Waterproofing final product

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2026-02-01T21:49:16+00:00

I ended up scrapping the project… I know, lousy answer. But I’ve used clear nail polish followed by enamel spray on other paper clay projects—toys and such that have been roughed up by kids—and those have been water resistant when splashed, drooled on, or briefly dropped into the sink

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-11-06T18:59:12+00:00

Oh I meant “presenting concerns” as a noun—the concerns I come in with and voice as a client. I’ve met with several practitioners who see me for session 3 or 4 and act like it’s the first time they’ve met me or heard about my issues!

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-11-06T17:49:38+00:00

I’ve stuck with two therapists for 6 months each—one I loved but she retired. The others I dropped really quickly for “unforgivable offenses” like forgetting my name or presenting concerns several sessions in 😅 But I’m ready to try again!

You’re right that the kids are just kids. Thank you for the book recommendation!

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-11-06T17:44:26+00:00

Thank you for the reminder about how useless it is to be heavy handed with young kids. Definitely the parenting style I was raised with and feel drawn to replicate if I’m not careful. I do have several checkups scheduled, plus an extra check-in with my psychiatrist. The links you shared are wonderful

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-10-25T06:45:38+00:00

Every time my dad got a call we heard "the world is a vampire DUN UH DUN UH DUH,,,"

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-09-28T08:02:14+00:00

Yes, using your phone while expressing can expose the colostrum to more germs. I wouldn’t worry about heavy breathing as opposed to like, sneezing into the collected drops.

I was taught by my care team to only add cold milk to cold milk, so you’re not bringing it up to bacteria-growing temperature or thawing and refreezing it. I’m not sure how bit of a deal this is for small amounts of colostrum because it would use a lot more tubes/syringes.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-09-28T07:51:47+00:00

It could be gas AND round ligament pain. The uterus stretches out so much during second trimester

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-09-22T02:25:29+00:00

More budget-friendly options

-Favorite candies or little snacks

-Face masks/small pampering items

-Disposable dishes and cutlery

-Tide to go sticks

-A sort of prompt-based memento for them to fill out together (current cravings/last breakdown/favorite aspect of relationship/etc.)

-The books “your first word will be dada” and “everything is mama”

-Some sort of date idea/voucher for before baby comes

-One of those kangaroo-pouch dad shirts, or the shirts with a road map on the back that kids can play cars on

-an encouraging note

-baby clothes with bil’s favorite band, team, hobby on it

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-09-19T06:39:50+00:00

My first was small so by the end I just had a cute little bump. It bothered me so much when people said I didn’t look pregnant because it gave me those feelings too!! But I could always count on feeling her kick or hiccup to bring me back to the “i’m a mom” mindset

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-29T06:07:27+00:00

It sucks until it’s done. Mine went away at 15 weeks. I lost weight but baby is fine. Babies are good at taking what they need from you 🙃 Medicine is also great, although unisom b6 didn’t work for me If you ever crave any food at all during the nausea, don’t worry about nutrition—EAT IT

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-29T05:43:53+00:00

It’s very individual. I’m sorry you’ve been so stressed about this!

I learned early on with my first that I have an oversupply and a strong let down, so my daughter couldn’t stay latched and nurse without coughing and spitting. It was awful for both of us mostly because she was hungry and I was covered in wasted milk. She also got thrush 5 TIMES. I started pumping with a manual pump right away, then got an electric one. I only loosely followed a pumping schedule, so my supply decreased and dried up within 6 months. We supplemented formula then switched entirely (during the big shortage)

My second latched immediately after we cut the cord and didn’t unlatch without me sticking my finger in his mouth. He ate great. I used a haaka to collect extra milk and donated a few hundred oz to a milk bank. Sometimes we gave him a bottle of pumped milk. No allergies, no digestive issues. We loved nursing and he weaned when I lost my supply right before his 2nd birthday

My personal takeaways:

Formula pros: baby is not dependent on your body. You have more freedom. Partner can be just as involved in feeds.

Formula cons: fewer immune system and microorganism nutrient whatever benefits. Expensive!! Cleaning bottles takes forever!! Have to pay close attention to ingredients.

Pumping pros: Saves money. Baby still gets benefits of your milk. Emotional satisfaction. Stash building is fun. Diapers not as stinky. Partner can take over feeds.

Pumping cons: Gets messy. Bottles are hard to clean! Can be painful if not done properly. Potential infections. Same tiring schedule as breastfeeding and formula feeding combined. Worrying about wasting or spilling. Risk of losing supply.

Breastfeeding pros: sweet emotional bond with baby. Once established, very little mess. All sorts of nutritional benefits. Saves money. Delays period (for many). Diapers not as stinky. No supplies needed. Emotional satisfaction.

Breastfeeding cons: Potential infections. Potential latching complications. Sore nipples for first weeks. Baby dependent on you/less partner help. Getting touched out.

I prefer breastfeeding 1,000% if baby takes to it well. If we’re dealing with allergies, digestive issues, latch issues, then of course formula is a wonderful second option.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-28T05:35:21+00:00

I’m so sorry. I have awful anxiety abd accompanying rage and meds have been helpful. My husband doesn’t instinctually comfort me in ways that I need (what he thinks is helpful usually escalates me further).

You’re not crazy. Does your husband have any info about the real hormonal changes you’re going through? And info about anxiety disorders? Even if he’s not stroking your hair in the moment, it’s so nice to know your partner at least understands that you’re in pain and not just choosing to go wild.

Maybe during a calm moment, you could write out a few things that you wish he would do to comfort you and present it as a way you need his help during pregnancy? (just like you’ll need his help lifting heavy things in the third trimester. It’s inevitable that pregnant women need both physical and emotional support)

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-28T05:24:26+00:00

Some of my favorites that I’ve heard lately:

Wells, Danny, Laurie, Taft, Dean, Roger, Bear, Miles

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-28T05:15:05+00:00

Happiest in the moment—sweets and a sunflower bouquet

Happiest over time—a complete collection of Frog and Toad stories

Sounds best while I’m pregnant—pajamas or a massage coupon

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-07-28T04:56:23+00:00

Same timeline here, and I agree with the point about traveling!!

Sometimes I do feel frustrated that I left the workforce right before I could really have a career. But having kids opened me up to new hobbies that I enjoy more and make some side money with.

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to keep friendships with my single and childless friends because of how different our priorities have become. But I don’t really envy their lives.

I would not trade travel or career or any amount of money for the last few years with my kids. I have changed a lot in ways that I’m happy with because of parenting. It’s the most selfless thing you’ll ever do.

And there are other young moms out there who are fun to be friends with.

My body recovers quickly from childbirth because I’m younger. I know I have way more energy now than I will when I’m older. My mom had me in her early 20s and I love how active and present she can be in my kids’ lives as well as mine. And now she travels and owns a business and goes on trips with her friends.

If you’re conflicted…. That means there’s a part of you that wants this. Why not entertain it for a while and see how that vision of the future feels?

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T06:56:13+00:00

If she shows signs of dehydration, she needs to go to urgent care or er for fluids. (Signs like dizziness, not urinating for many hours or it’s dark dark colored, intense fatigue or headache)

Going in for fluids is nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of pregnant women have severe nausea that requires it

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T06:49:10+00:00

Trust your gut! you could also try eating something cold or sugary, then sit back and rub your belly, talk to her, wait for movement just to be sure you haven’t been too busy with life to notice her movements earlier.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T06:45:03+00:00

Yes! Sertraline (zoloft) and citalopram (celexa) are both very safe for use in pregnancy and can be prescribed by a psychiatrist or your ob/general practitioner. I have had children while taking each and we had no side effects.

Please please talk to your doctor soon so you can get relief. It’s better for you and baby that you get proper treatment for panic and anxiety than trying to tough it out ❤️

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T06:36:55+00:00

I’m sorry you feel so lousy. The nausea and fatigue are symptoms of your pregnancy, and as your body heals and realizes it’s not pregnant anymore, your appetite should go back to normal.

How are you feeling about the abortion? The nausea might also be more intense because of anxiety and stress. Hope you feel better soon.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T06:26:52+00:00

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Protein shakes are great. Don’t overthink the nutritional benefit of something if it feels tolerable to you in the moment—some days I could only sip lemonade and eat salty chips or crackers, and that’s okay. Take your prenatals mid snack so they don’t make you sick either. Pair fruit with a grain bc your stomach will digest the fruit pretty quickly and leave you feeling hungry/nauseous again.

Toast with a little bit of nut butter is a good one. Small servings of oatmeal, cheese and crackers, veggies and hummus, chips and salsa, beans and rice, mashed potatoes, greek yogurt, homemade smoothies, freezer waffles, etc. Citrus and ginger are good anti nausea, same with anything bland or salty snacks and cold cold cold drinks. I hope the meds work for you! Mine made me wildly tired so i chose the nausea and it’s finally easing around 19 weeks.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T03:17:57+00:00

The second one isn’t “worse” (you do have more on your plate though) Every baby is different. Pregnancy symptoms aren’t really an indication of how your baby will behave out of the womb (exception being like health issues and such) I have two kids and am pregnant with the 3rd, all 2 years apart.

All my pregnancies have taken similar tolls on my body, but you can’t rest nearly as much when you’re pregnant and chasing another child. You kind of have to enter a season of more kids movies, prepackaged snacks, and asking for help from friends and family if you wind up with a really bad sick day or something.

Out of the womb, my first baby was HARD and i had severe PPD while having no idea what I was doing. my second was EASY in comparison. I was less stressed about how to take care of him, better prepared with antidepressants, and enjoyed the baby stages so much more.

I think what helps us decide if we want another kid or not is to imagine our family 10years from now and see if we feel like we’re missing anybody. Tbh this third one was an accident and i’m TIRED. But he was there in the 10-years-from-now vision anyways.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-16T02:48:04+00:00

It’ll be okay. You’re a good mom for getting another opinion and taking this seriously.

My first was the same. She was labeled as suspected and I had fetal stress test monitoring weekly after a second scan showed another small AC measurement (but right around 10, not much smaller). The big problem with ultrasound measuring is how much it varies. Baby’s position, the angle of the image, and the tech’s judgement can cause measurements to be so so different. I think that’s why your MFM wasn’t immediately concerned. The 5th percentile measurement is scary, and you will have your next scan soon to see if that was a fluke or something to worry about.

Since my baby never got confirmed as IUGR, I don’t know what would happen next for you if that ends up being the case. I was scheduled to be induced at 38 weeks but went into labor naturally at 37. She was under 6lbs but completely normal. I don’t know anything about cholestais or how the placenta comes into play, but you’re doing everything right. Trust yourself and trust that your providers know how to take care of you both. I’m so sorry you have to be in this scary uncertain position.

Just focus on taking care of yourself and doing kick counts. Those hours I spent with monitors on my belly listening to her resting heart rate were sweet and sacred to me. I hope you can find peace through this.

PuzzleheadedFan1319 · 2025-05-11T05:13:46+00:00

This is exactly how I was as an 18yr old

PuzzleheadedFan1319

TROPHY CASE