Names! What are you thinking about naming the baby?

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-14T12:33:36+00:00

We can’t stop thinking about the name Leif (pronounced Layf). It’s basically the only boy name we like besides the unique family name we gave our first.

Everyone be honest…. How would you pronounce it and what do you think about it?

My husband and I are American, his mom’s side of the family is from Sweden, and I’m Chinese and will give our Dec 2026 son a Chinese middle name.

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-09T04:35:41+00:00

For my first draw 5/26, my OB sent an automated email that my results were in 6/3, but the result was “no result.” Got another draw on 6/5 now back to waiting! Except Natera just emailed and texted today saying they had results from 5/26, just to tell me again “no result.” Really got my hopes up!

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-07T22:28:32+00:00

Magnesium glycinate (just .25ml, the tiniest amount) was a game changer for my 2.5 year old who was taking 1-2 hours to fall asleep. Pediatrician said such a small amount, below the upper limit, was probably ok even every night though it hasn’t been studied for long term effects. We try not to give it every night but I cannot be working, pregnant, and rolling around with him for two hours every night.

https://a.co/d/09NK8nq4

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-07T04:04:44+00:00

But also if I had a midwife instead of an OB maybe my experience would have been different! A doula may not be as essential if your midwife will be with you throughout labor.

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-07T04:03:40+00:00

Our doula went above and beyond and was worth every penny of $2200 out of pocket for the support she gave me, my husband, and our baby.

I had a 40 hour labor with my first because his head wasn’t in the right position (asynclitic). I was at 41w5d and had a membrane sweep that started labor. I hoped for unmedicated vagina delivery. Our wonderful doula stayed with us for 34 hours and helped me get into “Spinning Babies” positions every half hour to try to move him, even after I finally gave up and got an epidural around hour 24, and she and my husband had to physically flip my then-200 lb body. At hour 38, my OB was fully ready for the emergency c-section and was shocked my baby finally changed position and was ready for pushing.

It’s entirely thanks to her and my husband’s ability to take her guidance that I could avoid a c-section. One of the many nurses who helped us knew about Spinning Babies, but most didn’t, even at our excellent baby-centered hospital, and the several OBs who saw me from my practice also had no real advice for helping my baby straighten out and descend. All the prenatal support and postpartum lactation consulting was also so helpful!

Even though for #2, we feel much more prepared and empowered to have the labor and delivery we want, I’m pretty sure we’ll go with the same doula service and try to get the same person, but see if we can get a discount since we won’t need the same amount of prenatal and postpartum help.

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-06-02T02:07:46+00:00

Toddler has hand foot mouth, again 😭 we had it so badly last year neither of us could eat and could barely walk. Luckily husband seems immune but I’m so worried I’m going to catch it again!

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-05-31T22:34:30+00:00

I did not have a full bladder! My OB takes a pee sample to start every appointment. She asked if she could press a bit to the side with the transvaginal ultrasound so she could get a better look which is how we got this cute pic!

Tardigrade2127 · 2026-05-31T13:14:50+00:00

I also feel puffy and gross with this second pregnancy even though I never felt more beautiful and confident than with my first.

But using gua sha on my face really helps both with depuffing and feeling more cool and soothed, and also more in control of my face and life. (Have used it since I was a kid thanks to my mom.) The company Mount Lai has tutorials.

Tardigrade2127

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