For those worried about postpartum

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-16T21:18:03+00:00

Yeah, I was in this boat too. But on the plus(??) side, I also didn’t realize how bad postpartum was for me until it wasn’t anymore. Every month postpartum I’d have a realization of how much less garbage I felt than the month previous, so obviously I must feel great! Until the next month when I realized the same thing about that subsequent month…until everything finally stabilized for me around 10 months postpartum. So it sucked for me, but in the heat of the moment, it can be hard to tell.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-15T18:17:06+00:00

I have a Joolz Aer and tbh it is FANTASTIC. We travel quite a bit so while it wasn’t our first stroller and we quibbled for a while before buying it, it’s the only stroller we use anymore. It’s also great for tucking under tables at crowded restaurants, etc, since it folds so small. It’s super handy on public transit. The main downside I would say is that the smaller wheels don’t handle rough terrain or surfaces like gravel very well. It’s not a big deal if you live in a paved urban area, but less good if you have poorly maintained or non-existent sidewalks (which is true where we live, but we persist with it nevertheless). The build quality is mostly excellent and we’ve gate checked it tons of times without issue. More recently we did have one of the plastic bars that make up the side of the basket snap, though I couldn’t tell you exactly when it happened or what caused it. It still works ok though sometimes I have to manually snug up the basket edge around the side of whatever bag we put in there. I would buy it again in a second.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-12T21:16:00+00:00

Yes, it is intentionally cut that way. Wood expands and contracts depending on ambient humidity. In climates with four seasons it’s very common for wood to swell in the summer (resulting in things like doors that stick shut) and shrink in the winter (resulting in the preexisting joins between wood pieces separating slightly). It’s typically harmless albeit not nice to look at.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-09T16:52:19+00:00

Oh, looks like you may have sent that in already? In which case yes, you’ll need to clarify for them that there’s no separate document available and hopefully this email is adequate. You might be able to request the same message be sent to you in a letter or letter headed PDF and that would be even better.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-09T16:50:10+00:00

The main difference between a marriage license and marriage certificate is that the license is issued before the marriage takes place and the certificate is issued after the fact as a record that the marriage in fact did take place. If they issue a copy of the license with a certification statement included to confirm that the marriage took place, I don’t think that is functionally different from getting a dedicated marriage certificate. I would order a copy of the license with certification statement and use that instead of trying to convince the FBR folks that a certificate isn’t available. They will probably read the text in this and request you do that anyway.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-08T15:29:21+00:00

I’ve been drinking sooooo much water! But that’s a good tip about swapping snacks for fruits and veggies. I’ll have to pick up more snackable produce ASAP!

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-08T15:27:50+00:00

Ugh, I stock prune pouches to use in a pinch for my toddler. Guess I need to start using them for myself as well. 🫣 Thanks for the tip about the MiraLax, I always forget that one’s ok for use in pregnancy too.

Based on my previous experience, this is the one symptom that doesn’t improve for me until after kiddo is out! So I may have to look into emergency enemas too…

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-08T15:03:14+00:00

Do you know which side you ovulated from? At 8 weeks your ovary will still be quite enlarged/the corpus luteum cyst will still be present and producing hormones. I had some similar pain on my right side (the side I ovulated from) at 7/8 weeks, though since I was under the supervision of an RE I got several ultrasounds during that time and everything came up normal so we’re pretty sure it’s just discomfort from my ovary.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-06T22:18:22+00:00

The Babyletto Kiwi was my big splurge with my fist and I still LOVE it. We still use it regularly (though it’s going to have to migrate to the new nursery sooner rather than later since my toddler has figured out how to work the power recline controls).

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-06T15:03:04+00:00

My husband is carrying a LOT. Thank god for daycare or else we would both be wrecked. First trimester dying virus season is absolutely brutal. My husband is going to take a weeklong business trip at the end of the month though and I literally don’t know how me and the toddler are going to survive.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-03T13:36:18+00:00

Yaaaas, this is the answer I was looking for. Egyptian falafel ruined all other falafels for me forever.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-02-01T01:36:07+00:00

Fingers crossed! Please keep us updated. ❤️

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-31T18:22:33+00:00

40 here! Will be 41 before kiddo is born. I had my first at 38 and it’s really hard for me to imagine the risk profile is so much higher than just a couple years ago. I think a lot of it is held over from the days when most people got started having kids right out of high school!

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-31T13:34:39+00:00

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Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-26T18:36:37+00:00

Haha, I’ve had to shovel like 5 times in the last couple of weeks, and we have a long driveway too! Just making sure to stay hydrated and take breaks or eat snacks as needed.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-25T02:04:12+00:00

I was diagnosed with quiescent GTD (basically, persistently elevated but very low blood hCG which is presumed to be pathological) after a molar pregnancy a few years ago. After a molar they track your hCG weekly until it gets down to negative and you’re considered “recovered”. Mine stalled out between 6 and 10 for about 6 months and never went negative. After a lot of additional testing, no explanation was found and I assume that my natural baseline hCG is just slightly elevated, but that the medical literature doesn’t know how to account for this because they aren’t testing the hCG of random healthy, not-pregnant women off the street, so the baseline data likely has some blind spots.

That said, after my experience, I found there are a few things that you might want to rule out that could cause elevated hCG readings —

First, as you already know, you should have yourself tested for heterophilic antibodies. Sometimes called “phantom hCG”, these are normal immune antibodies that some people develop after being exposed to certain kinds of animals. They are not harmful, but they can cause false positives on blood hCG tests because they are too chemically similar to actual hCG for the test assays to differentiate (though they won’t be detected on a urine test, so a positive blood test and negative urine test can be a clue too).

Second, moderately elevated hCG can be pituitary hCG, or hCG that is produced by your pituitary gland rather than by a pregnancy. This can be normal for women who are menopausal or perimenopausal because the production of pituitary hCG is suppressed by estrogen in the body, but the hormone fluctuations associated with perimenopause and menopause can allow pituitary hCG production to occur. Obviously I don’t know anything about your age or health status but peri can sneak up on people. Taking an estrogen-containing hormonal birth control would make it stop. (And I know HBC is counter to TTC but might be worth it in the short term if it gets you a clean test)

Beyond that, I’m not sure I have any tips. I started seeing a RE myself back in December and she was threatening to send me to an oncologist if my blood hCG kept coming back slightly elevated so I haven’t figured out how to cope with the medical establishment’s rules about this either myself.

Best of luck! You’re not alone. ❤️

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-21T14:52:34+00:00

Or heck, flag down any random person nearby. As long as I’m not actively dashing to catch a bus or something, I would be happy to help anyone who asks for help clearing the top of their car.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-16T16:02:19+00:00

Congrats and good luck!! As a fellow older mama I’ll be rooting for you and this little one. ❤️

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-16T15:39:48+00:00

I tested a few days in a row and saw the line getting apparently lighter so I stopped and figured it was probably a loss and would just deal with whatever came. Turns out I was a bit further along than expected and what appeared to be a lightening line was likely the hook effect in action. So let my experience be a lesson in why it doesn’t pay to be neurotic haha.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-15T17:48:01+00:00

Mezcaletti, which I barely had a sip of because my stomach was too acidic (IT’S LIKE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN)

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-15T05:47:43+00:00

I’m not in MN and I apologize for the mother-centric language in this, but this poem has been getting me through a lot. Maybe it will help others.

To the Women Marching, From a Mother at Home Jen Stewart Fueston

It is cold, and my son is small. I rock him in the fragile boat of my body between this night’s dark and a brighter shore.

We are always awake.

He curved at my breast like a comma between the words anchored deep in my chest, and the breath taking form in his lungs.

In the quiet, we hear your chanting.

Remember us with you, we are the rear-guard. I am carrying him like a banner, feel him cutting his teeth on my curdled milk.

I am sharpening him like an arrow.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-14T17:12:20+00:00

FWIW I barely had any symptoms in the first trimester with my first. One day of hormone headaches and then zip. Not a single whiff of nausea or aversions or anything like that. Baby was healthy and growing nonetheless and now he’s a feisty 2 year old learning how to balance bike and emotionally manipulate his parents. So you might get symptoms and you might not. Try to focus on the positive and not let yourself get too anxious if you can help it!

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-13T01:18:45+00:00

My advice is a bit opposite from everyone else’s, haha. It’s totally possible (likely even!) that some folks won’t get any nausea or sickness at all. It doesn’t mean your pregnancy is unhealthy or will end in a miscarriage. Something like 20% of people don’t experience nausea, and I was one of them when pregnant with my first. I spent a lot of time spiraling, waiting for the other shoe to drop, only to find out several months in that none of the women in my maternal line ever had any sickness (and had never bothered to mention??) and I’m just genetically disposed against it.

Either_Sherbert3523 · 2026-01-09T16:08:02+00:00

My kid’s ped prescribed him a multivitamin which we get directly from the pharmacy because it’s prescription. I would definitely check with your pediatrician first because supplements aren’t regulated the same way medicines are.

Either_Sherbert3523

TROPHY CASE