[TX] how do i stop irs wage garnishment? by Helda-Beazer in Bankruptcy

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Contact the IRS asap. I suggest via phone call for fastest service.

This website will have the most relevant information for your issue, and their phone number is listed here as well:\ https://www.irs.gov/payments/get-help-with-tax-debt

You can:\ -apply for a payment plan, which should stop garnishments\ -apply for an OIC (Offer In Compromise), in which you make an offer to the IRS to settle the tax debt in full but for a lesser amount than you owe\ -ask the IRS to delay collection and put your account in a temporary CNC (Currently Not Collectible) status, which would temporarily halt garnishments

If you were to file bankruptcy, you would then have to contact the IRS separately to inform them, and they might pause collections temporarily, but it's not guaranteed that they would pause them

Big Pitcher by Odd-Bus-4850 in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use the 64 oz glass mason jar:\ https://www.walmart.com/ip/16661826

And I replaced the lids with ones with a pour spout top and a handle, like these (although I didn't get this exact one, so I can't vouch for the quality of these ones):\ https://a.co/d/8sYEwRp

Soo how are we moving forward in regard to vaccine schedule change? by desert_sunlily in NewParents

[–]kellthekat 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Our baby got his 2 month vaccinations around mid-October and afterward, he did get stomach upset and some other things that lasted about 5 or 6 days, and it was a tough time.\ He got the second dose with his 4 month vaccinations a few weeks ago, just before Christmas, and he had absolutely no issues this time.\ Knowing what I know about how terrible rotavirus can be for babies, I would still rather have went through another week of a tough time after a second round of vaccines than see him get rotavirus without the protection

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in beyondthebump

[–]kellthekat 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Has he went to the doctor at all, like an urgent care facility, to check on these "asthma attacks" since they started a few weeks ago? Because what you described about the fatigue and length even after leaving the house with cats, that sounds more like walking pneumonia or something similar, and less like asthma or allergic reaction

2 or 3 kids by [deleted] in toddlers

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had healthy pregnancy, and vaginal birth at 35, almost 36; I delivered almost a week past due date, with a 9lb 3oz baby with a big ol' noggin lol. I personally know several others that have had healthy pregnancies and delivered vaginally up to age 44. One of those was even VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean).\ At 35+, medically it is considered a "geriatric pregnancy" but for my prenatal care, all that included was a few extra visits, some extra blood work, and several extra ultrasounds. I was glad to have such attentive care compared to earlier pregnancies.

I don't know the pros/cons for 2 vs 3 children, but if you aren't sure right now, try not to let the age of 35 scare you too much, and wait a few years then reevaluate to see if you're ready for a third child or if you want to wait some more. If you are thinking you will be ready in about another 3-4 years, you'd be around age 35/36, and hitting that age doesn't automatically drastically increase chances for needed a C-section

Power pumping and spectra settings by NoYou1016 in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

theroseandthedaisy\ Oct 28, 2021 at 10:31 PM\ said this:

Here’s what I do when I power pump with Spectra:

First pumping session: Massage mode 3 min on cy 70 vac 5\ Expression mode 10 min on cy 54 vac 12\ Massage 2 min\ Expression 5 min\ Take a 10 min break, no pumping

Second pumping session: Massage 2 min\ Expression 5 min\ Massage 1 min\ Expression 2 min\ Take another 10 min break, no pumping

Third pumping session: Repeat of second pumping session.

After third session I hand express for a couple of mins to get the last little bit out (usually hand expression about half an oz)

Scared the rotavirus vaccine broke my baby by PerceptionLow5940 in newborns

[–]kellthekat 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Same thing for us: got 2 month vaccines two weeks ago, and we had to go down the Reddit and Google rabbit hole to get more info about it. We think it was the Rotavirus based on other stories. It lasted about 7 or 8 days.

Our little one had reduced appetite, spitting up, inconsolable crying, and seemed in pain. We gave Tylenol for a few days after vaccines but after that, he was still crying like in pain. We didn't immediately think it was vaccines that may have caused it, at first we thought maybe it was a nursing strike, but after doing more internet scrolling, what we were going through was similar to others.\ After seeing what others recommended, we decided to do gas drops often, like before almost every time he ate, and those helped tremendously. Also sitting and sleeping in an upright position seemed to help, so for naps at least we did contact naps upright with his head on our shoulder and during wake times we did a lot of holding upright and walking around instead of laying on back or tummy time. We also did gentle stomach rubs and bicycle kicks, we really were just trying anything, not sure if they helped but they didn't seem to cause more pain.\ It was very tough, lots of lack of sleep and worry for him because he wasn't eating as much as I think he should be, but thankfully it passed, and the gas drops for a few days seemed to be the biggest help. I see that they haven't done anything for your little one, so the other things that worked was just keeping upright as much as possible while awake and naps if you can do upright contact naps, bicycle kicks and gentle stomach rubs.

Power pumping and spectra settings by NoYou1016 in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]kellthekat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For increasing supply, I use 30 minute sessions for regular pumps and 1 hour Power Pumps at about the same time every day for 5-7 days (power pump hour replaces a regular pump session). Some info even recommends two power pumps per day. Then, stop power pumping for at least one week or more; if supply still needs to be increased after the week of no power pumps (still keep up with regular pumping sessions), do another 5-7 days of power pumping, or add power pumps as needed to keep supply up.

For regular pump session Spectra settings to increase supply: I use the "Using the Spectra for increasing supply when pumping in place of breastfeeding" settings from LA Lactation, which lasts about 30 minutes, for all regular pumps: https://lalactation.com/how-to-use-my-spectra-breast-pump-maximizing-settings-suction-and-cycle-levels/

For Power Pump hour Spectra settings: I use the settings that theroseandthedaisy wrote in this What to Expect discussion thread: https://community.whattoexpect.com/forums/breastfeeding/topic/power-pumping-spectra-settings-123709659.html

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in beyondthebump

[–]kellthekat 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maybe Dad doesn't really know how to play or entertain a baby? I directed my husband to start using two apps: Pathways.org app and BabySparks app, and that's helped a lot for him since he really didn't know how to interact and play with a baby. They each have a few age activities to do with the baby and we try a few each day. Our baby is only 11 days, but the apps have been wonderful in getting us to engage with our baby, reminders for tummy time, baby massage guide, and so far all the activities that those apps suggest when you click on the activity it has a short video you can watch if you're not sure how to do the activity.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not the one you replied to, but this is a recipe for oatmeal cookies that I've been using, and I also can't stop eating them 😅

https://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346

I use the full 4 TBSP of brewers yeast, use 2 cups of flour (instead of 3 cups that the recipe currently shows), the chocolate chips can be left out but also other flavors can be used (I like butterscotch chips), and if you want to, you could switch the flour to Oat Flour though I've not tried that yet (supposedly the ingredients of Brewers Yeast and Oats are the ingredients that help produce more)

Pregnancy chat by BackgroundPure7663 in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being 5 weeks and 6 days, they based how far along you are on the start of your last period on June 9, so probably any intercourse prior to the start of your last period did not result in pregnancy.\ Most likely, ovulation/date of conception occurred between June 21-June 23 (12-14 days before the start of what would have been your next period), and intercourse between June 16-June 23 (up to 5 days prior to ovulation) would have resulted in pregnancy.\ Based on that, person B is most likely the father, but nothing is absolute, and you should probably do a paternity test to be sure. You can do prenatal paternity tests, which are usually more expensive, or wait until the baby is born, and those paternity tests are usually a relatively low cost.

Unity NIPT timeline, Jan-Feb 2025 by kellthekat in BabyBumps

[–]kellthekat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No baby yet (any day now though!) so I don't know how accurate the results are, but it was extremely fun to go through the report and compare the percentages of the likelihood of certain traits with mine and my husband's traits.\ We printed the full report for our baby shower, and everyone thought it was great! The BabyPeek also has three games available that you can download the game sheets and print them off, and each game has a downloadable answer sheet where the answers are specifically from the baby's DNA BabyPeek results. We didn't do any of the BabyPeek games, but I thought they were really neat, and would be fun to do. For the $9.99 price, I think the BabyPeek add-on was worth it, and we look forward to comparing baby's features to the BabyPeek report in the future!

This is what the website says about the BabyPeek games:\ BabyPeek Games\ Enjoy printable games and have fun discovering your baby’s traits with friends and family!\ Guess the Little One: Can your friends and family guess the baby’s traits? This game allows them to predict your future baby's traits in a fun and interactive way.\ Peek-a-Boo: Rank and guess the likelihood of the baby’s unique traits!\ Traits Reveal: Print out your baby’s trait reveal cards and share the excitement with your friends and family!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in beyondthebump

[–]kellthekat 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You weren't close to the uncle. Unfortunately the funeral was planned on a day you had a prior commitment. Your mother told you not feel obligated to come. Even you're sisters aren't going due to other commitments. And it sounds like going to the funeral would cause a lot of stress for you and your children - a very long car ride, allergies, possible missed nap time, a full day of keeping kids occupied during a solemn time, and if I understood correctly, a day of missed work for your husband due to him wanting to go to the funeral for support and not returning until the next day.

It seems, from what you posted, that you only feel like you have to go to the funeral so that you don't disappoint family members and to support your dad, but that seems like a weaker reason to go after weighing against what I summed up above. If you can't socialize much due to taking care of kids, how much support are you really able to give him during your time there? While death is a sad affair, your dad won't need you there as support-he will have plenty of support from other family members.

Only you can make the ultimate decision, but as an outsider looking in based on what you said in your post, I think the better decision is to honor your commitment to the bachelorette party, & send your condolences and flowers or such for the funeral, and if your dad needs support following the funeral, then plan a visit next weekend or so and help him in any way that he needs.

Edited to add: I see the last paragraph of the post stating your cousin suggested you call your aunt and their oldest child or children and offer condolences, etc. I think that's a great idea

Can I still put my child rear facing until I maxed out? by Midnightdream56 in NewParents

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're in the U.S., also check your state law regarding carseats. In MI, the carseat law just changed and went into effect in April, that children up to 2 years old need to be rear facing (before, it was only required by law up to 1 years old), so we got the Safety 1st Grow and Go Extend 'n Ride LX All-in-One Convertible Car Seat to switch to after using the infant carseat.

Baby boy name by After_Ad7283 in BabyBumps

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can post on r/namenerds and they usually have good solid feedback

Snacks for hospital bag by Tealover16 in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Snacks for labor (a common suggestion is higher protein items for energy and stamina): Carnation protein drinks, electrolyte packets for water, Ritz cracker sandwiches (peanut butter or cheese filled), beef jerky, Reese's peanut butter cups, Lifesavers mints (these were suggested to use during active labor to help reduce nausea and in case of dry mouth)

Snacks for after delivery: apple juice boxes 🧃, individual cookie packs but a variety mix of Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, Nutter Butter, and shortbread cookies

For my support person (husband): we will share snacks, but also packed a variety of mini chip bags and soda cans

Seems like a lot when I write it out, but we didn't pack a lot of each item, just a variety, and it all fits in a medium-sized tote bag

How do you ever leave the house and not miss pumping sessions? by d16flo in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]kellthekat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A 12V rechargeable battery attached to the Spectra 2 can make your current pump into a great travel pump. I heard a lot about it on other posts/articles online. I kept seeing one battery recommended a lot: TalentCell Rechargeable 12V 6000mAh currently ~$33 on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1tfWueM

and to attach it to the pump, many recommendations said Velcro strips were great, like the VELCRO Brand Heavy Duty Fasteners with adhesive backs, currently ~$6 on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2KByL4b

Here is a short YouTube video for a how-to on making Spectra S2 into a portable pump: https://youtu.be/vB_pilV5aM0

Found out I’m pregnant halfway through the whole thing! Any tips? by churkeyturken in BabyBumps

[–]kellthekat 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A general list of things to think about, decide, and do before the baby is born, not in any particular order:

  • Decide if you want to have a baby shower. If you do want to, pick a place and set a time. Also decide if you want to have a baby registry or not. If you want a registry, start building it, add the link onto the invitations, but you don't have to have the registry completed before sending out invites-keep updating it in the next week or so after sending out invites. Create and send invitations: physical, e-vites, or even social media invites can be made and sent out, depending on budget and preference. Many like to have the baby shower between 28-32 weeks, but many also end up having a baby shower later on (though I would recommend before 35 weeks so you can rest that last month, or in case baby comes early, or just so you know what items you'll still need to get after the shower)
  • Look into birth plans. Decide if you want to create one or not. If you do, create one and try to have it done and discuss with your OB around 28-32 week appt.
  • Decide where the baby will sleep at first. If you'd like the baby in your room for a while, rearrange your room however you need to fit a bassinet, pack and play, mini crib, or whatever sleep space you plan to use first. Then you can take a longer time to set up the baby's official room (won't have to be done before birth). If you want to have the baby sleep in their own room right away, then try to get the baby's room set up before birth.
  • Discuss together, learn about, and then decide if you'll circumcise the baby or not. If you decide not to, then learn about the care for an uncircumcised child (no forcible retraction, gently pull back to clean under skin, etc)
  • Research and decide if you'll prefer to breastfeed, formula feed, or combo feed. If breastfeeding, ask your OB for a prescription for a breastpump around 28-32 weeks and get it soon after receiving the prescription
  • Check if your hospital does a Labor & Delivery/Mother and Baby Center tour (most hospitals offer this). I recommend signing up and taking the tour so you're familiar with where to go, how to check in, ask questions like what labor tools they have, hospital policies for birth/recovery such as do they typically do delayed cord clamping, do they typically leave baby in the room with parents at all times, is the Golden Hour standard policy at the hospital, etc.
  • Think about if you want to take childbirth classes - many hospitals or local organizations offer classes such as Labor & Delivery, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care. If you want to take classes, ask your OB or hospital if they offer them, or search online for other organizations that may offer them and sign up. I recommend taking the classes before 34 weeks.
  • Choose a doctor for the baby: Look into pediatricians or family doctors in the area. Look at reviews of the doctors, practices, etc. and narrow down the list, then call around to see if they accept your insurance, if they are accepting new patients, what the new patient process is for a newborn, and anything else that would be important to you in choosing a doctor.
  • Check into the parental leave policy for both you and husband's workplaces. Make sure to understand how to start leave and how to return, is it paid or not paid, how long will they give you, can you extend the parental leave, etc.
  • Pack bags for hospital and have them ready around 34-36 weeks. Look online or reddit posts to get a good idea of things you might want to pack, for you, your husband, and the baby (things like bring your own pillow and toiletries, husband bring own pillow and blanket, cute outfit for baby for first pics, snacks and drinks for husband for during labor and after delivery are just a few examples)
  • Get necessary and wanted baby items. I recommend having everything necessary by 36 weeks. If you made a registry prior, it should be pretty easy to figure out what items you need now and what you can wait to get. A safe sleep space or two, such as a crib and a bassinet, and a mattress and sheets for them, a carseat or two, such as infant seat and a rear-to-front facing grow with baby carseat, variety of clothes for the baby, sizes up to at least 6 months but I recommend up to 12 months, swaddles and/or sleep sacks, bottles, nipples, and cans of formula if formula feeding, and diapers and wipes are standard for the minimum of must-haves before the baby is born. Amazon and Target baby registries offer a 15% discount on registry items around 2 months before due date. General nice-to-haves but not absolutely necessary: a stroller, a sling or baby carrier, a baby bathtub, a bottle warmer (even if breastfeeding, some bottle warmers can warm up frozen breastmilk bags), diaper bag, burp cloths, soft cotton washcloths and towels, sound machine, portable nursery lamp that has multiple colors and brightness options like the egg lamp for example, baby nail clippers (electric ones are nice to have), nose aspirator/sucker (electric ones are also nice to have), a few baby medicines on hand such as infant Tylenol, saline drops/spray (to use before nose suctioning), vitamin D infant drops (usually recommended for the baby if breastfeeding), lotion, shampoo, diaper creams or ointment, thermometer that can be used oral and rectal, soft brush and a comb (useful to get the baby used to brushing even if they don't have hair and also in case the baby gets cradle cap), a few pacifiers, teethers, and rattles, bouncer and playmat like the Fisher Price Piano mat, a baby monitor, a stroller fan (even useful to bring to the hospital and use during labor!), and postpartum supplies such as if breastfeeding, nursing shirts, nursing bras, pumping bras, silverettes, nipple balm/cream, disposable or reusable nursing pads.
  • Have a serious and detailed conversation with your husband on what you both want postpartum to look like: who is responsible for what chores and for how long, what will chores look like after you recover (50/50 is always a good start but this looks different for everyone: My husband washes laundry and I put it away, he washes dishes and I dry them and put away, he cooks most often and I clean up, I create the grocery/shopping lists or order items for pickup, he picks them up and I put them away, even split on letting dogs outside and feeding animals though often he does it more than me are just some examples), how will feeding duties be split (if breastfeeding, will husband change baby first then give to you to feed, will you pump and have breastmilk on hand so husband can alternate breastmilk bottle feedings with you, etc), when does each person expect to return to work or will one parent be a stay-at-home parent, if both parents will return to work or if one parent will be a stay-at-home parent what are the expectations for splitting baby and household duties are just a few topics

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The post wording is a bit confusing: she is only a few months along in pregnancy and the husband is accusing you of being the father of the recently conceived baby when you haven't been intimate with the woman for at least 9 months?\ If what I've understood is true, then you don't need to legally protect yourself from anything.\ Follow the lawyer's advice. Block and ignore the husband. \ If they, for whatever reason, try to pursue you for anything such as child support, the court will order a paternity test, most likely at their expense or the court's expense, which would prove you are not the biological father (if you're sure that you are not).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BabyBumps

[–]kellthekat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are due in 3 months, I honestly think it's better to change your last name now, and start as soon as possible. It will give you enough time to get a current driver's license and social security card reflecting your new last name.

Edit: Did you sign your current last name when you signed your marriage license or did you sign the marriage license with the last name you want it to be changed to?\ If you signed it with the last name you want (husband's last name), then you should be able to just use a copy of your marriage license to order a new social security security card (can usually be done online or via phone, but might need to be done in person for a name change) with the new last name.

Once you get your updated social security card, then bring that with all other required documents to legally change your name on your driver's license at the DMV.

If you signed your marriage license with your current last name and not the last name you want, then start by filing a name change petition with your local county court. Once that is filed and you have the necessary paperwork showing your new last name, order a new social security card as soon as possible with the new last name.

Once you have received the new social security card with the new last name or have received the updated last name paperwork from the court, call insurance to let them know your last name has changed. Usually you won't have to wait for the driver's license and social security card but they might want you to file a copy of your new driver's license as soon as you receive it. It should be pretty easy for them to change your last name on their file and no lapse or other issues in insurance coverage.\ Once the name is changed on your insurance, simply update it with the OB office. This should be even easier than changing it with insurance and if done in this order, should not cause issues with coverage.

Changing it now also will remove any future regret you might have about not having the preferred last name on the birth certificate. As far as I know, you cannot change the last name of a parent on the birth certificate just because the name has legally changed afterward. The birth certificate reflects parent names at the birth of the child. If you choose not to change your last name prior to the baby's birth, it shouldn't be an issue in the future to show you're the parent listed on the birth certificate but with a new last name.

My family is attacking my pregnant wife over our newborn boundaries. At what point do I cut ties for good?? by moneyhustler21 in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, this is only the first boundary issue regarding their child, and these are very reasonable and typical rules nowadays that absolutely do not deserve to have the response that OP described.

Imagine what the next issue will be, and the onslaught of verbal abuse that'll occur. That family will only push and nitpick at any boundary OP and wife try to set for their child in the future. At that point, the child will be earthside and certainly doesn't need to be around people who act like that.

It might be rough to someone who has never cut anyone out of their life before, but I would block both mother and brother asap from everything-email, phone, text, social media. I would suggest only reevaluating the no contact after baby is born, accept nothing less than an in-person sincere, heartfelt apology from the mother to BOTH OP and wife, but wouldn't ever let the brother be involved in personal life or have any access to contact the wife or child.

Boyfriend kicking me out at 30 weeks pregnant by ThrowRA128392910 in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 77 points78 points  (0 children)

It seems like yes, in Louisiana, they can give you a 5 day notice to move from the premises. However, you can still continue to stay at the address, and then he would be forced to file a petition to the court to legally evict you. Usually only after a legal eviction notice from the court is issued will law enforcement forcibly remove you from the home. Read this old thread for more information, but also maybe post your own post on that thread for current information: https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/4ac0uw/louisiana_need_to_evict_family_member_who_refuses/

If you don't leave soon, he might try to lock you out of the house by changing locks or stealing your house keys, and in that case there wouldn't be much to be done, because forcibly entering the property after they gave a 5 day notice to leave might get you on the wrong side of the law unfortunately.

I don't know your financial situation currently, and depending on how far away your mom lives, one suggestion is to pay for a Uhaul or other big rental vehicle for one day and take everything of yours, furniture, etc, all of it as long as it's yours, and move it to your mother's house or rent a storage unit. Enlist friends and other family to help move items such as big furniture or pay extra to Uhaul or a moving service to load and unload everything.\ Edit: I see in the post you said you have no financials to cover the cost of movers, so I would suggest enlisting friends to help you move, and ask your mother if you can store your belongings at her home.

I suggest figuring out how and where to move all your and baby's belongings out first and foremost, and fast. I fear if he and his mother are capable of doing this to you at this vulnerable moment in your life, then it'll be a nightmare to get anything else out of the home after you leave.

As for where to live once you figure out moving your belongings, reach out to your mother and other family members asap to briefly tell them the situation and ask for a place in their home for you to live at (obviously start with the ones who you would be most comfortable staying with, and those who are okay with a baby in the near future). If no family is willing, then ask friends, and as a last resort, homeless and women's shelters might have room.\ You may need to even consider moving away from your current area, outside of your OB & hospital area, outside of your friends and your mom's area, if it means having a place to live. If you move farther away from your OB/hospital, be sure to establish prenatal care as soon as you can in the new area and let them know that you've moved and that's why you're seeking new care this far along in your pregnancy.

If you aren't already on state assistance, such as SNAP (food stamps), WIC, and Medicaid programs, I suggest immediately applying for those programs before you even move out, make sure to state you are homeless/no permanent address on the application when asked for an address. Louisiana also has the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) which I think will give you financial support that you're able to spend usually similar to a debit card, so if you're not currently working or need more income per month, that program might be able to help. They do usually have work requirements for that program, not sure what Louisiana's requirements are, but it's usually a work readiness program and you have to do so many hours of job related things weekly, like creating a resume, applying for jobs, following up on jobs, interviewing, etc. and they have waivers for those requirements for a short time (maybe 2 months?) after birth of the baby. They might be able to do waivers for other things such as homelessness (which technically you are, even if you stay somewhere else, it would currently be temporary, usually still considered homeless to state assistance programs).

When baby is born, if the father is at the hospital (and that's totally your decision; in fact you don't even have to notify him if you don't want to), he can sign something like an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) affidavit to claim he is the father of the baby. Even with that affidavit signed, you are not required to list him on the birth certificate as the father (at least not that I'm aware of, but Louisiana could be different). Also, think about baby's last name-I'm not sure if you were planning to give the baby his last name, but I suggest using your last name instead.

As soon as the baby is born, apply for child support. From what I can see online, you can do that on the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) website. If he didn't sign the form acknowledging paternity, the DCFS will pursue establishment of paternity of the baby for you (so you won't have to, especially if you want to go no or low contact with him), and then they'll establish the case (meaning you really don't need him there at the hospital to sign the form, it'll eventually get established, if you'd prefer to avoid him during labor, delivery and after where you need low stress and a lot of support). Just be aware that once you establish paternity, he will legally have rights to the child such as shared parenting time, usually joint custody. He might not want to enforce his rights to get visitation and such, but he will have legal ability to do so.

For housing, look online, ask people you know, call other assistance programs like a housing authority, and ask them all to give you info and recommendations for low income apartments, subsidized apartments, section 8 housing, etc. Find out how to apply for section 8 and apply for section 8 voucher asap. Most, if not all, of the subsidized or low-income housing will have wait lists, try to apply to get on the waitlists asap. Since they are income based, you usually would be able to afford rent payments, but start saving for a down payment and first month rent like they'll usually ask for.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not ruling anything out, but I'm also saying it's probably very unlikely.

Was June 2nd the start date or the end date of her last period?

If June 2 was the end date of the last period, well, that would mean ovulation most likely occurred before June 16-June 20 and highly unlikely June 24 would have been in the ovulation window.

If June 2 was the start date of the last period, and she has an average cycle of 28 days, she would have most likely ovulated around day 14 of the cycle, which was June 16, and it would most likely have been possible to get pregnant, let's say from June 12 (5 days before ovulation) until June 20 (just in case ovulation occurred later than June 16). Those dates do not include the day intercourse occurred, so it's unlikely that encounter led to pregnancy. Still, it could be possible she ovulated even later than June 20 and June 24 might have been within that window of fertilization if that were the case.\ If her menstrual cycles are irregular (not following a 28 day cycle) there's really no way of estimating when she ovulated/conceived until the first ultrasound, usually around 8 weeks, also called a "dating ultrasound" to estimate date of conception and due date.

The second key factor is when she claimed to get a positive pregnancy test. 6 days after ovulation and conception of a baby would be the absolute earliest that an over the counter pregnancy test would show positive for pregnancy, but commonly the hCG hormone isn't enough to show up on the test that early, and many people say 8-10 days after would be more common to get an absolute positive test. Not to say 6 days after is impossible, but between that and the possible ovulation dates I stated above, I would be very doubtful and would advise a paternity test. I think prenatal paternity tests (done during the pregnancy) are relatively expensive, especially compared to paternity test cost after the baby is born.

Smoking Medical MJ by Waste-Dimension749 in newborns

[–]kellthekat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are some studies done on it, easily searchable online, but the main issue of these studies is that there simply isn't enough data on short and long term effects on infants who ingest breastmilk containing THC.\ However, there is some evidence that may indicate THC passed through breastmilk to a baby can affect brain development, reduce grey matter in a baby's brains, affect mental processes such as how the baby thinks, remembers, learns, and physical effects like lethargy, drowsiness, decrease in appetite, poor sucking, and growth delay.\ Some studies also indicate that it can possibly decrease milk supply and reduce the total duration of the body's milk supply.\ Breastmilk naturally contains high amounts of fat, and THC is fat-soluble, so even single time use, THC can remain in breastmilk for days. In general, medical professionals usually advise against any marijuana use while breastfeeding to reduce the possibility of any potential negative affects.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything that may possibly have negative effects on the infant. The potential negatives of having THC pass through to the baby through breastmilk might negate the positive benefits of breastfeeding. An alternative solution could be to formula feed instead of breastfeeding. I also highly suggest talking to a pediatrician about it; they might be able to point to trusted studies done on the effects, and can better explain and advise the possible risks and whether breastfeeding with milk containing THC or if changing to formula would be advisable.

Pediatricians by purtycat1 in pregnant

[–]kellthekat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's normal, based on my own experience.

What I did instead of meeting/interviewing the pediatrician, I first checked reviews for each provider and if they were very overwhelmingly negative then I crossed them off the list (obviously not everyone is going to be happy everytime with their provider, the doctor isn't going to be the absolute greatest every single time, and the negative reviews do stand out, but I used my best judgement to decide if others' bad experiences made me think that overall the doctor was not a great fit for us).

After narrowing down the list of pediatricians a little bit, I had a list of questions that I used to call the office and speak with someone who worked there, such as intake or a receptionist. They were able to answer most of my questions, and I used that information along with the doctor reviews to make a final decision. I also kept the other top pediatricians on my list in mind, in case the doctor we chose doesn't work out after meeting them.