The Official New Mom Thread

[lissawynn]

Morning! Three hours of summer school down, 27 more to go! I hate to say this, but I have to share. I think some of my students have decided showering is not a summer activity. Ick. Last year when I was pg and teaching summer school, the smell of certain students had me running to the bathroom while gagging. I guess I can tolerate it for this week.

I am trying to check out the new Gymboree stuff, but I haven't been successful just yet. I'm going to find the new line one way or another!

I got my Maclaren stroller on Saturday. Talk about light and easy to push. I have to figure out how to adjust the straps so Jimmy doesn't take a header. We're headed back to BRU this week for Jimmy's new car sear. My chubba bubba has only 2lbs. more until he's too big for the other seat. I wish I had know much of this stuff before registering. I would have picked a different seat and stroller the first time around.

Alice28 The whole Budwiser/military stuff is great. I hope your DH gets his message from his family. If you son's school is like mine, the beer name on the bracelet will be a no-no. He can wear it all summer, though.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Hi, ladies! Well, I took Kylie to see her new pediatrician today. I wanted a 2nd opinion since the other dr. said she didn't even have thrush. Well, 2nd opinion confirmed that she doesn't. I was originally told she did but now I am being told she doesn't. This dr. said sometimes the milk coating looks like thrush when it isn't which apparently is what has happened with Kylie. So, that is a huge load off of me! Although she did say that a lot of the stuff the other dr. had told me about thrush was false so I was at least halfway right to think he didn't know what he was talking about...even if he was right that she doesn't have thrush. Other good news is that this was the pediatrician and clinic I originally had wanted to take Kylie to to begin with and she was booked until October. Well, she went ahead and got me an appt. for next month when Kylie will be 2 months old. (I am still keeping my Oct. appt. though since she said we could just use that as her late 4 month check up although she will actually be 5 months then.) So I no longer have to go to the other clinic which is great since I was less than thrilled with the dr. or the nurse there. I seem to have better luck with the female doctors around here and this is no exception since Kylie's pediatrician is a female and I really liked her. Only thing I dread about next month's appt. is that Kylie will be getting her first set of shots. Well, she had 1 round of the Hepatitis B shot the day after she was born in the hospital but they did that in the nursery and I didn't have to witness it. This time I will actually have to see her get the shots! Those of you that have been there, done that, what should I do about pain relief for her? The pediatrician said it was up to me, that I could give her some tylenol before the shot or I could wait and give it to her later after I see how it affects her. I want to give it to her ahead of time just to be on the safe side. When should I give it to her? Right before the shot or is that waiting too long? Would an hour ahead of time be too soon? Any advice is welcome since I can't stand the idea of her being in pain if I can avoid it!

On another note I go for my 6 week checkup on Thurs. I can't believe it has been 6 weeks already! So I have a question about that. I was going to see about getting back on birth control pills but now I am thinking about seeing about the shot instead. Anyone ever taken the shot instead? How often do you have to get it? Would you recommend it or would you stick with bc pills? I am going to discuss all of this with my NP on Thurs. too of course but wondered if any of you could tell me anything about it in advance. Well, have a great day everyone!

 

[floridafam]

Tasha&Scott,

Kona has to get her first set of shots next week.

I would ask the ped about pain relief. I don't remember if they are old enough to have tylenol yet or not.

When my DD was in the hospital last summer, the nurses rubbed a cream on her arm or leg before she had to have blood drawn or have a shot. They said it really works for the pain. I wish I remembered the name of it now. My DD even remarked about how well it worked.

On the topic of shots, Kona is due for 4, I think. I usually only let my kids get 2 at a time. If they happen to have a reaction, then it is easier to know what shot it is coming from. Does anyone else do this? 4 shots at a time just seems like overkill.

I'm glad to hear Kylie doesn't have thrush!

 

[lissawynn]

Tasha+Scott I gave Jimmy Tylenol before he got his first round of shots. I think the dr. told me to give him a dropper full. I'm not quite sure, though. I gave him Tylenol last week when he got his four shots at his 4 mo. appt. He did get a fever and was really cranky the next day.
About the pill... I went back on it after my 6 week appt. I couldn't remember to take the thing to save my life! I just started the patch yesterday. So far, so good. I only have to remember to put it on for 3 weeks, then a week off. I should be able to remember to do that.

My sister just called. My DD is at her house helping install her son's a/c, so he took Jimmy with him (he's watching Jimmy while I'm teaching summer school). Jimmy has a slight fever, won't eat his veggies, and has green gook coming out of his nose. I feel terrible for him! I wish I could leave here right now, but I have an hour left with the kids.

Have any of you ever given your baby a decongestant? I saw them in the drugstore, and I think he's old enough to take it. I'd check with his dr. first, but I was just wondering what you've done.

 

[Alice28]

Where to begin...

Tasha- definitely give Kylie some Tylenol 1 hour before your appt. If you do it right before if won't do any good.

Decongestant- Jimmy is old enough for it; there are some infant brands out there; right now my brain is stalling on what it's called. I know I gave some to Molly a couple weeks ago.

B.C.- the shots you get every 3 months I believe. I stopped taking them cause I didn't care for the side effects (lack of any sort of libido...and this was a year postpartum...not just a couple months when hardly any new moms are interested). My cervix is too wacky to do a diaphragm anymore....so, when DH gets home he is getting snipped. We're done at 3, thankyouverymuch.

 

[justhat]

We do all the shots in the same visit, whether it's 1 or 4. At first, my husband wanted to do 2 and then go back another day for the other 2, but the nurse said "why make her go through the pain twice?" Which was a good point. Yeah, 4 of them will hurt, but she's already in pain from the 1st 1, so might as well get it all over with at once. It does make sense to split them though if you're afraid of a reaction.

We did the Tylenol the 1st couple of times, but now we don't and she's fine. She generally lets out a little yell when they stick her, but then she's fine, and sometimes she doesn't even cry at all. The worst thing ever was the blood tests at 12 months. I think it's just a DC thing, but maybe some other states do it too, I'm not sure, but DC tests for lead and iron in their blood at 12 and 24 months. You have to take them to a lab and they do a regular blood draw in the inside elbow. No way could I handle that so I made my husband take her and I could hear her screaming from the waiting room. I went and stood outside her door and as soon as she was done I went in, but I could not watch that. We're not gonna get it done at 24 months though cause we live in a brand new building and do not drink unfiltered DC water so there should be no lead problems (weren't at 12 months) and her iron was fine at 12 months too. I know that could change, but I really think I'll risk it cause the surrounding states here don't even test for that. But, her last visit at 15 months was the last set of shots for awhile so I'm glad we're done with that for now!

About decongestants, I'd check with your dr. Mine said nothing till 9 months, and even when Madison was 9 months and had a really bad cold they were careful cause she was skinny, about 17 lbs. The only thing she could take was Benedryl, and only at night, during the day we were out of luck. Children's National Medical Center (which is who her dr is affiliated with and where my husband was working at the time) claims that decongestants are completely ineffective on kids under 2 so that was part of their stance too, and they're really big on not medicating unless absolutely necessary, so they feel that since they do not work then there's no reason to give them out. The Benedryl helped (she took the kind with psuedopedrine) at night, so we just lived with it during the day. I really wanted to give her something to make her more comfortable so we did Tylenol and it helped her feel a bit better, but of course she still had the runny nose. No one in DC (at least affiliated with CNMC) will allow decongestants before about 20 lbs. anyway so we were stuck.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Tasha&Scott,

Kona has to get her first set of shots next week.

I would ask the ped about pain relief. I don't remember if they are old enough to have tylenol yet or not.

When my DD was in the hospital last summer, the nurses rubbed a cream on her arm or leg before she had to have blood drawn or have a shot. They said it really works for the pain. I wish I remembered the name of it now. My DD even remarked about how well it worked.

On the topic of shots, Kona is due for 4, I think. I usually only let my kids get 2 at a time. If they happen to have a reaction, then it is easier to know what shot it is coming from. Does anyone else do this? 4 shots at a time just seems like overkill.

I'm glad to hear Kylie doesn't have thrush!

Her pediatrician said that it is fine to give her some tylenol if I want to, but that it is up to me. She said some mothers feel better giving it to their babies before the shot, others do it after the shot, and some don't give them any at all and wait to see how the shot affects them first. I talked to my mom after I posted this afternoon and she said she never gave me or my brothers anything for pain b/c the shots never really affected us. She said we cried a little when we got it but we weren't in any pain later and didn't have any bad reactions. That is basically what I am concerned about. She may not even need the medicine but I will feel so guilty if I don't give her anything and then she feels lousy the rest of the day. So, I am going to give her some tylenol an hour before the shots this time. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

And Floridafam, she will be getting 3 shots when she goes. I can't remember all of them. I think 2 are something to do with meningitis, the other one is 4 shots in 1, I think she said. That 4 shots in 1 is her Hepatitis B, polio, and I can't remember what the other 2 are. But she said that's the same shots she will get at her 2 month, 4 month, and 6 month check up.

Alice~ Ugh! I am dreading the b.c. shots if I have the same side effects you did. That's the problem I had with the birth control pills too though. I had absolutely no libido and when we decided to have a baby and I went off of the pill it came back full force which explains why we conceived so fast...lol! Personally I would love to just use condoms but I hate those too and even if we did opt to use those and I don't get any type of bc pills, shot, etc. then I would worry that the risk of preg. so soon after having Kylie would be higher. Sigh, I guess I'll decide all of this at my 6 wk checkup. I will probably get on the pill but Dh will be disappointed since it really did kill my libido last time I was on it and I predict it probably will again this time too. When Dh and I are done having kids he has also already agreed to get snipped. I told him if I am going to carry the babies for 9 months and then undergo major surgery to have them (since I had a c-section last time, I plan to have c-sections with all of my future children as well just to be on the safe side) the least he could do is be the one that gets *fixed* when we are through. I was shocked when he actually agreed!

 

[katerkat]

I gave BR Tylenol right before his shots, and nursed him right after. He was very upset during and after the shots, but settled down right after he started eating. He ended up sleeping most of the rest of the day and was fine by dinner - he got his shots at about 9:30 am.

 

[floridafam]

Tasha&Scott,

I talked to Kona's ped today, too. She has to have the combo shot, HIB and the Prevnor(sp?) shot. The ped said the prevnor is optional and not required by the state.

She said the same thing about Tylenol. I guess I will wait and see if she is in pain after the shot.

I sure wish there was an easier way to do this. I feel so bad for her but i know it has to be done.

My ped also said none of the vaccines contain thimerosol, so that's good.

 

[Alice28]

I found the decongestant I had on hand. I think it's okay after 2 months...I wish I had the pamphlet I brought home from the doctor's office telling dosage for different kinds of meds.

Anyway, it's called Infants Pediacare and it's clear (YAY for non staining meds since babies ALWAYS dribble a little bit out). I gave her 0.4 mL (half a dropperful). It helped a little bit. What really seems to help is the cool mist vaporizer whenever possibly and just lots of liquids. Putting a little baby saline drops in her nose also helped, although babies HATE that.

No harm, no foul in giving babies Tylenol before shots. I too was VERY cautious with #1 about giving meds when I wasn't sure if they were needed or not. I guess after who knows how many doctor visits that incl. shots, I now just do it automatically. It doesn't get any easier seeing my little baby crying, but I don't think twice about the medication.

Am I having crazy brain, or am I the only mom here with 3? PLEASE forgive me if someone else does and I'm dippy with the remembering. I know there are a few moms with 2...how I have time to post, is beyond me. Actually, right now the boys are having a snack and watching Sponge Bob & Molly is sleeping. Nice!

 

[katerkat]

I've got three if you count Wedge and Tycho! I vaguely remember that Floridafam has three?

 

[floridafam]

I've got 3.

 

[DisKim]

Alice 28 - I've got 3 also!

Well ladies, today is my last day of freedom. I'm going to work tomorrow. I was feeding Aidan this morning and thinking about how much I'll miss him. I have a very bad attitude. I know everyone at work will be nice and ask me about him but I think I'll be too sad to even hear his name mentioned. I know I'm being a baby. I'm only working for 5 days and then I don't go back until September. It's just reminding me of what it will be like when I'm back full time.

 

[Alice28]

Oh good, we can be crazy moms of 3 together. or in my case .

 

[floridafam]

I have a Gymboree question.

I have 5 outfits that still have the tags on. They are too small for Kona. I purchased them before she was born. Do you think I could exchange them for other merchandise. The receipts are at least 60 days old.

Does anyone know what their exchange policy is?

Thanks.

 

[Alice28]

I got this off the website:

Returns with an Original Sales Receipt
Bring the purchase receipt or entire packing slip to any Gymboree store. Merchandise may be exchanged or a refund will be issued in the original form of payment for price paid when returned within 60 days of purchase. A merchandise credit will be issued for returns more than 60 days after the purchase date for the price paid. A return/exchange or gift receipt does not serve as an original receipt.

 

[floridafam]

Thanks, Alice28

I think I'll just take in the stuff with the receipts and see what they say. The worst they can say is NO.

Kona is just getting so big-she's already wearing 6-12 month.

She's been living in these cute little sleeveless onesies from the gap. It is so hot here that I can't really dress her up when we go anywhere.

 

[Alice28]

Yeah, from how I read it, they will let you exchange for stuff at the price you paid, or get a gift card for another time, but not your money back. Always fun to shop though, right!?

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Okay, here are some pictures of Kylie at 1 month old:

 

[Patsfan7]

Hi! I am popping on over to this thread. We have baby Sean that was born 5/26/05. I look forward to reading all about your stories over the next few nights... while my DS is awake from 4-7AM!!!! I love the pictures on this page... I skipped right to the last page. So, hello, and I look forward to speaking with you all, especially about FEEDING!