2014 May Rainbows

[Darlin65]

I think it all depends on why you have low fluid. My friend had a slow leak and they didn't do anything she just had to stay super hydrated and have regular checks for it.

First night was CRAZY! I remember it being a little easier with Logan. Avery just would not sleep. He for sure has his night and day mixed up Plus I am having such a hard time getting comfortable. Pumping is going great! Pumped 2oz earlier after feeding LO. Was just trying to empty them to help my supply.

Had a brilliant idea I am going to try! I was making lactation cookies tonight (blueberry cheesecake) and thought about how cool it would be to start a lactation dessert line Things with fun flavors and pretty packaging so new mom's can treat themselves but know they are also promoting a healthy diet for breast feeding. It's something I would pack in bags/boxes like girl scout cookies. They'd come in quantities larger than just 2 or 3. It'd be like buying a week's supply. I'm also playing around with the idea of fun names. For example, the mint chocolate chip would be the "Minty Mamma" cookie or the pumpkin spice could be the "spicy mamma". They make these plastic bags so I can actually vacuum seal them in stacks and put them in a box. How cool is that?! Told Bret once I figure it all out I could even talk to the mws and see if they would let me put a bowl full of free, individual wrapped mini samples and brochures with all the flavors and what they do. I can't wait! I am actually trying a pumpkin cookie recipe tomorrow so hopefully they taste just as yummy

 

[MonyMony]

I'd buy lactation cookies if I didn't have food allergies for sure! You always need something to snack on during feeds, esp nighttime.

 

[Darlin65]

What type of allergies do you have?

 

[MonyMony]

Soy, milk, peanuts--so I usually bake everything myself. It's easy now with almond milk and palm oil shortening substitutes. Just five years ago it was much harder to find these things. Coconut oil is a good stand-in for butter but it does give you that flavor...which is why I'm glad palm oil is avail now. But I haven't had the time or energy to make anything but dinner lately! That's why I think your idea is great, Darlin. Anything that's premade is awesome these first few weeks/months.

 

[Darlin65]

Oh ok. I was just asking because an idea I was exploring is oat flour. It's how you get the oatmeal benefits but then I could make like brownies and things. Not just chunky oatmeal cookies.

Oat flour is gluten free

 

[nats77]

Hi ladies, I just wanted your opinions on my little lady's crib??
What do u think?

 

[schultzie18]

Cute crib!

Doctors appointment today. She checked me and I am 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced. When I got home I had some brown chunky discharge... is this normal?

 

[nats77]

I would say normal after examination Hun, it's not happened to me before but I have heard of it x

 

[Sunnyleah]

Beautiful crib! Is it full sized or a bassinet size? Hard to tell in the photo .

Schultzie- how exciting!


AFM- ob appointment today went well.... Baby is still in the 50th percentile (perfect)... Very low, correct position, and everything is perfect.... Scored perfect at our scan last week . So excited!! Ob said anytime now .

Dh's mom ordered the conversion crib rails and crib mattress for us too just need cloth diapers and a bath tub feels good!

 

[Starry Night]

Sunny - great job on managing your GD and keeping your baby a healthy size. And good thinking on getting the conversion rails right away. I wish we had gotten the conversion rails for our crib because I think they've discontinued ours. Oh well. It works really well as a toddler bed still. I'm hoping DD will be able to use it until she's 5 or thereabouts. lol

schultzie - it would make sense to get some irritation after an internal especially when things are so sensitive. But if the chunky discharge starts to go pink it could be bloody show and possibly the start of things!

I feel like I'm so far behind everyone else. But I still have things to do. I always feel like I'm ready for baby then I will remember "oh yeah, I need to do this. And this. AND this". I have started to wash the covers for DS' old baby gear. Did not realize how gross things can get under the covers. I'm going to have to bleach/scrub the gear itself. Guess that is what happens when your baby was a puker and then you let it sit in storage for years. Nasty. The highchair straps are going to be sitting in a bowl of bleach overnight before I wash them.

And to be clear, I would wash DS' gear after he puked. I was just unaware of the stuff collecting underneath the covers where I couldn't see.

Also annoyed I got suckered into agreeing to Enfamil's "Environmentally Friendly Services" when signing up for samples. I wasn't sure what that meant. I just wanted to avoid all the useless magazines they would send. But now they aren't sending me actual samples. They sent me coupons for free samples but stores don't carry sample sizes. And I have a month to use the coupons before they expire. They're COUNTING on me not using them. Aggravating. Just hoping I can find a store that carries them.

 

[Sunnyleah]

Starry, stuff is always dirtier than you can see lol. I've been cleaning the house, cars, etc and stuff is filthy. But it's all good . The only gear that we have right now that's not new is a swing. It's a little travel swing and when I took the cover off it was spotless. The friend who gave it to us must have cleaned it

I also keep finding things that need doing or items we need to purchase. We realized setting up the baby monitor that the outlet by the crib only works when the light switch is on!!! Gotta fix that ASAP. also we have a few squeaky doors that need some attention.

DH mom ordered the crib rails yesterday apparently. So we're not sure if she's gifting them to us or thought she was doing a favour by ordering and saving us the trouble :/. She also mentioned ordering a crib mattress for us... Hmmm. I'll take what I can get

Last few things for baby:

Moby wrap- second hand from SIL
Bath tub & newborn insert
Play pen
Activity gym
Stroller clips for diaper bag
Crib mattress
Humidifier (do we really need one?)

The list is dwindling!!

 

[Starry Night]

I do recommend the humidifier but if the budget is getting tight you can put it off. We didn't get one right away as DS was a summer baby but once winter hit and the cold season started we finally relented. Babies can not take anything at all the first 6 months besides Tylenol so humidifiers can provide a lot of relief. When DS was a baby he started to struggle with bronculitius. When it got REALLY bad his doctor would give him a dose of steroids to open the airways but other than that it was the humidifier. Steaming the bathroom with a hot shower has a similar effect in a pinch but then you're using a lot of water.

What's the best way to clean the hard parts of the gear? I was thinking of using watered down bleach. I also need to wash the baby toys. DS had more than enough that I don't want to buy new ones for his little sister. Baby toys are pretty much all gender neutral. It's not like she's going to care either way.

 

[Sunnyleah]

Thanks for the humidifier tip!

As for cleaning at work (daycare) we use dish soap and scrub then bleach to disinfect. But bleach doesnt really work for scubbing. Smaller toys can usually go in the washing machine or top rack dishwasher

 

[Starry Night]

Thanks. Dish soap was going to be my second choice. I was going to rope DH in to do some major cleaning today but I'm really struggling to breathe and my hips are KILLING me. Walking is agony (never mind I can't get enough oxygen). I hope to get at least something done! At least the last load of covers is in the wash and the others are drip-drying much faster than I thought they would. I'm impressed with how shiny and new they look.

 

[Darlin65]

Finally get a second to catch up!

Nats the crib is beautiful! I'm envious of all the pink lol

Schultzie that's how my labor started! At 36+3 she did that check and it loosened my plug. Then I kept loosing it and had irregular contractions until my water broke at 38+1

Starry I would try the dawn dish soap with bleach

Afm we had Avery's 1st pediatrician appt. He is doing great! He is already up an ounce from his birth weight to 5lbs 15oz This little booger is STRONG! She flipped him to his belly and he pushed up on his fore arms and knees, stuck his little but in the air and started to scoot forward! Even the pediatrician was like HOLY COW! He holds his head up here and there all the time already. I can't believe it!

Breast feeding is going awesome! He eating and latching great and I am getting a good stash going with pumping. I got 6oz today after he took what he needed I really do love the newborn stage. I also do somewhat enjoy the whole csection thing. I don't enjoy the pain but enjoy everybody letting me rest and sort of be a hermit with the baby. I stay in my room a lot with him. The extra bonding time is great. I think it's nice to be able to take it easy and just build my milk supply too.

I am in love with his newborn pictures. Can you believe these were taken at the hospital in our room? All she has was a basket and her camera. These are all his hats and blankets in the pictures I keep sharing. Here's another one

 

[Sunnyleah]

Starry- glad the cleaning is going well....

My hips have started to ache too. Guess things are moving in the right direction

I got the main floor organized and the kitchen sorted out today... All the baby stuff is put away! One load of a baby laundry left, plus 2 loads of random blankets, cleaning cloths, etc.

I get to spend now until baby arrives sewing and crocheting projects for baby . Hope to get lots done,..... Think I might also make something for my SIL due with a girl 3 weeks after me Let the relaxing begin

Excited to celebrate my last birthday before baby tomorrow with family! BBQ here I come

 

[Sunnyleah]

Darlin- so happy to hear things are found well! Enjoy your private time with baby before life catches up with you

That's crazy how strong he is, go baby!

 

[nats77]

Beautiful picture darlin!! He is just adorable!

Well I'm in my final week count down!! Loads of Braxton hicks that keep making me think it's all starting but never amounts to anything! Just hope it's true what they say and all these Braxton hicks are getting me ready for a reasonably quick labour!! Fingers crossed xx

 

[Sunnyleah]

So exciting Nats!!

 

[Darlin65]

Just want to say if any of the ftm's are worried about knowing when it's time, trust me youll know. I was worried up until the moment I knew. It kicks in it and will be totally different than what you thought. It truly is like a mixture of super bad af cramps and diarrhea cramps.