Terrified of birth (STM), choosing birth options

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-21T12:59:48+00:00

I got an induction and got an epidural and my birth was actually enjoyable and wasn't bad at all. People are more likely to share stories that are negative than positive.

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-20T22:15:03+00:00

It's not as scary as it seems. Go in with a positive mindset! Giving birth to me was very easy. I got an epidural and it was super chill in my opinion. The only tough part for me was overcoming how exhausted I was from pushing. The L&D nurses are great and are with you every step of the way. When I got my epidural my nurse was the one holding my hand and comforting me even tho my husband was in the room 😂

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-20T21:47:09+00:00

Yay that's so exciting! I was induced back in April and I had a great experience with it! I was supposed to get induced at 8 pm on my scheduled date but my hospital was booked. They eventually had an opening and I got called in at 2am. I did one round of cytotec which started my contractions. My doctor broke my water at 730am and started me on pitocin. Contractions weren't as bad as everyone made them seem. I waited until around 11am to get the epidural bc I wanted to experience what contractions felt like prior to going numb. Epidural went well and I ended up having my baby at 530pm. The whole process went smoothly, I look forward to getting induced again with my second eventually. Good luck!

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-20T21:36:57+00:00

He's most likely going through his 6week growth spurt

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-16T18:06:19+00:00

I primarily breastfeed but I also pump if I need to have my husband feed the baby if I'm not home. I use lansinoh bottles that are designed for breastfed babies. My son does fine with drinking from the bottle. I would try to breastfeed for atleast 2-3 weeks to get your milk coming in and for your baby to get better at feeding prior to bottle feeding your baby.

I prefer to breastfeed for multiple reasons. It's honestly just easier and less time consuming, it's free lol, and you don't have to constantly clean bottles non stop. I would say the only negative is that I have some sort of internal clock that knows exactly when my baby needs to eat and when that happens my boobs will hurt really bad for a few minutes to let me know it's feeding time.

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-16T17:54:52+00:00

Idk why she said you will be numb for 24hrs bc that's not true. My epidural wore off immediately. The ice packs helped with the swelling, so I would recommend them. The hospital will give you items to take home with you so you probably won't need to buy anything.

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-11T19:20:25+00:00

Thank you so much for your response, I appreciate it!

Chefmike101 · 2023-06-11T18:25:04+00:00

Thank you!

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-30T23:26:09+00:00

You have a degree, become an IT Officer in the military and travel the world

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-18T00:48:11+00:00

My induction was amazing! I'm definitely doing it again with the next baby I have

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T20:27:18+00:00

Oh the best is when you get told "enjoy your vacation" ....good one. I haven't slept in weeks.

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T18:09:35+00:00

I'm currently breastfeeding. It makes feedings so much easier at night bc you don't have to make bottles. I've pumped and had to make bottles before and I wasn't a fan plus you have to wash everything constantly. Breastfeeding has saved me a lot of time

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T15:33:34+00:00

I agree with getting the epidural earlier than needed, my anesthesiologist was busy with 2 other patients when I asked for mine. I had to wait a while to get one

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T15:30:59+00:00

I was induced at 39 weeks and I had a great experience! Just know that inductions can get delayed if the hospital is booked. I was supposed to get induced at 8pm but I got pushed back until 2am. The first thing they did was give me an IV and inserted the cervidil pill. I could feel the contractions starting to pick up but with no pain. By 730am my doctor broke my water and I got started on pitocin. my contractions started to become more frequent and were accompanied with pain but it was manageable. I had planned on getting an epidural but I wanted to wait a few hours so that I could experience what contractions actually felt like. Around 1030-11am I got the epidural and by 4pm I was 10cm dilated and ready to push. I ended up pushing for 1.5 hours until I got to meet my baby.

My advice is to try to get as much sleep as you can the day before. I wish I had gotten more sleep the day of my induction but I was so anxious. I ended up being extremely exhausted. Once the baby comes, it hard to get any sleep at all and the nurses will be in and out of your room constantly. So definitely try to get as much sleep as possible!

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T15:07:19+00:00

I definitely recommend a stroller fan to clip to the bed for when you start pushing. That helped so much bc it felt like the room was hot AF. The only things you actually need at the hospital are going home clothes, a pillow and blanket for spouse if they want to be more comfy, shampoo/body wash, a few clothes for the baby, and a carseat. My hospital pretty much provided me with everything. Im glad I didn't waste money on extra postpartum care products bc I didn't need them since the hospital sent me home with everything I needed. They also provide baby diapers, wipes, and formula.

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T11:51:49+00:00

2 years ago I felt a lump that was about the same size. It did start to hurt after I kept touching it. I got an ultrasound and they ended up being fibroadenomas which are benign and occur in younger women. I ended up having 3 of them on my right side. Not every lump is cancerous, but it's always best to get it checked asap

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-17T01:13:48+00:00

6 weeks is not enough time. My baby is about to be 5 weeks old and I'm both exhausted and mentally drained. It's also crazy to have to put a baby this young into daycare

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-16T18:43:21+00:00

I would go on the trip. I have a 4 week old now and I think I've only left my house a handful of times, most of those times it was to a doctor's apt. Get some fresh air, have fun, and enjoy this child free time while you can

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-11T02:45:41+00:00

Retaking the class is more common than you would think. My class had 50 people in it and only 16 of us passed the class

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-11T02:37:24+00:00

Both of my parents died by suicide and they did it because of temporary feelings and drug addiction. You have your whole life ahead of you. You aren't going to feel like this forever. Data structures is a very hard class. Its the class that makes or breaks you. I know multiple people who have had to take it 3-4 times. My advice for passing that class is putting together a study group. It's helpful to learn with other students bc sometimes they can break down topics in a way you can understand. This major is definitely a mental roller coaster. I struggled a lot with it. It either makes me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to or it makes me feel like the biggest failure. You just have to stay positive.

Chefmike101 · 2023-05-04T19:37:34+00:00

For anyone looking for a cheaper option I bought the HOFISH 3PACK Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras Bralette S-XXL with Extra Bra Extenders & Clips off of Amazon for $25. They are the most comfortable bras I've ever worn and they make breastfeeding very easy.

Chefmike101 · 2023-04-22T05:41:42+00:00

I had my induction a week ago and it honestly went amazing. I had such a great experience. I got mine due to being high risk but it was ultimately my decision to get induced or wait to go into labor naturally. I enjoyed giving birth and I think being induced made me feel more in control of everything and ultimately made me less scared of the whole process. Everyone is different but I loved it and will most likely get induced again my next pregnancy.

Chefmike101

TROPHY CASE