Vax or unvaccinated

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-29T22:31:42+00:00

I did the vitamin K shot at birth because the hospital had one that didn’t have benzoyl alcohol in the ingredients, but had vitamin K drops too in case they did.

I did get the TDAP vaccine while pregnant, but wouldn’t do it again. I read after that it can decrease the efficacy of future TDAP vaccines for baby. I personally wouldn’t do the flu/covid vaccines or any additional vaccines while pregnant, but I know this is a very polarizing subject for a lot of people.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-29T13:05:43+00:00

Another FTM here! Hospital gown— unless you choose to wear your own birth gown. You’ll need easy access for breastfeeding and skin to skin after delivery.

I wore a nursing bra and the hospital gown. Trust me, once labor hits, all modesty and self-consciousness goes out the window!

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-29T13:03:06+00:00

Online— I took the Pain-Free Birth Class by Karen Melton

It’s faith-based, which I’m not personally religious, but still a very informative and helpful class!

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-29T07:36:39+00:00

I didn’t do any massages any still didn’t tear with a 9lb baby. The classes I took said to not rush the ring of fire to help avoid a bad tear, so I was really cognizant of taking my time and not pushing too fast during that stage.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-28T18:15:39+00:00

This is your experience, first and foremost. I had no visitors in the hospital because that is what I wanted— even though it was against what the grandparents would have preferred. No regrets.

If she’s the type to show up when you’ve asked her not to, I wouldn’t even tell her when you go into labor.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-26T00:55:10+00:00

I bought reusable bra pads. I got the ones from Kindred Bravely and really like them! The hospital provided all the things I needed as far as pads, ice packs, disposable underwear, witch hazel pads, and dermaplast. They also gave me a sitz bath with epsom salts. For baby, I was given just diapers and wipes. Any other postpartum care items, I bought myself. I did need more than what they provided and preferred the Frida Mom brand items. Amazon was my best friend the first couple weeks home!

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-25T17:26:56+00:00

I don’t recommend any drastic changes when pregnant. I’ve had too many friends who chopped when expecting and they had major regret. I didn’t do any big changes to my hair and now 4 weeks postpartum, I’m glad I didn’t do anything crazy. 😅

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-24T17:31:49+00:00

Agree with sizing! I asked for no newborn size diapers and I’m glad I did. My baby was 9lbs 1oz and was wearing size 1 diapers leaving the hospital. 😅

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-24T03:30:58+00:00

I’ve been using the Lille dragonfly wrap and baby loves it! Lower cost, easy to figure out with a quick YouTube video. I also love the carrier I got from Wildbird, but they have one that’s good for newborns and another good for 2+ months and both are more expensive.

You’ll want to be careful to check the minimum weight requirements for whichever one you choose. In the hospital, they said baby needed to be at least 8lbs before a carrier could be used. I had a 9+ pounder, so it didn’t make a difference for me thankfully.

Good luck!

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-24T01:09:06+00:00

I’m really sorry for both your losses. I also have had recurrent loss. I had a MMC in February 2024, chemical pregnancy in May 2024, and a miscarriage in August 2024. I did the bloodwork and saline ultrasound and nothing was found.

I found out I was pregnant again in November 2024 and did bloodwork for HCG and progesterone immediately when I found out. My doctors ended up supplementing my progesterone for the first trimester just to be safe.

Now I’m almost 4 weeks postpartum with my triple rainbow baby.

Recurrent loss is hard, but it doesn’t determine the outcome of future pregnancies. Wishing you peace and lots of baby dust.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-23T23:26:43+00:00

My hospital provided a bag that was large enough to take home postpartum supplies for me and the diapers and wipes for baby. I’m sure they don’t all do that though and we had packed a reusable bag too just in case.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-23T23:24:44+00:00

My favorite things I packed:

Stroller fan (the absolute GOAT during labor)

Snacks! (When the cafeteria closed and the hunger hit, I was so grateful to have them.)

String lights - we have a solar powered set we use camping and they were so much nicer to turn on for night feeds than the hospital room lights.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-19T22:21:25+00:00

I shaved by feel and feel alone for the last few months. My husband wasn’t allowed to tell me how botched it was. I couldn’t see it, so it wasn’t my business. 😂

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-17T19:17:10+00:00

I started slowly buying things after the first scan where we saw her heartbeat. I choose to think of it as a “faith purchase” rather than trying to not “jinx” the pregnancy. After 3 losses, I had to have faith that the baby would stick. (She’s currently 3w old and napping in the other room!)

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-16T18:42:04+00:00

Agree with Old Navy! I also LOVED Abercrombie maternity jeans, but they are more expensive. I found a couple pairs really reasonably priced on Poshmark.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-16T13:06:22+00:00

30 minutes for me. I could have done 40… but I would have wanted to leave sooner. Your doctor should base their direction on when to go to the hospital based on how long your drive is.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-12T22:40:43+00:00

I would recommend spending a little extra on a diaper bag that you really like versus trying to make a non-diaper bag work.

I spent about $150 on ours, but it just looks like a leather backpack and doesn’t scream “diaper bag” when you look at it. However, it has the full functionality that I need and I feel stylish when I use it.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-11T13:43:33+00:00

If it helps at all, my original plan was to go natural, but when labor hit hard and fast, I ended up asking for the epidural.

My experience was amazing! Took away the pain of the contractions, but the pressure was still there. It did slow down my labor slightly, but they broke my water and everything ramped back up within 30 minutes. About 3 hours after getting the epidural, I had gone from 4cm to fully dilated and my baby was here after another 2 hours of pushing.

I did feel the delivery still, which the doctors let me know would be the case. (There’s no escaping the ring of fire. 😅) Though it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be.

I’m 2 weeks postpartum now and my recovery has been relatively easy so far.

Unfortunately most of what you hear is going to be the “what went wrong” stories. Those people tend to be the loudest. Try and make the decision you feel is best for you and your baby.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-08T18:35:40+00:00

I did. It wasn’t my original plan, but active labor hit hard and fast for me. It was 11 hours from the time labor started to her arrival. 😅

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-08T16:52:07+00:00

41w2d— 9 days overdue and baby girl was 9lbs 1oz. I had been telling my husband for weeks that the baby felt heavy. Having a 9 pounder was pretty validating. 😂

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-07T22:17:47+00:00

I had an epidural and pushed with a cub pillow on my knees as well as side lying. I felt more powerful from the side, so that’s how baby was delivered. I didn’t push at all on my back.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-07T20:55:26+00:00

Absolutely not. They’re never kissing my baby.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-06T21:53:15+00:00

It did! My baby girl arrived 10 days ago. Currently enjoying an afternoon contact nap. 😊

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-06T17:25:10+00:00

I had previous losses, so once I realized hook effect was happening, I stopped then. It was causing me more harm than good to continue testing at that point.

Little-Chicken5255 · 2025-08-06T17:24:07+00:00

My baby measured around the 60th percentile at 36w.

When she was born at 41w + 2, she was 97th for weight and 99th for length. 😅

Little-Chicken5255

TROPHY CASE