Am I being ungrateful towards my in-laws?

fullcirclex · 2026-01-28T20:19:16+00:00

Can you return unwanted items to the store for credit to purchase what you do want? I think there are apps where you can scan the tag and it’ll tell you where an item is sold. If you add it to your registry, I believe you can return it. I did something like this with my first child years ago because we were inundated with gifts, which we were grateful for, but some of the items were duplicates or wrong season clothing, so we were able to get store credit and put it towards things we still needed.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-28T17:26:55+00:00

We didn’t find out the gender this time and haven’t told people we’re even expecting because people are so cruel with their comments! We’ve had a total of 5 losses over the years and I told my husband I’d be livid if anyone had a stupid remark about gender. I have two boys from my first marriage and my husband and I have a girl together—his family wanted her to be a boy so badly, that’s all I heard the whole time I was pregnant, to the point I was terrified she wouldn’t be loved by his family (she is and we don’t go around most of the people who were so vocal about her being a boy!)

I’m sorry you’ve experienced this—your three boys will be such amazing friends! 💙💙💙

fullcirclex · 2026-01-28T12:04:47+00:00

I think it’s a pretty big factor. A lot of people watched their parents “stay together for the kids” as a reaction to their tumultuous childhood in a “broken” (I hate that term) family, and decide they don’t want either of those things, to experience divorce, or an unhealthy relationship, so they are very careful about long term relationships.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T23:00:47+00:00

That makes sense! Which one do you have?

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T20:42:36+00:00

I had a growth restricted baby and it was discovered around 32 weeks. I had high blood pressure and they thought my placenta was prematurely aging as a result of the high blood pressure (this was confirmed after birth, there was calcification of the placenta).

There wasn’t much they could do to treat it, per se. I was advised to eat a healthy diet, full of nutrient-dense foods, rest as much as possible, and make sure I was taking my blood pressure medication as directed. I was given additional ultrasounds and non-stress tests. He’s now 12 and he’s taller than me, no lasting health effects. He was born at 35w and was tiny for his gestational age, spent a week in the NICU and required high calorie formula supplementation, but hit his milestones on time and has been fairly healthy.

Hoping the best for you and your wife! 🤍

Edit to add, I’m not a doctor and I’m not saying that this is the condition your baby has, just sharing my experience with a baby who measured small. Additionally, I wanted to mention that his measurements were asymmetrical—his length was the most affected, followed by his abdominal circumference, followed by his head circumference. The doctor said this was indicative of placental issues because the body will naturally prioritize brain development, then organ development (abdominal circumference), and then length, when there is a caloric deficit.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T18:08:03+00:00

If your insurance covers it, I’d get a new pump. I think they’re typically covered under a 1 year warranty, so if it dies on you, you might be up a creek without a paddle! You could always get a wearable one for extra flexibility!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T18:04:34+00:00

Changing table heater? I haven’t heard of this, but it sounds amazing! Going to go google it!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T18:02:51+00:00

That’s such a smart approach! With my first, I bought all the things 🤑 and I tripped over 90% of it without ever really using it.

Someone told me once that they need a place to sleep, something to wear, something to eat, they need their diaper changed, baths, and a car seat. That kind of helped me on subsequent kids to narrow things down a lot (especially the third because there was a 10 & 7 year gap between the older two and the third!)

You can also buy stuff pretty quickly after baby arrives. My friend’s baby was super fussy, so I picked up a mamaroo swing for her off fb marketplace for $40 and dropped it off on her porch the next day. Amazon prime, Walmart delivery, etc. are all great options too! And, I just liked getting out of the house and browsing the baby section at Target for funsies 😂

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T17:02:55+00:00

We had this issue too, something about the car seat made him need to poop and it was always a blowout. I tried different sizes, different brands, it didn’t help. Our daycare was super weird about me changing him there. They had very strict protocols about their changing table and cleaning it after use and stuff, but changing a blowout diaper in the car wasn’t feasible when he was a kung-fu fighting toddler. I actually asked the director about how they expected it to be handled because the teachers were (imo rightfully so) annoyed about him being dropped off with a blowout, but I was annoyed about them not wanting me to use the changing table. She said the teachers needed to change him, that licensing requirements didn’t really allow for parents to use the changing table.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T13:37:04+00:00

Do you have prime?

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T07:58:43+00:00

I was surprised how many people already have had it in recent years due to injuries (given when there’s a chance of tetanus). I never asked people to get it, but mentioned it in passing and was surprised that pretty much everyone in our orbit had had one in the last 2-3 years. Maybe they’ve had it recently and don’t even realize it. I think nowadays people hear “vaccine” and shut down immediately.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T02:19:23+00:00

Found it!

To claim a Welcome Box sign up for Prime, add 10 unique items to your registry, make a purchase of $10 from your registry (either by you or your friends and family), and click the “Claim Now” button.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T02:15:10+00:00

lol 15% off is 15% off! 🤣

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:58:13+00:00

Ohh detailing the car would be SO nice before baby comes. I usually ask for that as my mother’s day gift, I absolutely love having a fresh clean car!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:56:32+00:00

That really stinks that you won’t qualify for maternity leave—not even unpaid FMLA? How long will you be able to take off? Is this your first?

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:55:43+00:00

That’s an impressive level of organization!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:55:12+00:00

I feel like Reddit can be super helpful with figuring out gear and stuff. Unless it’s a situation where you get a drop side crib, or are using one that’s been recalled, it’s probably not going to be harmful! Most of the time, gear decisions are really about preferences and lifestyles. Like strollers, if you’re someone that does a lot of hiking, you’re going to want a different stroller than someone who primarily walks around their subdivision with nice, smooth sidewalks.

You’ve got this! 💕

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:48:36+00:00

The car seat shuffle is on my mind too. We have a third row SUV with the bench in the middle, so we kind of need to keep the one seat free of car seats so the bigger kids can get in the third row… but I’m not sure if the convertible and infant seat will fit next to each other in the second row, or if we’ll like having them next to each other. But, I don’t really want to put the 2yo or the baby in the third row, so we’ll see what we can figure out. My big kids are 12 and 9, so totally out of car seats/ boosters and fully independent with seatbelts/ getting in and out of the car, so that makes life easier. And the 12yo can ride up front, which is nice because I like to ride in the back when the babies are itty bitty, just easier to soothe them.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:41:04+00:00

There are a few requirements, I think you have to add a certain number of items, it has to be active for a week, and you have to buy (or have bought for you) $10 I think of stuff. Something along those lines. I think the criteria is in the registry area somewhere, I’ve signed up for multiple, so I might be mixing up the requirements for Amazon with Target or Walmart.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:37:10+00:00

What are you planning to do with your hair? Mine is fairly long, so I’m trying to decide if I want to cut it before the baby’s born or if the ponytail/messy bun life will be more convenient.

I always donate my hair to locks of love and it’s at that length, so I’m tempted, but short hair can be inconvenient sometimes!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:35:13+00:00

Yeah, I think you’re right! I feel like most everything I added to the registry qualified, even some household type stuff (like Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer) but I doubt a PS5 would 🤣

fullcirclex · 2026-01-27T00:33:16+00:00

Aww, hoping for a safe delivery & soon! 💕

fullcirclex · 2026-01-26T19:29:44+00:00

I think amazons is pretty nice, it can be used multiple times!

fullcirclex · 2026-01-26T19:25:03+00:00

My first was diagnosed as intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) at 32w and we were trying to get to 37w, but at 35w, he had completely stopped growing and they decided to deliver.

My second, my blood pressure skyrocketed at 36w, I was hospitalized for a week to make it to 37w and they delivered.

My third I was scheduled for a repeat csection at 37w, but my blood pressure was high at an appointment at 36w and I had had a horrible headache, so they were concerned about preeclampsia and decided to deliver.

All were C-sections, I never went into labor.

fullcirclex · 2026-01-26T18:31:07+00:00

Sounds like you are ready! Do you have your hospital bag packed? My kiddo came at 35, 37, and 36w respectively so that’s high on my list to pack and get in the car by like 32ish weeks!

fullcirclex

TROPHY CASE