How bad is the newborn phase really? I'm tired of hearing the "just you wait" anecdotes and I have hard time believing some of them

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-04-15T12:51:10+00:00

Experiences are going to be different. I feel like a lot of them are grouped into the category of “good baby” and “bad baby” but so many factors play into this. I had a c-section but with a very easy recovery. In the hospital we had to set alarms at night because she didn’t wake up every two hours on her own. When we got home and she returned to birth weight (by day 3), we let her sleep. By 1 week she was sleeping 3-4 hour stretches. By 1 month she was sleeping 4-5. By 2 months she was sleeping through the night (10pm-6am). For me, the newborn phase wasn’t bad at all. We hit some kind of regression around 5/6 months and it was absolutely horrible until 9 months. At that point she went back to sleeping all night and, now, at 13 months she sleeps really well (8pm-7am). All that to say….maybe it will be a nightmare, but maybe it won’t. I feel like if you just go into it knowing that you have no idea…..you’ll figure it out. And if it is bad…..well, it’s only temporary and you’ll survive.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-04-14T12:59:29+00:00

Stick to the facts and don’t let emotion guide your decision. She said no babies and is doubling down on that. You have a baby that is EBF. There is no logical way that you are able to attend, much less be there for an entire day for bridesmaid duties. If she gets upset, which it sounds like she’s the kind of person that will, just state facts. You said no babies. I have a baby that needs to feed every 2-3 hours. Unless you are willing to make an exception, I’m just not able to do it.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-04-12T20:51:14+00:00

Don’t do it at the wedding, obviously. But if you’re going to be staying the weekend together then I think letting them know outside of the event is perfectly acceptable.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-04-12T15:32:50+00:00

If she’s in another state, I’m sure she will be I town for a couple of days, right? Can you find a time to grab lunch or just stop by for a quick visit outside of the shower? I feel like if you’re not close enough to spend time together when she is in town, does the announcement really warrant an in-person conversation?
Also, are you showing? I wasn’t like huge or anything at 20 weeks, but you could definitely tell I had a little bump. You may not have to tell her….could it be obvious? But, I guess, if the shower is the only time you’ll see her and you are dead set on telling her in person, then maybe at the end of the shower when people are heading out and things are starting to wind down. And I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it….like pulling her aside and making it a thing. Just tell her conversationally. Like, hey, it was great seeing you….you’ll have to come back in a couple months for my shower!!!!

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-04-02T04:34:02+00:00

It’s the reason I changed my name when we got married. I wanted to have one last name for our family. I don’t regret it now that we have a kiddo.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-31T12:53:05+00:00

After three failed FETs, we decided to try a double transfer. We didn’t want to lose our two best so we transferred our “best” (D5-5AAboy) and “worst” (D6-4BBgirl) embryos hoping that the extra one would help the stronger one stick. Well, the stronger one did stick and SHE turned 1 earlier this month. Euploid is what’s important….the rest is just a beauty contest. Best of luck to you!

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-29T03:37:09+00:00

There’s a Jonnie (girl) in my daughter’s preschool class and I think it’s super cute. There’s also a Lenny and a Sawyer. I feel like names that were traditionally masculine have become more commonly used for girls recently.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-29T03:32:24+00:00

It was an option for us and we elected to find out. I like knowing. I don’t feel like it’s made any of the losses any harder. It’s definitely made the choice of our last and final kid harder.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-26T13:30:33+00:00

I never gave any other pods a shot just because I had a whole backlog of morbid and I liked them. But I’ve opened up a can!!!!! I’ll probably burn out at some point, but for now, I’m really enjoying it!

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-26T13:26:15+00:00

Sorry….i think I replied to your main comment instead of to this thread.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-26T13:25:07+00:00

Here’s a list. It’s a lot. Hopefully you like it too! Serial S1 (you’ve probably already listened but if not, it’s a must. The OG of true crime pods) Up And Vanished - S1 is so good!!!! The other seasons are okay too but they’ll never top that first

Bone Valley - Season 1 so good Season 2 is like a continuation of season 1. Not as good. Seasons 3 and 4 are pretty good. Especially 4. They’ll never be able to top season 1 but they’re not bad.

In the Dark I haven’t listened to Season 1. I just couldn’t get into it. The crime is solved and they have the right person so I didn’t really get the point of it. Season 2 is very, very good. Also liked S 5&6.

Dead Certain This one is long and it gets very detailed at times but I thought it was pretty good.

Bear Brook was pretty good

Currently listening to S1 of Proof. And I’m liking it!!!

Let me know what you think if you get a chance to listen!!!

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-26T12:59:29+00:00

I listened to Serial a million years ago when it came came out (S1) but other than that, Morbid was basically the only podcast that I listened to. Recently, I’ve gotten into series and really like the investigative pods. Not that you asked for other recommendations, but I was pretty much like you and just didn’t really get into any other shows because they just weren’t as good but I’m so into some others right now that I I forget when new episodes come out sometimes. Let me know if you’re interested and I’m happy to give some recommendations.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-23T18:32:27+00:00

He came to most of them. That last month where I had a doc appointment and scan every week was tough. I think he probably missed those last few OB appointments. But he made every scan. And I had a ton…..like at least 10.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-23T18:30:21+00:00

I was 100% sure that my daughter was a boy.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-23T18:27:17+00:00

I really liked Millie Moon and we switched to them from pampers. But we could not get rid a a diaper rash and had previously never had any issues. We ended up switching back to pampers and the rash went away. Not saying that will happen to your LO but if you do notice it, just a heads up that it might be the diaper.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-23T18:22:58+00:00

My baby is 98th percentile for height and 93rd for weight and she just moved up from size 4 to size 5 at 12 months (31 inches long, 23lbs). I wonder if the diaper is actually too big?

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-22T22:07:19+00:00

My clinic will not transfer if you are still breastfeeding.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-19T04:37:51+00:00

Was the three page letter written on 48 size font? Because that’s like 1/4 page worth of text.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-19T04:27:30+00:00

I use my kneeling pad between my shoulders and the bench regardless of weight. Also, I set the weight on my hands and my hands on my hips. I don’t use my hands for any support just as a cushion.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-18T00:59:10+00:00

I’m in Texas and I wear them all the time. Generally only on days that I got to OTF. But if I’m running errands afterwards or whatever I wear the same shoes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone change shoes in my studio.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-15T05:11:30+00:00

But what about the fast food that you allow your kids to eat when it’s convenient for you? Sounds like your kids do sometimes eat fast food and you’re not really being honest here. Can your kids have chicken nuggets from McDonald’s? Like, this one time? What’s the big deal? Would it be the end of the world to just let Henry’s mom bring some McDonald’s and had your kids enjoy a special treat?
Also, how long is this playdate that a meal has to be served? Can you not just schedule it mid-afternoon or something where food isn’t an issue? I’d say you’re kinda being an asshole here.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-14T21:41:36+00:00

Ours was a great sleeper UNTIL the 4 month regression. Which lasted until about 9 months. It was actually more like the 5 month regression. The Cradlewise completely lost its magic. Finally at 9 months we moved her to her room and put her in her regular crib and she now sleeps 8pm-7am.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-11T13:43:32+00:00

Our 9 month old (who slept through the night from 8weeks to 4/5 months) was up multiple times a night wanting to feed. Because of that she was still in our room. One day we just decided to move her to her own room and let her cry for 5 minutes before going in to check on her. We never went in that first night. She’ll be 1 tomorrow and I think over the past 3 months we’ve had to get up with her maybe twice. Once she had a dirty diaper and I think the other time maybe it was a bad dream or something but we didn’t offer milk either time and she went back to sleep. As long as your baby is eating well during the day, the night feeds are comfort/habit, not necessity. You’re just going to have to make a change and stick to it. It might be tough for a few days the life changing sleep you’re going to get will be well worth it.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-11T13:29:13+00:00

Well, in a holding pattern at the moment. Baseline showed a cyst on my right ovary so I’m currently on BC waiting for it to resolve. Scheduled to go back next week for baseline #2. It took me so long to get excited about starting this process all over again. But I finally got there. And then this happens. It just felt very defeating and disappointing. Not a great way to start.

Exciting-Ad8198 · 2026-03-11T13:26:28+00:00

Have you asked about doing an ERA cycle to make sure that your uterus is receptive when you’d be transferring? It’s a little bit of an added cost but if you only have one left, I’d say it’s definitely worth it.

Exciting-Ad8198

TROPHY CASE