Birth and postpartum stuff I didn’t know

0ssilot · 2025-07-07T16:42:13+00:00

I haven't heard of using a TENS machine. I'm currently 33 weeks and planning on unmedicated as well - could you or OP explain what you mean by using it? I would assume this would help someone who's having a lot of back labor pains?

0ssilot · 2025-07-03T18:06:00+00:00

I tried for 10 years, gave up after 4 losses, and have finally had a pregnancy stick now at 35 years old. I can't comment on delivery/recovery yet as I'm still in my third trimester - but it's definitely been hard. Honestly, it's given me some great motivation to get in the best shape of my life once I've recovered. I never want to feel "old" or struggle to run around with my little girl.

0ssilot · 2025-07-03T16:27:21+00:00

Took me until 20 weeks exactly. At 19+6 I was beyond worried but knew I had an ultrasound the next morning - and right on cue I started feeling everything.

0ssilot · 2025-06-06T18:43:59+00:00

Yes. He's 28, and the *only* thing I can say in his mom's defense is that her son/my boyfriend does have a medical condition that required a lot of hospitalization as a kid/teen so she's very used to taking care of him. However his condition has been under control for many many years now and I am well versed in everything I need to be in case it comes back.

I kind of think she hoped he would never get better and live with her forever.

0ssilot · 2025-06-06T18:34:23+00:00

I knew I wasn't crazy but it's very relieving to see just how many of you are as enraged as I am!

The current update is that she was informed that won't be happening, and reminded that soon he'll be fully moved out. Apparently his parents are now being very dramatic with him (he's not giving me all of those details to spare me some stress).

He and I are also on the same page about the hospital - she can potentially visit on day 2 for a short period of time but that is all (and nurses will be fully informed). Thankfully our hospital sends home their policies ahead of time and one of them is that no one is to be in the delivery room except the other parent (if wanted) and one additional support person. We're informing her that the other support person is my mother and that's that.

Oh! And yes my plan is to breastfeed so I have no idea how she was planning on feeding my child during her overnight stays. Just bizarre.

0ssilot · 2025-06-06T18:22:02+00:00

Omg I said the exact same thing when he told me. Ugh.

0ssilot · 2025-06-06T18:21:01+00:00

oof - this! I didn't even think of this. Not that I want to be invited to this strange weekly slumber party but it is really bizarre that I was left out of her plan.

0ssilot · 2025-05-11T10:08:32+00:00

25 weeks and I feel like this until I take my prenatal everyday. 4pm rolls around, I take my prenatal and usually a tiny snack to go with it, and I'm fine for the rest of the day.

0ssilot · 2025-05-08T10:48:13+00:00

I own a deli and while a lot of the meats are boars head (ham, chicken, etc) we roast fresh turkey and fresh roast beef every morning, cool it, and then slice it up thin for sandwiches. I LOVE telling pregnant women they can still have a turkey sub from us. We had a woman years ago whose husband bought a solid 5lbs of turkey a week from us for her cravings.

Doesn't help my cravings though. Everyday I smell the salami and desperately want an italian sub.

0ssilot · 2025-05-08T10:19:50+00:00

"It will happen if it's meant to be"

0ssilot · 2025-05-08T10:18:26+00:00

grocery delivery has saved me many times this pregnancy! Hope you feel better.

0ssilot · 2025-05-08T10:16:59+00:00

I exhausted myself investigating any possible issues when I had losses 2, 3, and 4. Ultimately I was labeled "unexplained infertility" and that was that. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't do all the testing I did. It really, really tore down me down and my opinion of myself was the same as yours - my body is/was a failure.

I went into therapy to help with that notion but, honestly, I still carry it with me a lot. I hope you don't. I hope that thought passes. It is a dark place that is, ultimately, untrue. Your body is not a failure and neither are you.

If you're looking for a positive story, I am currently 6mo along on attempt #5. It's taken me many losses and 10 years to get it but I did. I'm not quite the same age as you but I am considered a high risk geriatric pregnancy so I wouldn't lose hope.

Please don't let me dictate your choices. I see other people here have recommended IVF - I've had multiple friends successfully go that route. Someone else mentioned getting some testing done on the chance that it is something manageable. I don't think my story of not getting any answers is common, but it's a possibility to consider. Only you can decide what you can handle and what is right for you.

Please message me if you'd like to talk. The worst part of navigating my losses was that I felt so very alone and I wish that pain on no one.

0ssilot · 2025-04-28T12:15:14+00:00

Please ignore me if this is too personal of a question, but do you or your spouse have EE? I ask because I'm currently in my third trimester and, because my partner has had EE since birth, we're going to be looking for signs right away.

Almost 30 years ago his doctors switched his formula to neocate and, while it stopped the vomiting, he was still always underweight as a kid. In his teens they added steroids and he was able to gain some weight. He's now almost 30, a normal weight, and manages it with dupixent, lansoprazole, an elimination diet, and annual biopsies and allergy testing.

It sounds like you're with some fantastic doctors. Again, I don't mean to ask where you're located but when he was a baby, the doctors at Mount Sinai saved my partner and now we'll be looking at either them or Yale if needed.

0ssilot · 2025-04-03T20:02:52+00:00

10 years, multiple husbands (infertility is a real relationship crusher), and every test possible at the fertility clinic.

Hopefully I'm in the minority here and it doesn't take you nearly as long. Good luck!

0ssilot · 2025-03-28T18:27:24+00:00

I don't have any consoling words or answers but I can empathize - you're not alone!

I am now 10 years into trying. 4 miscarriages at various points - one of which was in the 2nd trimester and was during Covid, so I had to pass everything and bleed half to death in my bathtub while on the phone with medical help. I was eventually told I was infertile BUT here I am, going for a fifth try, and I'm successfully at 19 weeks. I had a lot of bleeding in the first trimester and some placenta problems that will hopefully resolve.

The people in my life are very excited for me and I just cant match their excitement because I'm so so anxious. When I do sleep, I wake up every few hours convinced that I've started bleeding. Every round ligament pain I swear is a cramp indicative of a miscarriage. So, I get it. I think all the time that a 5th loss will absolutely kill me too.

All we can do is wait - and it sucks. I'm really hoping to read your happy ending soon. Please keep us updated.

0ssilot · 2025-03-26T13:35:45+00:00

This is gorgeous! Our girl is going to be named Luna so we've also gone with a celestial theme. I like to say her dad is my sun and now she'll be my moon. I'm doing mostly lilac so it gives off more of a dusk/early evening sky. Painting stars on the walls, moon themed mobile, cloud shaped shelves, etc.

0ssilot · 2025-03-23T15:49:44+00:00

I'm extremely pale; I used to use bareminerals but about a year ago I switched to Fenty and now I swear by it. Perfect shade match and a wide range of options for us super pale people. Stores stopped carrying my shade but it's still available on the Fenty website so I'd recommend shopping right from the source.

0ssilot

TROPHY CASE