Questions for the moms

[Southern28Chick]

Carrie,
I wish y'all the best of luck. Remember to go to your doctor and have everything checked out before you start. Start taking prenatal vitamins now. Also remember that birth control pills can take quite a few cycles to get out of your system, assuming you take them. I hope you have better luck than me, children are not in my future. Oh, and most of all remember Trisha is a good name for a lil girl.

 

[hsm5grls]

I have 5 DD and am by no means wealthy. I think it is a good idea to think ahead but reality is it is as expensive as you make it. Weigh out how much energy you are willing to put out in order to cut costs.

Diapers: There are cloth, least expensive but more work. Name brand, most expensive
Generic store brand; most are comparably to name brand at about 1/2 the cost. Walmart brand is good. about $5.00 for a pack, lasts me a week.

Wipes: I make my own use viva paper towels folded, mix 2 tbl. baby shampoo 2tbl. baby lotion and 2 c. warm water mix in a bowl and to folded paper towels in a small rubber made container, Cheap and work better than store wipes.
Generic brand: $1.99 last a little over a week.



Formula can get very expensive, I breast fed until about 15 mths. and then the girls went straight to cups.
Depending on brand it can cost anywhere from $10-$18 a can and they go through a lot. Not an area where you can cut corners so if you can breast feed. It is so much better for baby anyway.


Baby furniture: Most of it is marketed towards parents not babies. My kids had cribs but rarely if ever used them. They all slept with me and DH until they were about 2. We just like all the kiddies with us. Cribs are not that expensive though unless you want something fancy.


It is soooo worth it. I can't imagine life without my kids. It is a whole new kinda love.
CONGRATS ON THE BABY MAKING!

 

[CarriBrown]

Thanks, everybody, for the advice! I really appreciate it.
Arlee- I've already seen my doctor and had blood tests done. I've never touched a cigarette or drug but I do like my drink. I've cut down a lot just in the last month. I have started vitamins (I HATE taking them!) and DH isn't a smoker, drinker, or drugger. In fact, my doctor told me that she usually has to tell her future mothers to do this or do that, but that she really didn't have much for me... Just start taking vitamins! I have anxiety disorder and take medication for that, so I went to that doctor on Monday and we came up with a plan to have me off the meds by January.
I must admit that I was a little weary of breast feeding (It makes me think of Animal Planet... sort of bad, I know) but after reading up on it (my doctor insisted that I read about it before turning it down) I've decided that it's what's best for me and child. I can clearly see that it is the best option for me. Hopefully it will work out.
Ewesheep- I can see the MIL coming already. She is bossy, pushy, etc etc but TRUST ME. I'm a tough cookie and things go MY way.

And as far as them not being expensive- I worked in retail and merchandising for a long, long time. I know how it works and how these companies put the "need" in your head when it's really a "want". Fortunatly, my parents were smart and didn't over buy, and I'm alive, and I see myself being the same as them.
Thanks again, everyone! You guys are awesome.

 

[CarriBrown]

I forgot to add... I have a niece and a nephew, so the furniture and usuable seats, strollers, etc. are being passed to us!!!
I swear, if I can love a child more than I love these two (Taylor, 5 and Justin, 2, with my dog Roxy), it will be incredible.
PS. My daddy worked hard and has $ buring a hole in his pocket for a grandchild!!

 

[arlee453]

You are SOOO far ahead of so many women! Our advice is just confirmation of what you have already done and thought about, and that is SUPER!

I get calls from moms looking for classes - my class is 12 weeks long and they'll call me at 36 weeks and ask what can they do. Ummm you can't get a 12 week class in if you only have 4 weeks to your due date... They've just figured out that they aren't prepared for birth and need a crash course. It's very frustrating - like the moms who say "I don't have the TIME to take a 12 week class..." Like what do you think you are going to do for time once your baby arrives??!!??

Drives me nuts - I understand that not every pg is planned, but daggum - you do get almost 10 months to do your homework!

Babies are so much like anything worth having in this life - they are a lot of work and investment, but SUCH a payoff - even on the bad days...

Kudos to you for your forethought!

 

[cockadoodlemom]

Congrats and good luck!
I have 2 beautiful children and both where formula. Didn't have a desire to breastfeed with the first. Wanted to with the second but chose not to because of all my meds and health. My children are just fine and healthy. Don't let anyone make you feel less than a mother or woman if for some reason you are not able to breastfeed. My doc tried to force it and made me feel like a loser. You will know whats best because that mothers intuition (? spell) kicks in fast. Again best wishes and blessings being sent your way.

 

[Royicus]

Being the young male that I am, I have absolutely no advice to offer you on new baby techniques. In fact, I shudder when I think about kids. One day, yes, but not now for me!





But one thing that I do want to do is...

Wish you the very best on your journey to become a mom. It is an incredible journey both mentally and physically, and I hope it goes well for you.

Let it be known that you are a more daring person that I!! And most women are for that matter

 

[Wildsky]

wow a guy posted!

pretty awesome at that!

Very cute niece and nephew! Just wait... when you have your own its TEN times as much fun!

Just remember - relax and don't worry if you do anthing differently to others - there will always be SOMETHING people think you're crazy for doing (or not doing)... at least ONE thing if not more.

As far as pregnancy, get LOTS of sleep - and walk/exersize as much as you can, that last month - just SLEEP!!!!

 

[nuchickmama]

I have three beautiful children and somehow they survived me!!!LOL. The first DD, I tried to breastfeed and did not have a good support system. After 6 frustrating weeks, I gave up. I had a very lazy husband then and knew I had to work for the 2nd child, DS. So, this child was formula fed. The last DD was almost 8 years later and I made a very large commitment to do as much naturally as I could. While I was pregnant with her, I canned all of my fruits and vegetables and used a baby mill to grind it to the right consistency for her age. I bought only cloth diapers and did my own every 2 days. She was breast fed until she was 10 months old, and I only stopped when she bit me , but she also was starting to wean herself by that time. By the way, I did this all and want back to work full time when she was 12 weeks old.
My best advice, is to get the video mentioned and have a good support system. Your husband can be involved by pumping, so he can feed the baby also. I love all of my children, but the experience with my last one was very special.
Good Luck!! Having my children was the best thing I have done in my life.

 

[texasgirl]

I know this can be a touchy subject for some women but what do most of you think as far as pain meds and having an epidural? The girls I work with had epidurals and swear by it being the best and so on but I know lots of older women who say that everything natural was great, you feel great as soon as the baby is born and your not all "drugged up".
I really like to think I'll go all natural but when it gets really painful I'm afraid I'll give up and just ask for pain meds.

Is there a contract I can sign that says they wont give me whatever I ask for when it gets into the thick of labor?

btw, I don't plan on having a child anytime soon, just some questions I had.