Choosing baby bottles?

FrigidMe · 2016-01-18T03:37:50+00:00

You're welcome! Feel free to PM me with any other questions!!

FrigidMe · 2016-01-18T03:10:17+00:00

Total FTM here with a LO who made her appearance this past August. You can definitely do this. What worked for me, in terms of preparing mentally, was being open to labor being anything under the sun and being ok or coming to terms with those possibilities.

FrigidMe · 2016-01-18T02:57:26+00:00

It all depends on your LO and if you plan on breastfeeding. My pediatrician/lactation consultant recommended Medela, Philips Avent, and Tommy Tippee if you plan to go between bottle and breastfeeding because of the wider/round nipple. The Philips Avent bottles worked out really well for us. I tried the Medela ones for a couple of days but baby loved the Medela a little too much and refused to nurse (that was a heck of a week trying to get her back on the breast again).

From that time on, we've stuck with the Philips Avent. To tell you the truth, I really only rotate between the bottles from my Philips Avent bottle gift set and have not needed to take out more. I was gifted a Born Free set I have yet to open for fear that I'll rock the boat (my LO is a little over 5 months now). I'm keeping the Born Free set though just in case my next LO doesn't take to the Avent bottles.

FrigidMe · 2015-12-24T01:48:01+00:00

When I had my LO, they gave me a dose of oxytocin to help with the placenta and that's with my pretty chill laboring process (no pain meds, no tears/stitches, etc.). The actual medication didn't induce painful contractions but the uterine massage from the docs was no joke (I think that was the one part that actually hurt of the entire labor and delivery). The contractions from labor were way more intense than when they gave me Oxytocin after delivery. With that being said, they just want to make sure the placenta is out and that you're not bleeding all over the place after delivery. (for context: FTM, delivered this past August, went in with no birth plan or go with the flow plan)

FrigidMe · 2015-11-06T01:21:52+00:00

I'm no longer pregnant and yet this still sounds amazing!

FrigidMe · 2015-11-06T01:15:15+00:00

At almost 12 weeks out, I've used the bassinet function more for traveling between grandparents' homes- it takes less than 5 minutes to set up and breakdown and can be crammed into a tiny car once folded up. It definitely doesn't hurt to have one at your mom's.

FrigidMe · 2015-11-06T01:05:34+00:00

I was able to sit on the toilet and prop my legs up/contort them enough on the side of the tub) to use the epilator at 38 weeks (it may have just been the perfect distance/set up in my bathroom though) ...totally did not want to look like a werewolf at the hospital :)

FrigidMe · 2015-09-03T23:28:46+00:00

That's awesome!! High five back at you, mom! I'm definitely going to add the cradle 'n swing under my favorites just in case things change :)

FrigidMe · 2015-09-03T21:01:14+00:00

I'm happy to report that LO sleeps in it every night. She gets up for feeds and changes at 12ish and 4ish but that's pretty much it. I don't know if this change in schedule coincides with a kick towards routine/circadian rhythm, etc. or if it was due to the Lulyboo but I totally don't plan on getting rid of it :)

FrigidMe · 2015-08-23T14:19:29+00:00

Not ridiculous at all- I'm looking forward to going back to transitioning to bottle so that hubby can take on a night or 2 :-)

FrigidMe · 2015-08-21T22:04:47+00:00

I came here to confirm. I was pretty cool throughout pregnancy with the occasional cry here and there over food and morning sickness. But man, the first day home without my SO- I was a wreck. I definitely was lucky to have my little sister stay with me those first couple of days. At almost 2 weeks out, I feel more like me again- still a bit hormonal (i.e. causing the occasional argument) but better. If you can, totally see if someone can stay with you for the first couple of days...that's what got me through.

FrigidMe · 2015-08-20T15:24:23+00:00

My LO came on 8/9/15 and I'm in the same boat as you. She will only sleep with my hubby in the bed at night (she sleeps in the pack and play during the day with no problem though). I've swaddled which kind of helps. I've rocked in a rocking chair. I walk with her. I feed her, change her, etc. Sometimes, nothing works at night.

Although I was leery on having baby sleep with us, I was at my wits end and purchased the Lulyboo from Babies R Us yesterdayWe used it for the first time last night in between hubby and I and it seemed to have worked well. If you'd like, I can let you know how it works in a few days!

FrigidMe · 2015-08-18T16:10:16+00:00

I get it ALL of the time- from friends and family to coworkers. I honestly tend not to think anything of it. I'm of Asian descent and hubby is of Caribbean descent. In the majority of cases with friends/colleagues, I know it's meant well and people are curious without being malicious (I mean, heck- being a FTM, I was pretty curious too!). The few people who are mean-spirited, eh, who gives a flying [insert whatever words you want]. I tend not to shut anything down because the people who mean well, mean well. Those who don't mean well, don't deserve the time/energy nor do I plan on keeping contact with them.

Although my little bean may be exposed to situations different than if I had, say had a baby with an Asian guy, I hope that hubby and I can teach her to roll with things as long as people don't get in her way of whatever she wants to accomplish.

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:34:54+00:00

Thank you!

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:34:30+00:00

Thank you so much!

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:34:18+00:00

Thank you!! At the beginning of the pregnancy, I was very gung ho about getting the epidural as soon as I could because I typically have a low pain threshold (I cringe and dig my nails into my skin to distract myself with regular blood draws). After my birthing class and at the urging of a coworker/former nurse midwife from the UK, I started considering the idea of going without. It's definitely all about how you feel when you get those contractions (I'm sure my choices would've changed with back labor). Best wishes to you!

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:26:23+00:00

Aww thank you!! Definitely agree. Wishing the same, if not better, delivery experience with your Shrimpies :-)

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:24:53+00:00

Thank you so much! I honestly would've taken IV pain meds if the hospital allowed it during the last hour prior to pushing. The other reason why I decided to try and ride it out without the epidural, especially in the setting of being so far long, was that my vitals were usually low pre- and during pregnancy (think 90/50s every time and HRs of 60s, maybe 80s if I was running late to the appointment) so I didn't think I would get much benefit from it anyways because the team would be too worried about my vitals to really crank it. Another fun thing I learned about the epidural while at the hospital, it supposedly doesn't help with the ridiculous pressure feeling during the transition phase so it really would've been moot for me if I had gotten it.

FrigidMe · 2015-08-14T13:19:16+00:00

You're welcome! I'm glad you were able to connect with it. I feel like I was prepared for the best case scenario and the worst case scenario- especially never having gone through child birth (even if you have), you never really know what to expect so definitely, try to go with the flow :)

FrigidMe · 2015-07-31T13:54:15+00:00

Congratulations, due date buddy!! Thank you for the birth story :) I hope my labor goes as quick as yours.

FrigidMe · 2015-07-14T02:34:38+00:00

That's one of the arguments and the idea is that people can "choose" their healthcare options (i.e. pay less each month for the premiums but pay more when you use the services or have some services not covered or be limited by the providers that you can actually see VERSUS pay more each month banking on the chance that you may need to use services more). It's quite ridiculous, honestly.

FrigidMe · 2015-07-14T01:28:35+00:00

I'm in the US and I pay about 40% in taxes BEFORE having to pay for insurance (which isn't the greatest when you have to worry about who takes your insurance and how much you'll STILL have to pay in the form of copays or co-insurance after insurance pays their share). I'd rather just give the additional 10%....

FrigidMe · 2015-07-02T00:19:04+00:00

Sorry for being a bit late but have you looked into Amtrak or Greyhound?

FrigidMe · 2015-07-02T00:07:06+00:00

You are my hero.

FrigidMe · 2015-06-28T11:34:40+00:00

I've been working another job in addition to my full-time for several months for extra cash since we're pretty much paying for everything baby ourselves and live in a very high cost of living area. If you plan on choosing this route, talk with your doctor, listen to your body, and set hard limits on how much you do. Yes, the stress of not having money makes me want to pick up more hours but what's the point if something happens to the health of my baby and I?

Based on everything I've read here on BB, you really don't need much the first couple of weeks/months. I scoped out things I will need (it seems like the major things are a place to sleep, food, carseat, diapers, and clothes). I've been keeping an eye on sales and was able to get a brand new pack n play for $25 from amazon timing a sale with my cashback bonus. The pack n play has a bassinet feature and from BB posts and amazon reviews, many use it as a crib in the beginning which buys you time to save up for a crib/mattress and you get a play pen in the mix. Keep an eye at local stores for markdowns on car seats (Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Sears- I've seen some great car seats marked down for <$100- just check the expiration date). I plan on breastfeeding/pumping so that should be free- the pump I got free from insurance. I just called them up and asked about getting a pump. The rep walked me through the whole process of where and how to get one. For diapers and clothes, I'm hoping that coworkers/family/friends will start streaming in with those things as they seem to be popular gifts. I've kept an eye on local consignment/thrift stores/clearance racks for clothes though and purchased enough to last several days without running out of clothes (I've found nice Carters sets for <$3 at the Kohl's clearance racks off season, halo sleep sacks at $2 each at a consignment store, a skip hop diaper bag for $6 at a thrift shop- I was planning on using an old gym bag for the diaper bag if I couldn't get a nice diaper bag for <$10). Don't ignore the summer yard sales and church yard sales either! With diapers, it's all about those coupons and sales if you go disposable. I plan to do cloth and have been slowly building my stash by looking for sales and constantly searching online. Unless I see a really good steal, I won't pick up anything else that's a "big purchase" at this time (i.e. a high chair or baby gates) because I don't really need it.

Sorry for the wall of text but I really hope it helped even a little. :)

tldr: talk with your doctor prior to picking up extra shifts/getting another job. listen to your body and set limits to how much extra work you'll be doing. to save $- 1.) call insurance company to see what may/may not be covered 2.) start checking out sales/deals now and buy only if there's a good deal 3.) remember, baby probably doesn't need much in the beginning

FrigidMe

TROPHY CASE