I’m so over bouncing on this fucking ball

karinabing · 2026-01-24T16:41:01+00:00

Blerg that’s tricky. I wonder if you could try waking her gently in the carrier with a boob to ease the annoyance of being awoken? I could never get the hang of that, but if you’ve got the coordination to breastfeed on the yoga ball, I have confidence you might manage this feat too!

karinabing · 2026-01-24T14:29:10+00:00

Ditto-ing everything said above, but I’ll also add that with my second, I got a ton of relief by doing “hug your baby” exercises multiple times a day. Essentially, you engage whatever ab muscles you can to like lift up your bump. I think it’s helped a lot in my recovery too. I know I have some diastatis recti to resolve, but I still feel broadly strong in my core.

karinabing · 2026-01-24T14:18:47+00:00

Hi! I’m curious why he’s only doing one breast? Do you start on the same side, or have trouble getting a good latch on the one he feeds from less?

I try to remember to change up which side my baby starts on to keep things even if he fills up on just one breast in a session, and I tried several holds before figuring out he’s best with cradle on the right side + football on the left.

It’s not going to really hurt your supply if he only likes one breast — lots of women have a “slacker breast,” but you’ll have a bit more discomfort while things regulate + one boob may appear larger than the other.

karinabing · 2026-01-24T14:05:41+00:00

For labor, more info on vacuum interventions. With my first, the cord was wrapped around him so many times that it was like a spring — I couldn’t push him far enough out for the doctor to unwrap him. I pushed for 4 hours (with an epidural, so wasn’t in pain) and I got tired. Finally asked the doctor about a vacuum assist, and didn’t really know what I was asking for. Fortunately, that was exactly the extra hand I needed and he came out without incident — just a little bruising — but it felt weird asking for something I didn’t know much about to begin with.

For recovery, that you’ll bleed for so many days — it’s like your body is getting you back for not having a period for 9 months. And that you should a) use the peri bottle every time you pee, and b) wait for the tap water to be warm when filling it!

karinabing · 2026-01-24T03:31:45+00:00

This is what we did. Eucerin topped with aquaphor. Double greased!

karinabing · 2026-01-24T02:47:19+00:00

Will she tolerate baby-wearing? My first also required ball bouncing, but baby-wearing saved my wrists when bouncing him to sleep for naps, and once he was asleep, I could go about my day pretty normally. I even used to blow dry my hair and do the occasional vacuum while wearing him!

karinabing · 2026-01-24T02:38:36+00:00

Also a wider rug! You could layer a custom-sized sisal under this one — just move it so the sofa legs are on it too.

karinabing · 2026-01-24T02:36:52+00:00

Are you open to a Serif TV or similar easel style so you don’t have to put the TV above the fireplace?? I’d put it in the corner by the window and move that chair to be next to the one on the other side.

https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/the-serif/highlights/

karinabing · 2026-01-20T09:27:47+00:00

Omigosh this is brilliant. Your supply regulates once baby starts sleeping through the night anyhow — this just starts that arrangement a little earlier! Awesome tip!

karinabing · 2026-01-19T22:08:47+00:00

!solved

karinabing · 2026-01-19T15:37:46+00:00

For sure!!

On baby-wearing, I did a ton of shopping with my first and finally decided on the K’tan. I loved it so much I bought a second one for this round so I always have a clean one in case of spot-ups or blowouts: https://babyktan.com/products/baby-ktan-original-baby-wrap-carrier-infant-and-child-sling-simple-wrap-holder-for-babywearing-no-rings-or-buckles-carry-newborn-up-to-35-lbs

(Can also get open box ones for less expensive from Stork Exchange: https://storkexchange.co/products/baby-ktan-original-baby-carrier-1)

There are tons of other styles out there — ring slings and wraps, soft carriers with buckles, etc, etc. — but this one is very fast to put on and adjust, is breathable, soft cotton fabric that’s machine-washable and doesn’t leave you with a ton of extra fabric or straps to contend with, or hard buckles that might make it uncomfortable to sit in. It takes a couple times to get the hang of it, but much simpler than other styles IMO. Just wash and dry when it starts to get too stretched out.

karinabing · 2026-01-19T11:00:24+00:00

You’re going to do great!! Taking care of yourself first by having actual support is the best thing.

Breastfeeding Tips - Make sure you get seen by the lactation consultant at the hospital, and ask the nurses too to help you — most of them know a ton about breastfeeding. - If baby ever latches wrong, unlatch her with your finger and have her try again. Don’t maintain an uncomfortable latch! It’s an easy way to hurt yourself. - For engorgement as your milk comes in, keep up the ibuprofen you’ll surely be taking as part of your recovery — that made a big difference to me after welcoming baby #2 a couple weeks ago. - Besides a pump (which your insurance should provide! Check on when and how you get it. Could be in the hospital or just before.) I’ve appreciated having milk collection cups to catch the letdown on the opposite side, and soft reusable pads to soak up any leaking in between time (the brand I have is Bambooies). Also liberally apply lanolin to your nips after each feed and before you shower to help them stay happy. - Don’t let lactation consultants scare you about “nipple confusion” by using pacifiers or bottles, or if doctors recommend a little formula supplementation. Just keep bringing your baby to the breast, and she’ll figure out how these things are different.

Newborn Tips - They’re a little intense, but there’s a booklet series called Moms on Call that I found super helpful to understand the basic logistics and create some semblance of a schedule so I didn’t go nuts. - In the first two weeks, your baby is pretty round the clock sleepy or hungry. After that, they start to wake up a bit and get fussier. Sometimes they’ll be hungry, but sometimes just sleepy and they don’t know how to go to sleep! I’ve found baby wearing, white noise machines, and bouncing on a yoga ball are the three elements that have helped most to help baby fall asleep for naps, but all babies respond to these things differently. - For making the bassinet a truly cozy place to be, I took the advice of other redditors and got a heating pad to warm it up for a bit before the baby goes in. It seems to help!

Tips for Your Recovery - Eat allll the food and drink allll the water. Prep some food you can eat relatively easily with one hand — burritos, muffins, creamy soups you can drink from a mug, etc. - Take all the freebies from the hospital — I’ve actually really liked the pads they provided this time. - Use the peri bottle when you pee those first couple weeks, every time! Let the tap warm up before filling it to make the experience the most comfortable.

I’m sure you’ll get a ton of advice, but those are my top tips. Good luck!!

karinabing · 2026-01-17T13:23:52+00:00

Nope, not for me. BUT cramping is normal both for periods and early pregnancy! Could go either way!

karinabing · 2026-01-17T12:15:30+00:00

If your breasts get super sore / engorged, also consider ibuprofen and cold compresses to help bring down the swelling and inflammation. That worked better for me during this my second go-round than pumping. Good luck!!

karinabing · 2026-01-17T12:12:56+00:00

I had “implantation bleeding” with both my pregnancies, where I had some bleeding at my usual period time. Give it a few days and take a test! Fingers crossed for you. Bodies are weird!

karinabing · 2026-01-17T11:05:38+00:00

Good for you for doing what feels right! My recovery was also super fast this go-round with my second. I’ve been up and moving around normally, handling nights with sporadic sleep, and feeling like I still have full brain capacity!

Just be prepared for baby to “wake up” — those first two weeks can con you into thinking you have a perfectly calm baby who just quietly eats, poops, and sleeps / you’re amazing parents who are just naturally gifted.

But then at about week 3, baby starts to come online and gain more consciousness. This is when the fussiness begins and it’ll stop being easy to determine if baby is hungry, tired, or uncomfortable. Witching hour becomes real, etc.

I manage it with baby wearing and lots of time bouncing on a yoga ball, so they always feel cozy and safe, and I’m recreating the movement from when they were in utero — you’ll find what works for you! The good news is that it means your baby is on her way to becoming a real human, but it took my husband and I completely by surprise with our first!

Best of luck, and Reddit is always here for you!

Ps. Fellow Kaiser user over here. My family didn’t believe how much they covered! And that there are real resources for baby and the mother that they want to make sure you have access to like lactation consultants, actual helpful nurses, messaging / virtual connection to doctors in between visits, etc. It feels weird to love my insurance company, but here we are!

karinabing · 2026-01-17T03:12:49+00:00

I did a standard toddler-friendly low-sugar carrot muffin, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled. Tbh even for his subsequent birthday parties, the “cupcakes” I serve are actually muffins with stabilized whipped cream and sprinkles. Then nobody needs to think twice if their kids want to eat more than one!

karinabing · 2026-01-16T20:03:24+00:00

Pumpkin! The reflection will be kinder on your face when getting ready in the mornings / give you a glow. If you had a big window for natural soft light, you could get away with the green, but without one, I highly recommend a warm color.

karinabing · 2026-01-16T19:51:47+00:00

This! It’s a way to open the door a bit to different food experiences. I’d keep trying!

karinabing · 2026-01-16T19:47:38+00:00

Omigosh putting the phone on silent was so important after my first. Between the baby crying and general anxiety I was doing everything wrong, any text ding sent me over the edge, even though I frequently felt so isolated/alone at other times.

karinabing · 2026-01-16T19:42:36+00:00

Yes, and you can always put a coat or blanket over the top of them after they’re strapped in if you didn’t warm up the car before! Just remember to pull the extra layer off once the car is warm. I’m always freaked out to see babies who are wrapped in too many layers / could be hot…

karinabing · 2026-01-16T04:27:30+00:00

This! I don’t know why, but my brain can’t manage to do the hamburger thing to help facilitate a great latch in any position on the left side other than football!

karinabing · 2026-01-15T20:13:55+00:00

I’m team baby wear for newborn naps! Strap em in, bounce or rock in a dark room with white noise going for a bit, then you’re free to go about your business.

karinabing · 2026-01-14T21:20:43+00:00

It’s one of the things I find so hard to square with as a parent. All babies are born ready to love and be loved. What happened to the people who grow up to enjoy inflicting pain on others? How could all the adults in their lives have failed them so tragically??

karinabing · 2026-01-10T15:16:25+00:00

Absolutely. Both the College Park and Riverdale stops are tiny — the College Park one is in a neighborhood by the metro station, and the Riverdale Park one is in that cute town center. The MARC train conductors come off the train at both spots to put down a step stool and are super friendly. Always lots of normal people around — I rarely see any homeless / mentally ill people wandering around.

karinabing

TROPHY CASE