Hellobee Boards

@pregnantbee: @OldpuebloJenn: Thanks I think that I have really benefited from having a few weeks to wrap my head around everything!

@OldpuebloJenn: I've had to work especially hard lately not to let the exhaustion (physical and mental) get the better of me . . . late afternoon/evening is the hardest by far. By late afternoon, the aches and pains are really setting in, my belly feels so hard and so stretched, it seems pretty much impossible to eat without making myself uncomfortable, and there isn't any position that affords 100% relief. And when the baby is super kicky and stretchy-out-y, I just want to cry (and have on several occasions--like last night) because my body just feels so d.o.n.e. And then the next day rolls around, and it's time to do it all over again. I'm still working FT, although the pace has decreased quite a bit as my cases/projects are handed out to others, but I still have a few big things going on that I just don't have the mental/emotional bandwidth for. And then there's not wanting to short my LO out on any time that I have left with just the two of us.

@OldpuebloJenn: The ones I have are just the Gillian O from Target. Some happened to be hand-me downs. I don't think I could wear them out and about without wearing a more supportive bra, but they are great for the hospital and for being around the house. And I always wear one as pjs bc they give easy nursing access and also a place for breast pads to go if you leak. I'm of similar size so that's what works for me. There are nicer tanks by Bravado but even in the larger sizes, I found them to be too revealing, even though they are more supportive for a larger chest.

@agold: It's really irritating . . . I will sit down on the couch for a few minutes feeling just fine, and then the next time I get up to get something, my low back and hips brutally remind me that they have had quite enough for the day. I hate that I can't really predict when it's going to happen, and that even though it's happened multiple times before, sometimes the pain (and sudden onset) literally take my breath away for a few seconds.

@MrsSCB: Yes, we are buying one car seat and an extra car seat base. My husband and I will have the baby equal amount of days throughout the week so this makes the most sense to us.

@MrsSCB: I was initially thinking that we wouldn't need an extra base because installing the base with the LATCH system should be so easy. But someone told me its not SUPER easy so I'd prefer to get the bases installed correctly one time and not have to deal with it again and again. ETA: The extra base is just $120ish for me so in the scheme of all things I"m already buying, its not too incredibly much.

@agold: Eeeek $120 for an extra base seems like A LOT. Especially when you'll use it maybe a handful of times within 3-4 months? Technically you could go ahead and put that money towards a convertible seat and not just a base!

@agold: Most babies outgrow the infant seat well before a year. Mostly just because they become too heavy to really cary around.

Its just one of those things for us, it made sense to go ahead and put that money towards an actual second car seat that will be used for years afterwards (and we have to have 2 convertibles because they dont move easily at all).

Look at your infant seat, there is a good chance you can do a regular seat belt install without the base if needed.

@T.H.O.U.: Interesting. I will certainly take that into consideration since we aren't buying the second base until next week.

@Silva: So 10 months seems like a long time to me. We will probably proceed with getting the extra base. For as much as I'm spending on other thing's this just doesn't seem like something I want to skip since I'm not feeling too comfortable about the seat belt install.

@pregnantbee: @agold: We did the same. We have one infant seat and 2 bases (we typically split drop off/pickup).

@pregnantbee: We did too. I also kept the stroller frame in the car (we have a B-Ready and the seat just snaps right in) for longer treks/when LO was a little bigger.

@agold: my DD didn't outgrow her infant seat until 13mo. She was a porker, but short.

@Periwinkle: thanks!

So I read back through old posts. Looks like even last time I had BH for the last two weeks or so about every 40 min. Which is about what I have now. But nothing ever progressed last time so again I think I just need to wait for induction.

@pregnantbee:

We ended up putting LO in a convertible around 5 months, she was tiny but she hated her bucket seat (so so so much crying). We switched her to a Clek and car rides were so much easier (no tears).

We have two infant bases, the second we snagged for $15 on a local mom FB board, so was easy to justify buying.

@agold: that little connector piece, I believe, should go on the outside of your breast. At least that's how I've always worn them!
A good night time bra is amazing!

@agold: sounds like a great appointment! I hope this puts all your fears to rest about carrying small, it sounds like she's doing great. it's so funny that as first-timers we have all the same tiny/ridiculous questions--I remember a while back also spending too long trying to decide whether or not to go ahead and put a sheet crib on, knowing that it would get dusty without use for 4 months. (I did it for staging, fuckit, I'll re-wash when he graduates from the rock n play). anyway I hate that little piece of nursing tank fabric, it feels so loose and extraneous. I cut them out of one of mine as an experiment to see if it's really so bad to reach back for the main strap and what is the point of a night nursing bra, is it for support, or to hold pads in place for leaking or what--anyone? if your boobs aren't hee-huuuge, do you really need one?

@MrsSCB: @agold: oh dudes, I'm the opposite regarding work stress--getting to be on island time in my head. not yet in full-on IDGAF mode, but it's seeping in around the edges. maybe we can balance each other out! @MrsSCB I hope you're not still worried about that one climber biatch you oversee clawing for your responsibilities--when you get back from mat leave you'll be a power mama and squish her if you need to

@LCTBQE: Glad the list is helpful. I'm now eating those hospital snacks when I get hungry during nursing. I need lots of support for my chest but still didn't bother with night nursing bras. I just do the nursing camis which work great for me.

@MrsBeluga: @agold: We replaced LO's infant seat with two Clek Foonfs . . . I seriously love that car seat!

LCTBQE: Nursing bras . . . *augh.* I didn't ever really find a nursing tank or bra that I really loved. I have one Medela sleep bra which is pretty comfy, and several Coobie bras (I am typically a 32D, and after the initial engorgement went down, I was a little bigger than my normal size, but not too much). I will probably wear the Coobies the most! I was lucky to never have any issues with leaks, but it is really nice to have a soft stretchy comfy bra that you don't mind sleeping in that gives at least a little support and can hold nursing pads if you need them. And you will definitely want several . . . one to wear, one as a back-up (in case you get spit up on . . . or worse!), and one in the wash. It's important to keep your bras as clean as you can, so that you can hopefully minimize the risk of getting thrush. I did all that and still got thrush (a few weeks before I went back to work, so I had to toss my entire freezer stash and didn't have time to replenish it (because it can take a while to clear up thrush).

Nipple shields. Lolz. The sexxxiness of motherhood knows no bounds . . . amIrite?! I am not sure if the hospital stocked nipple shields, because the awful LC on staff never recommended one (and I really really needed one). It wasn't until DH called a LC to do an in-home consult that I tried one for the first time . . . it was a tremendous help in allowing my nipples to heal while still being able to BF my LO. My issue was a shallow latch, and because I didn't know it was shallow, a lot of damage was done in a short time. So this time, I am bringing a shield with me, just in case. And some lanolin/nipple cream, which I also didn't have last time (and wasn't offered to me in the hospital . . . I digress). I am delivering at a different hospital this time. Not because of the LC . . . but I seriously have no kind words for that woman! The in-home LC, however, saved my sanity and was the sole reason I was able to continue BFing. A good LC is worth their weight in Californium.