Expectant parent club! Where the pregnant people hang out.

[Quail_Antwerp]

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LOL I hope it sells well tomorrow!

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

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Darn coyotes!!! We have a few around here, too, and they are super annoying.

I'm hoping that you are feeling better today. That round lig pain is something terrible for sure.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Just as a side note on the conversation about pumps, I was given a Medela by a high school friend. Pumping didn't work out for her. All I need are the hoses, bottles, etc.

I have a $10 off coupon for an Affinity Double Electric Pump by Lansinoh. The coupon is good at Target only and expires 12/31/11. Also, a $3 off the purchase of a pack of Pampers diapers and wipes purchased together that expires 8/31 for Target only. If anybody is interested, shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send them your way.

 

[Nigellas]

And my unsolicited advice... if you physically can, nurse your baby! Pumping is MUCH harder, you'll have a much harder time developing a good supply and you lose out on a lot of the benefits of breastfeeding (like not lugging bottles around when you go out!). As long as you introduce a bottle around 6 weeks (or sooner), it'll be very doubtful that you'll ever have any trouble transitioning to the bottle. Also, more and more evidence is out there that "nipple confusion" is probably a whole lot of BS, at least for most babies. You'll likely only have a problem if you wait too long to introduce a bottle (and don't continue to make it a part of her routine).
AND you will be spending TWICE as much time "feeding" when you strictly pump. If you think about it- add the time spent pumping to the time spent holding a bottle and I can't imagine your backside will leave the couch for the first 6 weeks!

Not to mention the time you spend washing all those pump parts and bottles. I had to pump for my oldest son for 6 weeks before he learned how to latch right and finally nursed - It was exhausting to the extreme - Life was so much easier when he finally "got it". I'm not against bottle feeding at all, but it's not as easy like many people assume - It's actually much, much harder.

 

[krcote]

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AND you will be spending TWICE as much time "feeding" when you strictly pump. If you think about it- add the time spent pumping to the time spent holding a bottle and I can't imagine your backside will leave the couch for the first 6 weeks!

I didn't think about that...I just don't want to be strapped to the baby 24/7. My DH wants to feed & help and I'll have a full house with my mom & two sisters wanting to "help." So I thought it would be nice if I could pump and have bottles ready when needed....

Breast feeding does not mean you will be strapped to the baby 24/7. At first you will be feeding often but in time, it spaces out quite nicely. There will be plenty of things for your helpers to do besides feed the baby for sure. You can work it so all you atcually do is feed and your helpers can do the rest! It is suggested that you wait a few weeks (6 to be technical I think) to introduce the bottle. My friend just did this and after a few early bumps in the road she now can hand the baby off to Daddy to feed and loves it. Do not forget, being "nice" and trying to make everyone happy is not always what is best for Mom and Baby.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I have my 36-week appointment today...I'm kind of nervous. I'm not a fan of the crotch-check (who is?)

But I'm also getting the Strep B test and then (I'm sure) another ultrasound to check the fluid levels around the baby....that's at 11am (PST). I'm nervous because my whole body hurts, my legs/hips are super-sore....it feels like the baby is on my cervix and I've been having "stuff" come out since Saturday. No blood and nothing thick...but still not anything I've dealt with up to this point....probably TMI but I'm still nervous.

Wish me luck.

 

[rilly10]

Good luck!

I am sure everything will be fine

Keep us posted when you get back!

PS- totally unrelated but I referred you here - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6996230#p6996230

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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Thanks for the referral!

I PM'd her and I replied to the post....

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

So I went in today for my 36/wk appointment.

The baby has dropped and the doctor said I won't make it 3 more weeks--he's thinking within the next two weeks I'll go into labor.

He did a quick u/s to check the fluid levels and the EIFs are still there but NOW--now he spotted a HOLE IN HEART?? He said it's usually something that closes up & resolves on it own after birth...but WTH???

This wasn't seen two weeks ago on my u/s.

 

[SpringChickens]

RFF - there is actually supposed to be a hole in your baby's heart right now... it's called a foramen ovale. Hopefully that's all he's talking about, and also why it wasn't mentioned 2 weeks ago at your ultrasound (or any of the others). It does close up after birth in most babies... Did he say anything else about it?

Good luck with your Dr.'s labor prediction too. Did he say how dialated/effaced you were? You seem pretty uncomfortable, so it would be great if your little girl was ready to be born soon (don't hold your breath though!! Drs are notoriously bad at predicting when labor will come).