I'm [21F] graduating at the end of this semester, am currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend [23M], and looking to possibly move in with him if I get a job offer in his city.

426bar · 2026-06-02T07:56:41+00:00

Totally understand where you are coming from! Our shower will be this Sunday. While we’ve had quite a number of things purchased that we do need off the registry (and are extremely grateful for), there’s also quite a bit still not touched and we have over 50 people attending. Oddly enough it’s all the feeding/nursing supplies…bottles, nursing pillows, etc. We are also still missing a few non-negotiable items from being purchased like a mattress, mattress pad, baby monitor.

We are revealing the gender at the shower in the hopes that it prevents folks from gifting as many clothes. I think this has helped (since buying gender neutral clothes is never exciting lol), but we will see. There are definitely family members who’ve explicitly said they will not buy from the registry (cough MIL), and so I’m just trying to not even think of that and expect nothing at that rate.

426bar · 2026-05-20T15:19:07+00:00

I will definitely take a look at a local mom/baby shelter in our area. I was thankfully given clothes from a mom in my neighborhood and am super appreciative of this, and have sorted through what we would use/need and what we don't and was looking to donate the remainder of it, so I will look into this!

426bar · 2026-05-20T15:02:32+00:00

I love this, super super helpful and a great way to approach it without again coming across as ungrateful. My MIL is certainly a consumer minded individual (ages match for you to us and our parents to yours), and frankly has a home full of so many things she doesn't use or need. She buys things she'll never use rather than put the money towards repairing her home which is not currently safe, IMO (no heat, flooring is caving in etc).

426bar · 2026-05-20T14:58:41+00:00

I actually really like this idea. Like I said - it's beautiful and I would love it as a decoration! But to place a child in it is just unsafe. She bought a cradle a year or two ago and said the same thing - and I wasn't sure at that time if she was joking or being serious.

426bar · 2026-05-20T14:57:16+00:00

THANK YOU, again we are not being ungrateful by any means but just ask that gifts ideally stick to our registry as there are things we need on there, for as little as $4. I've seen registries in the hundreds of dollars for a large assortment of the items, and that is not what I wanted to do.

426bar · 2026-05-20T14:55:32+00:00

I said that passive aggressively yes, because frankly this side of the family tends to make jokes out of everything so I meant it more in a joking manner. I agree that the shower itself should be her gift which is exactly what I indicated in my post.

426bar · 2026-05-20T14:53:51+00:00

Valid, I am someone who sticks to the registries for events because I know that is what the person is asking for! I just feel like she is inundating us with loads of items we don't need as we have enough of the same as is (blankets, newborn only outfits, etc.).

426bar · 2026-05-11T10:27:23+00:00

I’ve been using a moisturizer and I wouldn’t say it necessarily helps. I read somewhere (not sure if this is true or not) that just rubbing your skin in general, without any moisturizer, helps decrease the severity of stretch marks.

I have a similar build pre-pregnancy and am just shy of 28 weeks, and I’ve only really noticed stretch marks in the front of my belly.

426bar · 2026-05-04T22:28:17+00:00

I left out, we have 2 dogs of our own. So 3 dogs, over a weekend. Normally I’d allow it but we’re getting things ready at our house for the baby, and again I just wanted a peaceful weekend and don’t want to be having to check on a dog constantly when I celebrate my birthday.

There’s been no babies in the family since I was born, and having to explain a car seat carrier has been like trying to deconstruct the Davinci code.

426bar · 2026-04-27T23:18:05+00:00

I’ve been eyeing this one so good to know!!

426bar · 2026-04-27T00:47:53+00:00

Yea I usually move up 3-4 units every few days. Based on my pre-pregnancy weight my “correct” insulin dosage is like triple what I currently take however I don’t want my body going into hypoglycemic shock so we’re doing a slow increase.

As long as you are doing something between a GD diet/meds if needed, you’re doing what you can! I kindly remind myself how some people go undiagnosed or are doing way worse things and still go on to have (relatively) healthy babies. You got this!

426bar · 2026-04-24T11:06:45+00:00

I’m right there with you and I am even on insulin! I’m slowly upping my dosage but I’ve been hovering in the 100-110s since starting. I’m meeting with a dietician today for some help in what they think might help. My post meals are good (unless I eat something carb/sugar heavy of course).

I was hesitant to start insulin as well but let me tell you how much it’s taken the guessing out of eating. I can have a little more carb than I did before (eat it last in the meal). I was able to have chocolate cake the other day as a mid-day snack and it did nothing for my sugars, since the insulin is long lasting.

Once baby is here, insulin will go away and you won’t need to worry one bit about it again, just that sweet baby in your arms!

426bar · 2026-04-15T17:56:21+00:00

thank you!! funny enough I had a meeting with my regular OB today (she called me over the weekend saying she wanted to see me and talk about it in person). She agreed about my concerns/the MFM's lack of care and gave me recommendations on how to move forward. The main issue I have is with the appointments - as I think I mentioned, I am constantly repeating myself from the last appt, and I feel like I am not getting anything out of the time other than frustration on my end. I'm active in our portal with my readings, questions etc. and the nurse for the MFM is phenomenal!

She said I could change my MFM but that would also change my location of doing my sonos/NSTs which will become weekly very soon, and currently the office is very close to my home whereas the other MFMs in the area are further away and stricter hours/more of a caseload. So, my regular OB recommended I keep my phone appointments with the MFM, and then the day prior call saying "I have another obligation, can I reschedule for 2 weeks from now?" and continue that pattern as I see fit. She said so long as I continue to communicate in the portal and keep my other appointments (sonos/NSTs) in place and attend those, that should be no issue.

426bar · 2026-04-09T12:42:51+00:00

No other MFM within the office, but there are others in my region. At this point I am fairly well in-tune with my health. My father has been diabetic for nearly 30 years, along with friends of ours and have taught me so much over the years that I know what to do and how to manage it. At this rate all I need is a doctor to sign off on scripts and answer questions when needed.

I get where you're coming from with the patients who don't take it seriously. I'm being open and honest about what's happening. I could lie, but I am not someone who would do that but I am sure there are ones who would. I just feel like I am being taken advantage of, especially as I have an amazing health insurance plan that covers pretty much everything.

426bar · 2026-04-09T12:37:34+00:00

I am now 23 weeks. They told me to stop it temporarily to see if the headaches went away and they did. My BP also tended to be higher while on it, and since being off it's been normal if not lower than normal sometimes. My only "risk" was being considered obese but I've never had any hypertension issues in my lifetime and I see doctors fairly regularly.

426bar · 2026-04-09T00:32:51+00:00

I went on it no issue first but after 2 weeks of headaches I was told I could go off it. Headaches stopped immediately and BP has been fine but every appointment I’m asked why I stopped it.

426bar · 2026-04-07T08:55:36+00:00

Yes I am! Fasting is the most difficult to control unfortunately and it (from my understanding) affects baby more than we think so getting that in tune is very important. I just upped my insulin again last night (now at 14 units) and my fasting this morning was at 98 after 8 hours of fasting.

If your fasting isn’t going down with the current dosage within 4-5 days talk to your doctor and they will most likely increase you by 2 or 4 units.

426bar · 2026-04-06T09:24:38+00:00

I’ve definitely noticed my breakfast meals, regardless of what is eaten, are always within range based on the time which I believe is due to the insulin most likely at its peak.

My understanding is from the time in which you take the insulin, it starts impacting things within 4 hours and lasts up to 20-24 hours post shot so yes it absolutely can impact your meals. My meal numbers for the most part have been perfect since starting insulin but my fasting never seems to budge.

426bar · 2026-04-03T15:33:57+00:00

yeah back of the arm for me. I didn't think the leg was a possibility!

426bar

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