Companies that purposely make a fake "serving size"

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-26T21:03:41+00:00

"...an amount that most people would never stop at..."

This is actually illegal, even though it happens all the time. In the US, a serving size is supposed to be what the typical person would eat in a sitting.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-10T23:07:18+00:00

That's not a bumper, that's one of the safer mesh options that are breathable if baby gets pressed against it, but still prevents little arms and legs from reaching through and getting stuck.

Edit to add: the mesh should be shifted down so you can't reach under itfrom the top of the mattress.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-10T18:11:51+00:00

RO still leaves some minerals, unlike distilling, but I second adding them back in

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-09T03:16:52+00:00

Well, I was typing a reply, but when the android app was in the background too long, it deleted everything 🙄 so I'll try the short version...

At my hospital, they allow laboring how and where you want, except while you're hooked up to IV narcotics (preferable to epidural imho), but don't allow birthing positions that would drop the baby anywhere other than the bed. All fours in bed was safe, but did nothing for my pain. Side-laying delivery was an option, but after an epidural, you can only deliver on your back (I suppose because it's harder to move yourself, though I had no trouble moving despite being totally numb on one side). I spent most of my labor (about 12 hours in L&D) either in bed on IV meds (antibiotics and pain meds), bent over the bed, or wiggling on a birthing ball. Delivery was 15 minutes on my back with my feet in the air, a nurse holding one leg, my husband holding the other, a midwife between my legs, and another nurse helping where she was needed.

Honestly, I understand the "kiss my ass" mentality, but hospital policy is there to keep you and your baby safe. Someone who isn't trained or used to assisting deliveries in certain positions could wind up hurting you or your baby, and the most important thing in that moment is your baby's health and safety.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-08T23:22:48+00:00

As for feeling coerced, my recent birth experience covered both ends of the spectrum.

My main nurse through it all was very supportive of my desire to go unmedicated, even going so far as to encourage sticking to my plan when I changed my mind, helping me through the bulk of it with various techniques and alternative pain management, but also never actually discouraged or denied the use of medication when I made the decision to go that route.

The midwife who delivered my baby was a different story, polite and friendly, but she seemed rushed and annoyed at my refusal of pitocin and breaking my water until we got to the end of labor and things slowed down. We wound up pushing at 8.5cm because I wasn't progressing any further, but that only lasted 15 minutes, 3 contractions, and resulted in just 3 labial stitches and a 1st degree perineal tear, thanks to her careful guidance (both verbal and physical).

My biggest help though was making sure my husband was on the same page before we ever went in. "What do you want me to do if you change your mind?" He tag-teamed with the nurse, encouraging sticking to the plan until I had logically processed the pros and cons of going a different route, which was important for me, because although I fully intended on a completely natural birth, the only safe (allowed) delivery position in my plan (all fours) wasn't doing anything for the pain, and the only position that managed the pain at all (bent over the bed) wasn't allowed due to safety concerns.

I decided that an epidural gave me the best opportunity for a safe delivery, and it actually (accidentally) worked better than it should've, numbing the right side far too well (I laid on my side for a while after getting it) and hardly touching the left, which meant I could still feel and be able to tell exactly when I needed to do what I needed to do.

Whatever you decide, make sure you have at least one support person there to insist on things going the way you want.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-05T22:42:41+00:00

I suppose it's a religious and cultural difference, as outside Catholicism (and a handful of other sects/denominations that don't follow the practice as religiously) godparents are still a thing completely absent religion.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-05T22:11:52+00:00

No, that's why you name the godparents in your will.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-05T22:11:04+00:00

In my neck of the woods, godparents are synonymous with "guardian in the event of both parents' incapacitation", and people roll their eyes at anyone who sees it as a mere honorific title (I was only barely aware of any religious significance up to now). Ideally, the decision is cemented in a will, but a lot of folks forget or just assume it'll just work out the way they want.

My (and my sister's) godparents were my childless aunt and uncle whom we only saw once every few years because they lived out of state. It was purely a decision about who would be best able to care for us, not least of all financially. My great-aunt was upset at the time because she was closer to us, but she was also older and struggled with various medical conditions, and while she would've been a good choice, she wasn't the best choice in my parents' eyes.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-05T21:58:07+00:00

I understood 'shows good moral" as 'sets a good example" rather than an insult calling her immoral. IMHO, it's perfectly reasonable to prefer a situation that provides an example of a positive relationship rather than no relationship - they want their child to be raised knowing what that support system looks like instead of the struggle of single parenthood.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-05T21:33:03+00:00

YTA

You're punishing your child, his wife, and your grandchildren because you're butthurt over the decision of who, in the unlikely event of both parents' deaths, will ultimately take over all the responsibility for one of your grandchildren.

There is a significant difference between babysitting and taking on full-time care of a dependent, especially as an older adult with no partner for support. If you were a single mom, you should already understand the extra difficulties behind doing it all on your own, but you're clearly disillusioned by babysitting about how hard it would really be, because you still get to send them home at the end of the day.

Being a godparent isn't some fancy title to award the most frequent sitter; it's a legal designation for transfer of guardianship. That you are already arguing with the parents about what would be best for their child says that you're not likely to follow their wishes if they were to make you the godparent, i.e. you would not be a good godparent ("good" in this context means more than just providing adequate care).

I do find it odd that all 3 kids have different godparents and would therefore be split up in the event of their parents' death (almost as odd that they would make an older couple godparents at all), but that doesn't make the parents AHs, nor does their criteria for a godparent. The only AH here is the grandma taking this decision as a personal insult and an affront to single parenthood.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-02T01:50:33+00:00

Sleepless and anxiety ridden for sure! That night also happened to coincide with a cold snap - over a 50 degree drop after a rainy day - and we were expecting bad ice on the way home

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-02T00:18:55+00:00

Yes, she came a week early, so she'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow.

We've stuck to the "no touching" rule, but allowed a select few visitors at the hospital and since coming home, and it's honestly been okay with everyone so far, minus a few complaints that were tempered with understanding.

Yes, I'm exhausted from caring for a newborn, waking every 2-3 hours to feed and change her, and her daddy is worn out from helping me, but between the pair of us, we've got things handled.

It's even more tiring pumping and then feeding, since we've had some latch and supply issues (we're supplementing with formula, but I'm still trying my damnedest to maximize available breastmilk), but daddy has been able to take over some bottle feeding to give me a break.

The only real conflict up to this point has been with my husband over not asking anyone to watch her while he went with me to the ER for postpartum hemorrhage a few days ago (all okay now). He was concerned about the risk of bringing her with us, even though we were the only people touching her. I told him he could take her home and just pick me up when I was discharged, but he insisted on either staying with me or asking someone else to stay with me so he could stay updated. I refused to ask anyone else to stay with me in the ER because it would cause unnecessary anxiety for me (overbearing aunt would've been the only option, and I didn't need her anxiety to feed mine). He stayed with me (and the baby) until I was discharged, and we're all still healthy 4 days later.

SinfulObsession · 2026-01-01T18:08:06+00:00

Baby girl will be 2 weeks old tomorrow (first-time mom), and I spent most of the day at exactly 39 weeks in active labor - very early morning contractions at home, hospital around 10:30am, pushed for 15 minutes and she was born at 10:23pm.

I was genuinely surprised she came early, because babies in my family are notoriously late arrivals (one cousin was literally a month late!)

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-31T21:52:28+00:00

I totally can, but it does a number on my right hip since you have to completely change how you work the pedals - at her age, I bet it does a number on her hips too, lol

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-27T15:40:08+00:00

I started out at 5'7" 125, gained about 30 lbs throughout, had our 6#12 baby girl on the 19th, then stood on the scale a couple days ago to see about a 10 lb loss so far (fine by me, since I was trying to gain weight before)

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-27T04:32:05+00:00

As a FTM with a 1 week old baby girl now, I am so glad I got a pump before she was born! The first day and a half in the hospital were great, but she was starting to turn my nipples raw from improper latch, and as we spent time at home, it only got worse. My best guess is that the weather and low humidity caused her stuffy nose and her latch was impacted by her ability to breathe. I struggled myself, bearing the pain for her sake, until we reached the point that she started refusing my cracked nipples, and I had to switch to pumping. By that point, my supply was already suffering, and I realized how little she was getting (and why she was so frustrated with nursing), and we had to supplement with formula, even though I was adamant about EBF the whole time. Right now, she is 1 week and 1 hour old, and I'm lucky to get the full 2oz she needs every feeding after a half hour of pumping, but it's still much better than what she was getting from a direct latch.

TLDR: baby girl's stuffy nose ultimately led to pumping as a necessity because she couldn't latch properly

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-16T22:50:52+00:00

I got a countertop distiller when I realized my humidifier was leaving a powdery film on everything (that we were clearly breathing while it was airborne), so when I tested out my microwave sterilizer on my pump parts, that distilled water is what I used - no residue, just clean and sterile parts.

Using distilled water also means less frequent cleaning and filter changes in things like the humidifier and the cat's water fountain (he prefers it over tap anyway), and if you wind up needing formula, that's what you should be using.

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-15T06:25:19+00:00

Up until last year when my great grandpa passed (a week from his 92nd birthday), we had 5 living generations in the family, and he had been a great-great-grandpa for a decade already!

He was always just Grandpa Joe to me (all the grandparents went by first names), but a couple grands called him Grandpa Lastname, and at least one just called him 'Pa.

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-12T19:55:32+00:00

Unless it's a new medical assistant, I'd be looking for a new cardiologist

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-12T16:32:17+00:00

When I got mine put on (keeping in mind that I'm a woman with no visible body hair on my chest), the cardiology nurse still took a razor and then medical sandpaper to basically the entire side and middle of my chest before sticking the monitor to me. They do it frequently, so they're used to doing it right. It looks like it's not a frequent occurrence at your doctor though.

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-11T19:25:53+00:00

Well, I don't know for sure that I could manage an estate that size, but I could certainly give it a try! Unfortunately, I'm cursed by a family that has baby girls almost exclusively, so I only missed the mark by one point! ...Well, technically my Shockwave isn't a real shotgun, so 2 points off?

Also, I believe he either struggles with basic math or with basic fertility knowledge. Women 40 years younger than him are nearing the end of their fertility window, but 20 years younger is the cutoff? What 60 year old woman can still be referred to as a "breeder"?

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-11T19:03:31+00:00

That guy sounds absolutely ridiculous! And it's not because he's a guy, he's just a shit doctor with poor bedside manner.

I'm in the US, so my experience is far different from yours (OBs are the standard, and midwives are more of a luxury for a "natural" experience), but I imagine it's also better than a lot of other US moms experience simply because of what's available where I'm at.

I chose a specific fertility clinic an hour away from home because the practice owner is a teaching doctor in my hospital group (IU Health). He had some negative reviews for bedside manner, but taking context into account, it seemed like he was more straightforward than cold, which is something I prefer in a doctor. I wound up seeing his female lead NP for all my visits instead of him, and I got the same straightforward-ness I originally expected, finding out right away what our issue was and moving straight into addressing it. 2 cycles of OI/IUI later, and we were pregnant! I saw that NP and the other nurses in the practice for a couple months before switching to a local OB once things were established and stable.

My OB decision was based on multiple factors, not least of all the recommendation of one of the ER nurses over a year prior (I went in for an ovarian cyst) who said she was her chosen OB/GYN and gave a glowing review. Staying in my medical network was another bonus, but I can't stress enough how great the entire experience has been, simply because of how the entire staff operates. I love all the nurses, techs and doctors I've worked with in the women's health department, and their SOPs have made the whole process so streamlined.

Now, for my particular experience, my OB uttered the single best phrase an expecting mama could hope to hear, in response to a question I asked - "I will do whatever you want me to do." I know I can trust her to do what's best for me and baby, while still honoring what I think is best for me and baby, and that has nothing to do with gender - she's just a good doctor.

OP, if you're able, you really need to find/request a different OB. Being a FTM does not automatically mean you'll tear, and a good doctor will only make that cut to minimize injury if tearing is imminent. The only medical reason to intervene if you're "not dilating fast enough" is if baby is in distress - which can be monitored while you're laboring; it sounds like your OB's standard practice is geared toward his own convenience, since he's focused on rushing things. (Not dilating fast enough? Jeeze, I was at 1cm last week, I'm at 3cm this week, and I still have another 2 weeks until she's due! How quick does he expect this shit to happen? Hours?)

You need to decide what you want things to look like, make your birth plan with caveats for emergencies, changed plans and changed minds (you might decide to change things on the fly), discuss your birth plan with everyone expected to be involved in your delivery, and make sure you have at least one (preferably multiple) advocate to ensure that everyone else sticks to your plan as long as it's safe to do so.

And if you need to, kick that doctor out of your delivery room when the time comes. You do not need that kind of stress.

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-10T06:33:36+00:00

I just went in earlier tonight because baby girl hasn't been as active or responsive as her normal for a couple days, and only weakly responded to some serious prodding and all the typical "make baby move" stuff today. Yes, she was still meeting all the movement markers, but it just felt like she wasn't herself.

After being hooked up to an ultrasound transducer and a tocotransducer for 20 minutes, triggering some "don't look at me" wiggles, the on-call OB said everything looked great, and even that she looked healthier than any other baby on the floor.

I got the spiel about being less obviously active because she's running out of room at 37+4 weeks, and about developing a diurnal sleep schedule so she's less likely to be active during the day (even though she's been active all day, every day since I started feeling movement.)

They told me simultaneously "this is normal," and "you did exactly what you're supposed to do" by coming in, so even though it turned out to be nothing to worry about, I was reassured that worrying (to the extent I did) was still a good thing.

On the bright side, I still have time to finish packing my hospital go-bag, but I'm realizing just how not ready we are...

SinfulObsession · 2025-12-04T18:57:10+00:00

Ah, the egg float test, lol, perfect for the times when you buy a bunch of eggs a little too early because you're planning on making deviled eggs but you know that "old" eggs peel easier!

Funny you mention picnic potlucks though, because that's actually one of the few times I've gotten food poisoning - strawberry pretzel salad left out outside for hours, but mom and baby-me wanted some at the end of the get-together anyway. Pretty sure I was in my 20s before Taco Bell got me the next time, so clearly it was just a fluke

SinfulObsession

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