climb out (yep, unbuckle too) so we just fed her in the exersaucer.


I guess that's it really... everything else is just a bonus. Some thigns just collect dust!

Thanks for this tip! What a great carseat. DD is only 26#, so not ready for a booster seat, but not far from it. I like that this is a 3-in-1. The new baby is going to get the Britax from the moment he/she comes home from the hospital (I never did the carriers - it's too heavy for me to carry so why bother!?).

I had a scheduled c-section and he set it for 39w. A little early to avoid going into labor, but giving baby enough time to grow. I guess it depends on the doctor - I guess some might.

I don't really want to use the carrier either. I might use it as a stationary car seat for a few months but I'll be darned if I'm lugging that thing all over. I got our Roundabout already so I'm stoked!

We had stroller drama here today too! DH glances at instructions and guesses by the picture how to put stuff together. Fine for an end table from IKEA or something but doesn't translate for strollers, so he is yelling, calling it "crap", etc..... I can laugh now that it's done and he's not annoying me anymore We got our new car yesterday so I wanted the boxes with stroller, stroller bassinet and car seat out of my house! Plus it helps me to relax having stuff off my "baby checklist" done. Tonight I am getting him to put together the changing table (it's one of those with drawers that doubles as a dresser) so I can start putting diapers and clothes in it. It's funny, he's been complaining about the pile up of baby stuff but doesn't necessarily want to do anything to help me get rid of it, but then again won't allow me to lift or do anything myself. I'm on dr. restriction for lifting, driving, etc..... although I did break the driving one today to try driving the new car through our neighborhood.

Yay on the new car! I know how you feel about the "baby checklist." I just want it all checked off already!! Gah!! (I'm so not a planner, either... weird. I guess this is just now I "nest."

Dh complains about the "stuff" too, including DD's toys. A-nnoying!

Becky, I didn't know you cloth diapered. We are cloth diapering and get a ton of grief for it. People are constantly saying that we wont be able to, we won't stick to it and it's "gross". They get pretty insulted when i remind them that my parents cloth diapered three kids and used the kind with pins and we're only having one and our diapers have snaps...

I am scheduled for a c-section next Thursday (a week from tomorrow) I'll be 36 weeks so they had me go in for steriod shots on mon and yesterday. They hurt. I wasn't overjoyed by that but if they help her lungs grow, I guess it's okay. They said that she should be about 4.5 lbs when she's born. I can't wait. I'm very ready for her to come

OMG! A week!! a week!! Awesome, awesome, awesome. I think I got a few steroid shots with DD, too. Ouch!!

Any moms here use gDiapers? It's like a combo between a cloth and a disposable, and the disposable parts are flushable and/or compostable. They also have cloth inserts. I'm gonna give it a go. Doing the strictly disposable inserts would be slightly more expensive than normal disposables, so I'll probably do a combo of the cloth and disposable. I hope my daycare will buy into it.

They looks so cool but DH nixed the idea. Ah well.

This is a tip for all the C-section mamas - my sister is really into natural healing and she had a c-section with her last child and recommended taking Arnica tablets after my c-section. It is all natural and helps swelling go down. I really think it helped. A week after my c-section I was at the mall with my mom and within a few days I was already feeling close to normal. I took it in addition to the Darvocet/Motrin combo my OB prescribed.

Ohh good idea. I like that idea, I've taken Arnica for muscle soreness before, it works! Can't complain about the Darvocet, either.

Hmmm... I was up and moving around after my c-section though I probably shouldn't have been.

I am so not the type of person who can sit still. So, when we needed formula for DS and my prescriptions filled we went to Walmart after my discharge. I still can't believe I went walking through Walmart 3 days post-op. I'll let DH handle that this time!!

DH only took the week after off (I was discharged on a Saturday, he took the next M-F) and I remember one of those days we went vaccum cleaner shopping. I just couldn't sit at home.
I pushed myself too far at times...

I was at Walmart 3 days after DD's birth too.

Funny story with that was I didn't have any clothes washed because my mom and basically everyone I talked to (well, non-medical people) said I was going to go to term. (HA-- she was born 35w6d) Well I listened, and I didn't have any clothes for DD at the hospital. Luckily they had some clothes for DD at the hospital, but ugh, I felt awful! SO I got DD a few sleepers at Walmart and somehow the hospital got them washed for me

 

[Piecey]

Patsy - I am all about milking the hospital stay for all it's worth! I'll be bringing some movies, my kindle, the computer and plan on only having visitors for a little time throughout the day. I am also going to take advantage of the nursery at night for DS#2 so I can sleep. I am looking forward to being in the hospital!!

I took DVDs and didn't watch a one. I lived on my laptop. I still remember my OB walking in one morning and saying "That had better not be work!" Nope! I was e-mailing pictures. She said that was allowed.

I sent Lucas to the nursery every night. Maybe I'm a bad mom, but I had zero interest in rooming in with him. They brought him back to me after the pediatrician saw him in the morning.

I had such an awful experience in the hospital - maybe I would have liked it better if I hadn't.

My primary day nurse kept hitting on my DH in front of me, the lactation consultant was a nasty piece of work, and the nurses forgot to give me my pain meds the night right after my section. Eek! I was happy to go home. I am trying a different hospital this time around.

That stinks!! Hopefully you have better luck this time around!
I had 1 issue during my stay. The nursery nurse called and YELLED at me because Lucas wouldn't stop crying and she "didn't have time to deal with him" and she wanted me to come get him because she couldn't leave the nursery. So I said I'd come get him after my shower. Well, I got out of the shower and MY nurse told me I couldn't leave because my OB had come to see me and told her not to let me go anywhere once I got out (she had to get to her practice!)... and while I was waiting on my OB to come back the nursery nurse called me back and yelled at me because I hadn't gotten DS yet! I was fuming!
I told my favorite nurse that night about it and she sighed and said she wasn't surprised but she was also glad I told her.

That was also the night of my stork dinner... DS was supposed to be kept in the nursery for it so I called the nursery nurse to see if I should bring him or if she'd come get him. She said she'd come so she comes in and goes "He's not crying" I was like "Nope. He hasn't made a peep since I got him from you this morning!" She looked like she'd been smacked!
Then she left him in the room with us instead of taking him with her.

I don't have many must-haves. So many things I thought I *NEEDED*... I didn't even use.
-One thing I liked having was a diaper basket in the main rooms with cream, diapers, and wipes. That way I'm not running to the "changing" room for every change. I still don't understand changing tables!
-I swear everyone and their brother told me to buy a Bumbo... DD hated it, I sold the darn thing!
-A foamy pad for the bathtub. We got three, yes three, bathtubs for my baby shower (I didn't register for one! for a reason!) They were such a PITA. We used the little foam pads for the bathtub and it worked like a charm. Minimal clean up, just drain the tub and wring it out. Easy peasy.
-Oh! a sling/carrier type thing. I have a small collection at this point, I love them.
-EXERSAUCER! We used ours until DD was almost two, she loved it. It was her "spot." She hated the high chair and would climb out (yep, unbuckle too) so we just fed her in the exersaucer.

Funny story with that was I didn't have any clothes washed because my mom and basically everyone I talked to (well, non-medical people) said I was going to go to term. (HA-- she was born 35w6d) Well I listened, and I didn't have any clothes for DD at the hospital. Luckily they had some clothes for DD at the hospital, but ugh, I felt awful! SO I got DD a few sleepers at Walmart and somehow the hospital got them washed for me

I LOVE my changing table. It makes life much easier, I think. DH even carries him up and down the stairs at night to change him. Though, Lucas has a million creams like I said before... and it'd be impossible to have 1 of each of them in every room. I don't carry him upstairs if he's down, I just change him on the ottoman.

Crazy about the clothes, too! I was told not to put Lucas into anything other than the hospital gear unless it was for a picture or to go home. They provided cotton outfits.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

AHhh funny this comes up, too. DH taking off the week that I was in the hospital waiting for DD was another mistake we made too. Again, at my mother's insistence. UGH! She keeps assuming everything is going to go like a natural (V) birth and DD was going to come home with us. Umm, that didn't happen. I'm no longer listening to her.

This time, I'm really really hoping to get scheduled on a Thursday, DH takes off Thurs and Fri, and by Monday, I'll ask my aunt (she's retired) or maybe MIL to help for a few days. I want to save DH's days off for when I *really* need him, and WDW in December of course

Oh! On a good note, my mom has been acting weird, as I've said before. I think she knows she's acting weird because she's been trying to buy me a "gift." She keeps asking what I want-- I can only think of baby things, lol. Anywho, finally yesterday I told her I want a 3D ultrasound to find out what the heck this baby is. The impatience is really getting to me! SO she agreed. Cool. She feels less guilty because she buys me something, I get a ultrasound. This is the odd way our relationship works. Seems to work that way with FIL too, but I digress.

What's a good week to get a good glimpse of the little hotdog or cheeseburger? Would you get a definite answer with a 3d/4d u/s at 17 weeks? 18 weeks? The suspense is killing me!!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Oh those carrier car seats are a beast!! I have all these friends who used those constantly and would carry them around like purses. I lifted one once and I was like, oh heck no. I couldn't believe how heavy it was.

We used the Marathons from day one too with DS. I am only considering getting a "beast" this time to save money.

 

[Piecey]

I think Christina did her 3D at 16 weeks, but I'm sure she can come on and post for sure!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

AHhh funny this comes up, too. DH taking off the week that I was in the hospital waiting for DD was another mistake we made too. Again, at my mother's insistence. UGH! She keeps assuming everything is going to go like a natural (V) birth and DD was going to come home with us. Umm, that didn't happen. I'm no longer listening to her.

This time, I'm really really hoping to get scheduled on a Thursday, DH takes off Thurs and Fri, and by Monday, I'll ask my aunt (she's retired) or maybe MIL to help for a few days. I want to save DH's days off for when I *really* need him, and WDW in December of course

Oh! On a good note, my mom has been acting weird, as I've said before. I think she knows she's acting weird because she's been trying to buy me a "gift." She keeps asking what I want-- I can only think of baby things, lol. Anywho, finally yesterday I told her I want a 3D ultrasound to find out what the heck this baby is. The impatience is really getting to me! SO she agreed. Cool. She feels less guilty because she buys me something, I get a ultrasound. This is the odd way our relationship works. Seems to work that way with FIL too, but I digress.

What's a good week to get a good glimpse of the little hotdog or cheeseburger? Would you get a definite answer with a 3d/4d u/s at 17 weeks? 18 weeks? The suspense is killing me!!

How exciting!!!! I think 18 weeks is when they feel you can definitely see the "goods". I've heard people who found out as early as 14-15 weeks though so who knows. I am dying of curiousity though!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Oh those carrier car seats are a beast!! I have all these friends who used those constantly and would carry them around like purses. I lifted one once and I was like, oh heck no. I couldn't believe how heavy it was.

We used the Marathons from day one too with DS. I am only considering getting a "beast" this time to save money.

OMG they are a beast! I was able to carry it, but man, it sucked. Not doing that again! I can't imagine lugging one and controlling a 3 year old. HAHA. That's the funniest joke ever.

How exciting!!!! I think 18 weeks is when they feel you can definitely see the "goods". I've heard people who found out as early as 14-15 weeks though so who knows. I am dying of curiousity though!

LOL, the "goods." I want to hold off as long as I can, I think that's about 3 weeks, max! I don't remember being this crazy about it last time... oh yeah, because I was throwing up 24/7.

I think Christina did her 3D at 16 weeks, but I'm sure she can come on and post for sure!

16 weeks, you say? Hmmmm... this gives me bad ideas!

 

[Piecey]

We used a carrier seat for DS until just a few weeks ago. It didn't bug me too much.

It'll get passed to this baby!

I'm pretty sure she did! She couldn't wait. DMickey28= Christina.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

OMG they are a beast! I was able to carry it, but man, it sucked. Not doing that again! I can't imagine lugging one and controlling a 3 year old. HAHA. That's the funniest joke ever.



LOL, the "goods." I want to hold off as long as I can, I think that's about 3 weeks, max! I don't remember being this crazy about it last time... oh yeah, because I was throwing up 24/7.



16 weeks, you say? Hmmmm... this gives me bad ideas!

I was just as crazy last time too. I have total respect for people who wait to be surprised when the baby is born because there is no way I have that much self-control.

3 weeks sounds totally reasonable to me.

We used a carrier seat for DS until just a few weeks ago. It didn't bug me too much.

It'll get passed to this baby!

I'm pretty sure she did! She couldn't wait. DMickey28= Christina.

You probably got really strong using it. My best friend has huge bicep muscles now from using hers.

 

[DMickey28]

I actually liked using the infant seat. I didn't find it too cumbersome and liked not having to move DS all the time. I'll use it this time as well.

Patsy - As we know, my hospital experience last time was not the greatest but I have very high hopes for this hospital. It's supposed to be great. I am hoping I don't get that one mean nurse that everyone always seems to have around.

We have a changing table on the pack n play down in the living room set up for changes too. I need more diaper cream though ... I think I have one tube. I don't know why!!

Mrs. Charming - I will have to go check the pictures but I had the gender U/S between 15/16 weeks. I think it was more towards 16 weeks though. There was NO QUESTION at that point it was a boy. I couldn't wait to find out either ... plus they gave me a 20% discount if I went back for the 3D U/S again later. If they couldn't get the shot they'd have you come back the next week and so on until you found it.

 

[Nette]

Here's another NO vote on the changing table. And I might be in the minority, but our diaper genie was a waste of money too... We just took out the kitchen trash a LOT.

All you previous C-section moms.... Did you have a day about a week after your section where a giant clot broke free and you were bleeding everywhere? I landed in the ER about 1 week after because I looked like I was hemorrhaging -- seriously, we were at a dr. appt (for DD) across the street from the hospital, and in the elevator on the way down the clot broke. By the time we got to the ER my shorts and the bath towel we had in the car were soaked through. -- The ER docs told me that is normal for a c-section... um, then why didn't my doctor tell me about it. Scared the crap outta me. So is it normal?

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Here's another NO vote on the changing table. And I might be in the minority, but our diaper genie was a waste of money too... We just took out the kitchen trash a LOT.

All you previous C-section moms.... Did you have a day about a week after your section where a giant clot broke free and you were bleeding everywhere? I landed in the ER about 1 week after because I looked like I was hemorrhaging -- seriously, we were at a dr. appt (for DD) across the street from the hospital, and in the elevator on the way down the clot broke. By the time we got to the ER my shorts and the bath towel we had in the car were soaked through. -- The ER docs told me that is normal for a c-section... um, then why didn't my doctor tell me about it. Scared the crap outta me. So is it normal?

I never had that. It must have been scary.

 

[Piecey]

Hmm... I remember bleeding a ton but I never soaked through anything. Mine came in spurts. I'd have massive bleeding then nothing for a day then more massive bleeding.

I didn't get a diaper genie either.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

No diaper genie here either. We just used plastic grocery bags to bag up the nasty diapers and brought them to the big can outside immediately.

 

[kpm76]

What's a good week to get a good glimpse of the little hotdog or cheeseburger? Would you get a definite answer with a 3d/4d u/s at 17 weeks? 18 weeks? The suspense is killing me!!

I had a regular u/s at 15w1d and the tech made a guess but we are not holding her to it since it was early. I have another u/s scheduled for Monday and I will be 18w1d so I am hoping to know for sure at that point.

Does you Dr order an anatomy scan at 18 weeks? If so, I would think they would be able to tell at that point, though my poor sister had 2 regular u/s and 2 level 2s before they were able to confirm for her.....

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Mrs. Charming - I will have to go check the pictures but I had the gender U/S between 15/16 weeks. I think it was more towards 16 weeks though. There was NO QUESTION at that point it was a boy. I couldn't wait to find out either ... plus they gave me a 20% discount if I went back for the 3D U/S again later. If they couldn't get the shot they'd have you come back the next week and so on until you found it.

Ohhh I am getting really bad ideas. I don't think I'm going to make it until 18 weeks!! LOL

Here's another NO vote on the changing table. And I might be in the minority, but our diaper genie was a waste of money too... We just took out the kitchen trash a LOT.

All you previous C-section moms.... Did you have a day about a week after your section where a giant clot broke free and you were bleeding everywhere? I landed in the ER about 1 week after because I looked like I was hemorrhaging -- seriously, we were at a dr. appt (for DD) across the street from the hospital, and in the elevator on the way down the clot broke. By the time we got to the ER my shorts and the bath towel we had in the car were soaked through. -- The ER docs told me that is normal for a c-section... um, then why didn't my doctor tell me about it. Scared the crap outta me. So is it normal?

We had a diaper genie at first... man that thing stunk like holy he**. We ditched it around 3 months. We just hang a grocery bag on the door handle and bring everything to the dumpster every day or two. I saved all of our grocery store produce bags for the poopie diapers, worked like a charm.

I don't remember having bleeding like that. I bled, but it was kind of steady, like a medium-heavy period. A week after she was born, we were running back and forth to the NICU, my body didnt have a chance to give me a hard time! I'd probably have panicked! Well I'm going to keep that under my hat for this time, but I'm still going to the ER for bleeding like that!

 

[ZPT1022]

We loved infant nightgowns versus the sleepers - much easier to change diapers.

Oh yes, LOVE those! As long as you're not going out those are wonderful for around the house too! It's sooo much easier to change a diaper without dealing with all the snaps and stuff from those little outfits