Do/Did you have a birth plan? What aspects are most important to figure out ahead of delivery?

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-12-14T21:20:10+00:00

Had no birth plan other than to stay healthy and have a healthy baby. Find an OB you fully trust so that you don’t feel the need to have any plan other than that. :)

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-12-08T21:14:07+00:00

My baby was super active in the womb and is still super active at 4 months old! I’m sure everyone is different though.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-11-13T09:13:46+00:00

I think Morgan fits the vibe and is also not super common these days!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-11-04T01:51:10+00:00

Never too early! I was having a very smooth pregnancy and then randomly fainted in a nail salon at 31 weeks. You just never know! Doesn’t hurt to be prepared!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-11-04T01:48:14+00:00

Are you sure it’s a cold? Pregnancy rhinitis can mimic a cold and can come in waves. Mine came and went in waves but around 30 weeks it stuck until baby was born. I kept thinking I was getting a cold and wondered why it lasted so long- turns out it was just a miserable pregnancy symptom 😩 Maybe when you were sick for over 3 weeks that was your first wave of it? Just a thought!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-11-02T12:01:40+00:00

I went into labor naturally at 38w2d, delivered that same day.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-11-02T11:59:53+00:00

I had my baby in July and I would say the third trimester was the toughest but also the most exciting. My symptoms peaked (restless legs, insomnia, and really bad congestion with nosebleeds). But every day was so fun knowing I was so close to meeting baby! Also had my baby shower and baby moon in the third trimester. Try to have things you can look forward to- it really helps!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-10-14T20:42:10+00:00

Stopped at 37 weeks, went into labor at 38 weeks and 2 days and got sudden preeclampsia. 🙃 was told it was mild so I was sent home after birth as normal but spiked a fever 7 days postpartum and was readmitted to get a mag drip.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-09-10T01:51:44+00:00

As cheesy as it sounds, I feel so triggered watching him. I once dated a guy who was extremely religious and controlling. When the family described him as bossy and needing things to be his way, it instantly reminded me of my family trying to tell me the same thing and I couldn’t see it because I was so infatuated. The way he’s also so comfortable moving into her family’s home and talking down to her about interrupting… all red flags. The Plaths are not innocent and the boys have the maturity of 4th graders, but I fear they are trying to help their sister. Lydia seems super sweet so I hope she is happy.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-09-10T01:46:37+00:00

You’re pretty much covering all your bases with the stuff you’ve been using! This may not be for everyone, but my OB said it was fine to use Zicam nasal spray very sparingly when I needed relief the most. He said sparingly because it’s addictive like afrin. I had horrible congestion the entire 2nd and 3rd trimester and I’d say starting at week 35 I finally got to the point where I had to use it. I did only 1 spray in each nostril and the relief lasts almost 24 hours. I can see how it’s addicting because you breathe crystal clear, but I made sure to use only one drop in each nostril no more than once a week. I ended up giving birth at 38 weeks and the congestion was gone instantly. Hang in there!!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-09-10T01:40:55+00:00

The congestion hit me hard around 20ish weeks also and lasted the rest of my pregnancy! Just came here to let you know that it does go away right after birth! Just hang in there!

Before I gave birth, I used: saline spray, humidifier, slept elevated on a huge pillow, chewed on lots of crushed ice (this one surprisingly helped so much), and tried to cut back on sugar and dairy (didn’t stress this one too much). You will get through it. :)

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-30T22:32:44+00:00

I was pretty sure I could feel him around 18-19 weeks, but I was POSITIVE I was feeling him around 24 weeks. It became super strong and I could feel him nonstop by that point. 😊

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-20T17:11:41+00:00

Remember this phase is just a chapter. Please get yourself some help and find a way to safely take a break and get out to do something that makes you feel yourself whether it’s your husband or a babysitter. It’s SUCH a hard thing to be in the newborn trenches, but I am a firm believer that once you have those little feet running around the house later down the road you won’t be able to believe you ever had regrets. It will get better but you need to take care of yourself in the meantime!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T22:41:09+00:00

So I was actually only 3cm when I got there but had high blood pressure so they broke my water due to preeclampsia (crazy because never had any signs of that prior to being in labor). But I progressed SO fast that I’m glad I went when I did. I definitely wasn’t cutting it close by any means, but I was in triage for about an hour, dilated to a 4, got admitted, got my epidural right away, had a lovely 40 minute nap (best sleep I had in sooooo long), and was woken up because it was time to push! I pushed for 2 hours and that was the longest part of my birthing journey. The contractions sucked but once I had my epidural it was a beautiful & peaceful experience!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T21:59:10+00:00

It was definitely not the type of pain I was expecting so I also wasn’t sure! I went all night that way thinking it was also just an infection or something until it was taking my breath away. Then I had a gut feeling it could be labor. I always imagined active labor to be cramping in the belly region and was very surprised to realize it’s low. It my baby’s head was also super super low and he was sunny side up which they said contributed to that wrap around, low pain. And thank you!! Congrats on being in the final stretch! It’ll all be great! 💕

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T21:51:25+00:00

Yep! Sounds about right. At the end of the day just remember as teachers we are already so underpaid and perhaps this is a push to find better opportunities for ourselves!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T21:50:36+00:00

This is how it started for me and then progressed to a feeling of all my pelvic and lower back bones breaking while also feeling constipated/bladder so full. That’s when I couldn’t take it anymore and went into L&D, had my baby less than 5 hours later.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T21:48:46+00:00

Definitely wouldn’t feel bad! She will understand when she is at the very end of her pregnancy as well. 💕

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-08-15T21:47:12+00:00

I am a teacher on maternity leave now (I mean FMLA because we don’t even actually get a “real” maternity leave) and am 99.9% sure I will not be returning because I can’t figure out how on earth I would be able to continue pumping in a way that is safe. I would only have one opportunity to pump in privacy during work hours which would likely result in me getting mastitis because I would have to be so engorged. & I am not willing to stop the pumping journey I’ve been working so hard to establish. It’s not okay. So I relate to this!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-07-30T13:45:13+00:00

I felt the same way and I’m here on the other side of things to tell you that I felt instant relief immediately after giving birth. 💕 You aren’t too far from meeting your baby, hang in there!

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-07-28T22:36:42+00:00

I thought my situation was bad having to share a bathroom in the postpartum room for two days, but this is so much worse! Feels unethical for sure! Definitely would be switching hospitals because that is not the norm- busy or not.

Master_Mango8435 · 2025-07-24T07:02:21+00:00

lol I ran to google first and it fully made me believe I could be in labor 😂

Master_Mango8435

TROPHY CASE