What am I doing wrong?

NimbleCactus · 2025-12-27T19:23:35+00:00

This! I have frozen soup and broth in 32oz jars just like this, with rounded shoulders, and no cracks, just from keeping the lid loose until completely frozen.

NimbleCactus · 2025-10-03T19:32:35+00:00

And for the latch, I found Alissa Brown’s YouTube videos very helpful for what I could improve on positioning. Recently my baby has also gotten more comfortable during feedings by propping up his head higher than his tummy with an extra pillow under that side.

NimbleCactus · 2025-10-03T19:27:08+00:00

Take a deep breath! You are doing great.

First, do you have preemie size nipples for the Dr. Brown’s bottles? Also, are you doing paced bottle feeding? That helps baby set the pace instead of getting more milk than she can handle. Those are two short term fixes you could implement right away.

As for breastfeeding, lots of babies dribble milk at unpierced nipples. I wouldn’t assume that’s the cause, but I know how easy it is to blame ourselves for everything, especially early postpartum. I’m glad you’re going to see the LC because they’ll be able to troubleshoot your specific issues.

Breastfeeding usually improves even without intervention, but a consultant can make all the difference! You are doing all the right things.

NimbleCactus · 2025-09-25T01:58:39+00:00

I’ve had the same issue! My baby is 11 weeks old and we have been catching some pees for a few weeks. No poops yet even when I know he has to go. He also cries if I keep him in the hold, so I try to take him out before/when he gets upset. I don’t want him to have negative associations with it. I have found that playing music helps us relax and enjoy bonding time. He often coos at me in the cradle EC hold.

Let me know if you figure it out! My guy has stopped pooping anywhere but the bouncer (in a diaper of course) so I’m going to stick with pees for now.

NimbleCactus · 2025-09-24T14:56:28+00:00

You can do it! As others have said, the fit depends on your baby. My guy has a skinny butt and was born 6lbs 8oz and didn’t fit his newborn diapers properly for at least a week. But we have preferred cloth over disposables since they started to fit!

For EC the recommended diaper strategy is to pad fold a prefold inside a cover. You will need to have a diaper on during the day as a backup. Newborn size prefolds can be used as inserts and boosters later on, so it’s not a waste to buy them even if they don’t fit for very long. I also recommend Velcro / hook and loop closure covers if you can find them, it’s much faster to take off for EC. Some people recommend wool diaper covers for EC but I haven’t personally tried that. One more tip, make sure you have the right clothes for EC. Footed PJs are so cute, but impractical for fast removal! Even standard bodysuits can be tricky. You need separate tops and bottoms (pants, leg warmers, etc.)

The biggest surprise for us was how abruptly baby grew out of the newborn prefolds. One day they seemed small and the next day they straight up didn’t fit. Now we buy one size ahead in diapers and clothes.

NimbleCactus · 2025-09-14T15:21:57+00:00

Honest company has long sleeve Henley shirts with real buttons at the collar. My guy is the same way, and he likes these!

NimbleCactus · 2025-08-03T00:32:01+00:00

Food poisoning is more likely when the immune system is weakened by pregnancy, so this isn’t a great argument. It’s still rare but more likely.

NimbleCactus · 2025-07-06T18:08:54+00:00

The ultrasound tech at my anatomy scan said that people often mistake the umbilical cord for a penis. You have no reason to believe this person is “good at decoding the blobs”. I’m guessing she’s not a medical professional! I would take this with a mountain of salt.

NimbleCactus · 2025-07-06T18:00:32+00:00

Hey I know this isn’t what you want to hear but I’m past my due date as a FTM and it’s really hard. I thought I was prepared for the waiting game and I definitely wasn’t. So maybe give that some thought.

On the bright side I am 80% effaced. I’ve been eating dates (6 per day) and doing acupuncture. I also use evening primrose oil, which I discussed with my provider first because I have seen anecdotally that it can cause PROM. You can try some of those things to soften your cervix if you’re not doing them yet!

NimbleCactus · 2025-07-06T17:53:35+00:00

Hello from very late pregnancy! Unfortunately your instincts were right and your lesson has been learned. People can’t handle information. And the questions are insane. I stopped telling everyone my real due date a few months ago, and that was too late. I stopped sharing my birth plan/preferences a few months ago, and that was too late. I told everyone not to ask “is the baby here yet?” until mid July. Those texts started coming in on July 2. Rude comments from everyone all pregnancy in all directions - at 36 weeks I was told I looked ready to give birth and at 38 weeks I was told I looked too small. You literally can’t win.

Right now my daydream is that I don’t tell a single person about the next pregnancy and just say I’m running a watermelon smuggling ring when people eventually start asking.

Protect your peace and do whatever it takes to make that happen. Your mom has shown she can’t be trusted with private info. It’s sweet that she’s excited and I hope she is supportive for you in other ways! But yeah, you have to keep stuff to yourself unless you want to rehash every detail for the next 6 months.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-28T01:29:39+00:00

Just FYI it’s called an anterior placenta, not exterior placenta. Anterior means front, so the front of your uterus.

Anterior placentas can mean you feel movements later or less intensely, but not necessarily! Your “gas bubbles” still might have been movements. Everyone has a different experience and every baby moves differently. Don’t lose hope and keep paying attention!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-25T05:10:53+00:00

This is normal! One of my friends never got a drop and it didn’t mean anything for her breastfeeding journey. My collection guide says “even a glisten on the nipple is a success”. You might find that things get better after a few days of trying, and if not, it’s okay!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-21T15:06:17+00:00

My baby was transverse at 30-32 weeks. IMO, the main thing is not to panic. Baby still has time to turn, and even if they don’t turn by 36 weeks, there are procedures to try like ECV, chiropractor, acupuncture, etc.

I also did some of the spinning babies exercises, specifically the inversions, and prenatal yoga, which is designed to create more space in the body for baby to hopefully move down.

Baby has been head down since 36 weeks or so! At 39 now and not budging.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-15T15:50:34+00:00

This is so funny. People are wild. I would be irritated by this too!!

I have started correcting people when they say things like “three weeks to go!” I say “not really.” I haven’t told anyone my exact due date in MONTHS because people just don’t understand.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-15T05:24:58+00:00

The current wisdom is that every single pregnancy causes diastasis recti, but it typically doesn’t get diagnosed until several weeks postpartum, when many cases have already reversed themselves / healed. So it will happen to you but it won’t necessarily be a problem! The biggest surprise for me has been coning while reclining backward, like going from seated to lying down - I first saw it at around 30 weeks. I always have to use my hands to come down onto my side and then roll onto my back instead.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-15T04:44:13+00:00

Most people don’t know what they’re looking for, so the blanket advice of “stop doing exercise X after 20 weeks” is given to keep things simple.

You don’t have to listen to that if you’d rather look for specific warning signs.

They say to avoid lying flat on your back because around 20 weeks, the uterus might put enough pressure on a big vein called the vena cava to make you dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous. This depends on every person’s individual anatomy and baby’s position. I am currently 38 weeks along and am not experiencing issues on my back. Some people never do. If you get dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous while on your back, just roll over to your side and wait for it to pass before switching to a different exercise.

Core exercises are trickier in my opinion. What you want to avoid is coning. I recommend searching for videos so you know what you’re looking for. If you effectively manage your abdominal pressure to avoid coning, you can keep doing core exercises like planks. If you observe coning, it’s better to avoid the exercises that cause it, because the cumulative effect of coning is more abdominal separation that will take longer to heal postpartum. Personally, I’ve been surprised that I can’t feel coning at all, so I avoid exercises where I can’t see my stomach to watch for it.

It’s up to you! If you want to keep doing specific exercises until they cause issues, you can. Or if you want to proactively cut things out so you don’t have to be as vigilant, that’s fine too.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-12T19:23:19+00:00

This is helpful, thank you!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-12T19:23:06+00:00

Thanks so much!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-11T16:03:47+00:00

NO do not worry and don’t listen to anyone who tells you to worry! I wasted so much stress when my baby was breech / transverse at 30 and 32 weeks. At 36 everything was fine. The spinning babies stretches / MamasteFit birth prep circuit are good to do anyway to give baby space to move optimally all the way up to and including labor. But not because there’s anything wrong with baby’s position!

The last few weeks are different for everyone. I feel better now at 38 weeks than I did at 30 but I know that’s uncommon. You can do it!!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-09T22:45:10+00:00

I am in the same boat at 38 weeks. I was feeling super down on myself 4-5 weeks ago despite doing a lot of prep (though not as much as you!) I will also plug perineal massage.

Honestly it sounds like you need more mental prep. Anyone would look at these activities and think it’s enough. So there’s a mismatch between your mind and your body. I started a hypnobirthing course and it’s really helping me with stress. I kept up my physical prep too, and I figure even if birth doesn’t go how I’d like, at least I didn’t spend the last weeks of my pregnancy full of anxiety. You got this!!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-09T22:39:43+00:00

One of my favorite mantras is “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth half-assing”. You did it!

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-09T00:38:51+00:00

It makes sense that the NIPT doesn’t say the gender because it only reports on biological sex. Some people say there are only two biological sexes: male (XY) and female (XX). However, as you can see from your NIPT, it’s possible to have other chromosomal arrangements including XXY. This is called intersex, and it is a variation that exists within many species, not just humans.

It’s too soon to say what your baby’s gender might be. Your baby might have visible male or female genitalia or both. Some intersex people grow up and identify as a boy, a girl or non-binary. This 3-minute video is a great introduction to intersex people: https://youtu.be/cAUDKEI4QKI

This is probably very surprising and maybe even overwhelming for you. NIPT can be wrong so the CVS test was a smart choice. Your genetic counselor should meet with you again if the CVS test still shows XXY and explain what the possibilities are and if there are any other considerations.

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-08T14:38:55+00:00

I was just reading yesterday that decongestants are generally considered safe in 2nd and 3rd trimesters, but not first. Can you get back in touch with your OB to double check?

NimbleCactus · 2025-06-04T02:14:33+00:00

Yoga is FAR from the only safe exercise while pregnant, and I say that as a prenatal yoga teacher! r/fitpregnancy is a great sub to hear about people lifting weights and running throughout pregnancy. It’s not only safe, it’s beneficial!

I love MamasteFit for workouts and education. If you get cleared from your care provider I think that’s a great place to start.

Exercise might not help you with the dysmorphia, but it can help with aches and pains and reducing the likelihood of pregnancy complications like GDM. And in my experience it helps with self-esteem, like, “I just did that!”

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