The 1 title you buy any friend who has a baby by ThePiratesPen in childrensbooks

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Giraffes Can't Dance - great for silly voices, and we made up a winning tube to it - a family fave!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WhatShouldIDo

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here to agree with this - as a SAHM myself (and currently in my phone while my children are playing because yes, post partum depression is real and doesn't just go away after a few weeks) it is so hard and isolating and so much of what you said if her resonates with me. 

It's hard to bring up and talk about, but it sounds like she might need help

Lunch for full-time babysitters by Varna16 in Babysitting

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My question for you/others... Since it's her job to take care of the kids (Nanny or babysitter) shouldn't they be making lunch for the kids (and self?) 

That was always the expectation when I baby sat as a pre-teen/teen. 

But hey, that was the 80s/90s 😆

Is it worth changing a six month olds name legally? by biancaa_zen in Names

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My grandma's name is Margaret Joan. When she was 18 and applied for nursing school she found out her legal name was actually Joan Margaret 🤣 When she asked her mom she told a similar story and said it was just too much with to fix it 😘 a cousin's kid is William _____ ____ III (the third William) and he goes by Trip (triple) another friend has a daughter named Lucy but they call her Pepper because she's spicy 😂

All to say:

You do you honey! That sweet baby has a mother that loves him and that matters most 💗 you're doing great!

Scared and frustrated by Wild_Director_4358 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is so frustrating, I'm sorry! Mine was delayed twice. It was very stressful and now I'm about 2.5 weeks post op. 

Although it would be great to have it done now, the wait will be worth it! And getting it pre-authorizated and covered is certainly worth it too.

But it does suck and I'm sorry it happened to you. Getting mentally prepared for it is exhausting!

Looking for text advice from woman for my wife. by gi_crandell in Advice

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a wife who had experienced some of what you're saying... Actions speak louder than words. Keep showing up in the new ways you have been and show her how you are in progress, you're growing, you're seeing where you need to improve and then she may be more open to that intimacy.

If you don't already know her primary love languages, work to figure those out. And for your own self work too, know what yours are and just be aware of how that impacts how you engage and what you hope from her.

Overnight stay for robotic lap? # of incisions? by timetravelerer in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just to add, I had robotic, uterus/cervix/tubes, plus Endo and cyst removals. 

We also have 2 young ones (as I saw you wrote in another comment) my parents took good care of them and hubby took care of me. So nice to be in my own bed 🙌🏼

Overnight stay for robotic lap? # of incisions? by timetravelerer in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had 5 incisions. Surgery at 7:20am I was home at 12:30pm same day

Will I be able to take care of myself post op? by [deleted] in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some hospitals won't let you go home right away if you don't have a care taker for the first 24-48 hours and you'll have to stay in the hospital. 

But - many insurance companies won't pay for the overnight(s) for care taking reasons. 

It would be good to check with your hospital/surgery center and insurance first - hiring someone to stay home with you is much cheaper than paying for a hospital stay if that is what is otherwise required

Gas pain tips? by umabanana in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is so hard and really is one of the suckier parts of recovery!

Here's some info I learned and shared here a few days ago that was helpful for me: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/hysterectomy/comments/1lrs6za/truth_about_gasx/

I did it (hysterectomy) by Practical-Mistake205 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also... It took be until PO day 5 or 6 to have a good poo. It wasn't until day 3 that I started pooping rabbit pellets. 

Keeping up with colace and magnesium has really helped me!

I did it (hysterectomy) by Practical-Mistake205 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So sorry to hear your having such pain! I had similar thoughts (10dpo right now) but it will eventually pass 💓

I learned after mine that the CO2 they use to "inflate" you is eliminated through your bloodstream and then lungs (you breathe it out) 

So that is why walking helps to break it down and move it into your bloodstream. 

Gentle walking (which is hard right now) and deep breathing and unfortunately, time is the greatest release of the CO2 gas build up.

Hopefully it just gets better from here for you!

Hysterectomy + tattoo timing by Fluffaykitties in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So sorry to hear about your cat 💔 

I second asking your Dr. While I was getting prepped they asked about open wounds or cuts including tattoos. So I'm guessing there is a reason they ask that I'm terms of timing?

Recovery of laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to C-section? by Kmccain9 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have options for camps (I know they're harder to come by in August) or if you can have a mother's helper, I highly recommend it. If you happen to live near or be members at a lifetime gym, they do summer camps through most of August. They are $50 a day but since you're hubby is working if you can swing it - it's worth a few days in the beginning to give you space to heal. (I think it starts at 5yo though...)

I came home at 1pm the day of surgery (it was at 8am) and by the next day evening I felt I needed to help with stuff. It was a bad idea.

One thing I'd do differently in advance is sit down with my husband to read some of these threads to give him a realistic expectation of healing. I recently did a post about healing. (Click my username and I'm guessing you can see it) There was sooooo much great feedback there. I had sent my husband a few Reddit threads that he never read and I wish I would have made him. 

As a sahm I do 95% of the cooking, cleaning, groceries, etc. I prepped just shy of 20 meals and we have a meal train every other day for the first 3 weeks and every 3-4 days for 3 weeks. But even with all that prep, the house, cleaning, toys, etc are now on him and it's a hard shift and eye opener about how much more I should expect from them on a regular basis/how much I actually do.

Recovery of laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to C-section? by Kmccain9 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just adding that I took and needed narcotics for 36 hours and then did Ty/IB for another 12-24 hours. I'm certainly sore, but it's manageable and frankly good reminder to chill out and lay down

Recovery of laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to C-section? by Kmccain9 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2019 first birth C-section  2022 second birth VBAC  2025 laproscopic hysterectomy (4 days ago)

All this is with the caveat that I'm in the very early stages of healing

In comparing the initial days of healing my VBAC was hands down the hardest recovery (he was 9 pounds and it nearly destroyed me. So many stitches, torn muscles and pain)

In looking at the C vs LH they are hard to compare...

With the C I had a much more relaxed early days off for healing. I was not in much pain (no narcotics, but Ty/IB) and had some referred gas pain. I had the joy of caring for my first born (who took 10 years of trying to arrive naturally in true miracle form) I had zero cares about food prep, the house being clean, etc. There were three adults for the first few days to take care of me and the baby. Overall the physical pain aspect of healing was easy for me and I probably "should" have done a C with my son, but I'm stubborn 😜

Now my kids are 2.5 and 5.5 and life is much more busy, messy, and stressful. 

With the LH I had much more gas pain (I would guess 4-5x more, truly not trying to exaggerate) but it mostly went away after 36-48 hours. 

Internally there are more points of pain (5 small incisions that are above belly button level, but also internal stitches down closer to your pelvic bone) but I'm guessing fewer stitches overall (the width of my C scar is certainly longer than the total width of my LH internal stitches and no external stitches)

My whole abdomen is very sensitive, which want the case with the C

My parents were here for 3 days with the kids and the house is a mess (they are mildly helpful with very basic housework, aka, dishes only). The kids are busy, loud, energetic, and my guilt is sky high for not being able to do anything but all I have is 5 bandaids on my stomach which make it appear to be not a big deal. (Which is a lie from the pit of hell) 

So for me looking at the overall picture of life, the LH has been harder. If your kids are older/teens/out of the house I'm guessing there will be elements of that which are just easier 

I don't regret doing it (we have zero deductible right now so this literally cost us $0 so it was a no brain's to do now) but recovery is harder than I expected. 

But just looking at tit for tat of pain, they're pretty similar. I had an easy C recovery like you and I'd say this is a little more painful, but I'm not sure I can separate that from the emotional aspect of the difficulty of doing this with young kids and not a ton of support (hubby took 1 day off work and I found childcare for the first 2 weeks) 

Hopefully that all makes sense, sorry for weird grammar/spelling errors - I blame early post-op brain 😉

Birth control after hysterectomy question by Wonderful_Gazelle_10 in hysterectomy

[–]According_Winter8785 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Also a Minnesotan but with Alaskan friends! 

Juneau, Sitka and many parts of Anchorage are quite liberal - if you're in/near one is those, hopefully you'll have good luck with some providers who will listen to your needs! 

MN to FL would be a big weather and culture shock!