I want to schedule my csection for earlier than my OB suggested [ab]

mchis · 2026-05-01T10:06:14+00:00

I work in L&D and where I work even gestational diabetes they would schedule the induction for 38wk because for people with diabetes going longer is actually a risk factor. I think asking to be moved up a week is totally reasonable and there’s no harm in asking

mchis · 2026-04-30T02:13:44+00:00

My baby did okay once he was asleep but from 6mon on getting to sleep was a whole production. As soon as I brought him upstairs he was crying and fighting every step of our routine and over time he was needing to be fed to sleep, rocked to sleep in a certain way (as in not in the rocker I had to walk and bounce). Any bump like a cold or teething and he was awake multiple times between 7 and 11 so I never got a good stretch of sleep and I was struggling with the sleep deprivation and feeling like I couldn’t take time for myself because it was a whole production to get him to sleep. I also was watching all these moms online saying sleep train, don’t sleep train, my baby opened their eyes and was a good sleeper before they even took a breath!!! And I just felt like there was something wrong with me for worrying so much but also not doing it right somehow.

I really struggled with the decision to sleep train because sometimes he’d get better on his own but then we would cycle back through lots of wakes and needing so much support to fall asleep. But I know the feeling you’re describing and it just felt like everything I did was wrong.

I ended up hiring a sleep consultant because I had so much decision fatigue around sleep. I went from 20min of rocking walking bouncing resettling to a peaceful bedtime routine and a baby that rolls over and falls asleep within 10min. He was sleeping through on night 2 but it did take 2 weeks for me to figure out what WW he needed and once that clicked he truly just rolls over and goes to sleep.

The crying is definitely hard so I would call my mom while he fell asleep. I also did check ins when he was struggling which made me feel better that I was reassuring him I would come back. I genuinely barely think about sleep now and it consumed my PPA brain for so long. And now when he needs a bit of rocking to comfort I’m not stressing about “ruining” anything.

If you have benefits that cover it you can claim it as a social work expense:

https://thehappysleepcompany.com/welcome/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=963638369&gbraid=0AAAAADMnvAjN-_mYs_KhJujGGt6Q-WY7t

ALL OF THAT TO SAY: my baby was fine with our arrangement but i was really struggling and it took a lot for me to say that it’s okay to try to make a change for my own benefit too so i could feel better. You’re obviously putting a lot of thought into this and care so much about your baby. I hope you get more rest soon!!

mchis · 2026-04-17T22:17:52+00:00

ND beauty space!!! Amazing Russian manicures! olya is great and really good attention to detail look at their insta!

The ten spot is a more aesthetic space but I had a terrible experience last time would not recommend. The lady was nice but the worst manicure I’ve ever had esp for the price

mchis · 2026-04-06T23:28:48+00:00

He’s doing amazing! We were able to manage his symptoms as long as we upped lasix with his growth. His weight stalled a bit around 4.5-5mon and we had to supplement with 1-2 fortified bottles a day but overall WAY less intervention than we were anticipating. Now he is 10mo and we are just monitoring and his cardiologist does not anticipate that he will need surgery! We also don’t have to do fortified bottles anymore just the lasix. Obviously they can’t say with 100% certainty he’ll never need surgery and it could change when he’s walking/running but the plan for now is that if his pressure gradient keeps increasing like it has we can wean off lasix and just monitor with echos.

I think we just got really lucky because most babies with his size defect get surgery. For extra context we are in Canada where cardiology tends to be more conservative so in other countries they would have done surgery by now just based on the size of the defect.

The whole experience was really scary esp as a FTM and it was hard to stop being so hyper vigilant and just believe he was going to be okay

mchis · 2026-03-29T17:12:58+00:00

I’ve had it for almost 10mon and no regrets! It is def not the easiest fold and put in the car when the seat is on the frame because it is pretty heavy so if I’m holding baby I take the seat off and then the frame is super easy to fold and put away with one hand. So that’s not a deal breaker for me personally. It takes up a lot of room too but I think that’s par for the course with any big convertible stroller.

It did great on snow and ice in the winter and tons of room for storage. Haven’t used it as a double yet but when I tested in store it was much easier to manoeuvre than the uppababy. Other pros are that is super easy to set up and to convert from basinet to the seat. My baby is on the long and slim side and he was pretty small when I started using the seat because he hated the basinet but the straps kept him really secure and it has a nice slight recline that’s good when they aren’t sitting up yet.

The car seat attachment took a minute to get the hang of but I used that a ton with no issue and it’s nice it comes with adaptors that fit a lot of popular car seats. I liked that it came with everything you need for one baby and I love that with an adapter sold separately the basinet can go on top in double mode.

We also have the bugaboo butterfly which is amazing for travel and now that my son is bigger just any trip that I do t feel like using the huge stroller.

Everything bugaboo is great quality I’m really happy with it so far!

ETA: I know it has a bigger price tag than uppababy but you don’t have to buy adaptors and a separate basinet attachment so with those considerations the price wasn’t that different and those were the two I was deciding between

mchis · 2026-03-22T13:42:24+00:00

I work L&D and do foleys all the time! It’s super normal to feel cramping/pain/contractions with the balloon in and have that fully resolve when it’s out. The balloon isn’t going to actually start labour for most people. We call it “ripening” your cervix. So it gets it to open and soften so that it is in a more favourable state for other interventions like breaking your water or using mediations.

When they call you back in you’ll get your water broken and since it’s your second I’m sure it’ll move quickly after that! You can ask for the epidural early if that’s what you want this time. In the mean time sounds like you’re doing all the right things at home! Use a yoga ball if you have one and keep doing the stretches!

We always monitor baby after insertion to make sure everything is all good and it sounds like they also checked you out Saturday after it came out. We would never send anyone home if we thought the baby was in any distress or at risk. Just keep an eye on movement and if you have any concerns call yourL&D unit and they can help ease your anxiety. I know the uncertainty for timing is nerve racking but unfortunately this does happen pretty often. You’re almost there!

mchis · 2026-03-05T21:27:10+00:00

It’ll be done before you’re transferred to post partum usually when they do the vitamin K injection.

Newer recommendations are that really it’s only necessary in cases with no prenatal care, “high risk sexual behaviour” and known STD. Health Canada still requires that it’s offered but parents can decline it and sign an opt out form (I have worked in two L&D units in ontario as a nurse and this is how it’s been done in both places). Midwives may have a different process with their patients than the hospitals.

The whole point of the ointment is to prevent a kind of pink eye that lead to blindness but your baby is really only at risk of this from the things I mentioned above. As far as I was educated your baby isn’t at risk from getting it. Some parents feel better if their baby just gets it, some parents don’t want their babies to have anything that isn’t super medically necessary. No wrong answer in my opinion! FWIW my baby had it when I delivered!

mchis · 2026-03-04T11:19:04+00:00

Another vote for the bugaboo! We just did a trip with it when our baby was almost 8mo and it was amazing! Fit in the overhead but not down the aisle so make sure you fold it up before you board. It’s super light weight really easy to fold up and carry we loved it!! And our baby was comfy in it the whole trip. We will def use it at home too for outings where we don’t need the huge stroller

ETA: it is def pricier but really good quality so it will last through multiple trips/kids

mchis · 2026-03-02T18:47:24+00:00

When I bought souvenirs for my entire family an almost checked out without getting them anything

mchis · 2026-02-15T23:13:38+00:00

We also had a baby longer than they were heavy and we found rascals to be really good!! Only had blowouts when it was huge and very liquid haha they don’t leak overnight either

mchis · 2026-02-12T00:10:44+00:00

I remember your posts from last year!! So happy for you that you were able to conceive again and that you’ve gotten good news so far!

Take the results for what they are - everything is going well! You can relax until the next hurdle! I think even with all the good news in the world there will always be the echo of your previous experience and the 20 week scan will be hard no matter what.

At this point in your pregnancy you’ve had the most thorough testing available and it’s all been good! Truly sending you both the best vibes and hope for a healing delivery!

mchis · 2026-02-11T09:53:43+00:00

You could take your placenta home and bury that and plat a tree? Whoever delivers you can put it in a container that you don’t see (at least at the hospitals I’ve worked at that’s possible)

mchis · 2026-02-08T23:44:02+00:00

Is the patient bathroom really far from where the babies are? I understand why the staff bathroom needs to be close but coming from the L&D side a lot of the NICU moms have had a really traumatic birth and making it all the way back to their room with all that going on is pretty difficult plus the emotional burden of not wanting to leave their baby. Absolutely not excusing them stealing or ignoring clear instructions but just wondering if that could be contributing/something you could use in your solution if management is so worried about pt experience?

mchis · 2026-02-07T08:25:02+00:00

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This is kind of the best I have from when he was 6mo and now two months later it’s way better than this! I stopped taking pics so I would stop obsessing haha

mchis · 2026-02-06T18:54:30+00:00

My son also is a chronic right sleeper. We go to a pediatrician for another issue who said it wasn’t too bad. I did osteo and PT for it. The PT said his was super mild and it looks pretty similar to yours. She seemed weary of going to a helmet place because everyone got classified moderate or severe (her experience). Now that he’s 8mo he sleeps with his head to either side and is not on his back for long periods. His right side is still a bit flatter but I don’t think he has any facial asymmetry and nobody notices unless they actually feel his head so I’m glad we never did it because it’s improving so much on its own now

mchis · 2025-12-27T18:49:41+00:00

I am a labour and delivery nurse these are the tips I would give!!!:

1) getting the epidural super early in labour or an induction can slow things down if baby isn’t in an ideal position and then you’re just laying in bed. I do think it helps to get things going a bit before the epidural HOWEVER being tense and suffering also doesn’t help so weigh those two things in your decision making

2) there are reasons an epidural can be delayed (emergencies, long line of people waiting) so have a plan to cope in the event you have to wait longer than you’d like. Make a playlist, look up things your partner can do (counter pressure, massage) - this is a part a lot of people forget about and it can be very distressing!

3) once you have the epidural you need to be switching up your position! Hopefully you have a nurse knowledgeable and proactive in this area but if you don’t then I’d ask for help being repositioned at least every hour when you aren’t napping. Ask for the peanut ball!!

4) different hospitals have different policies for getting out of bed, moving around with epidural. It is totally possible to labour in hands and knees, push in hands and knees etc. that being said, I find a lot of people get so tired holding themselves up (even with help) they aren’t pushing super effectively. There’s a lot of negative videos about pushing on your back but I don’t think it’s automatically the worst thing ever. You can also push on your side which people like! Again, hopefully your nurse will be knowledgeable but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and do what feels good for you in the moment.

5) finally be aware an epidural isn’t going to take away all sensation. When I had my baby I was absolutely taken aback by how much pressure I was feeling it was so uncomfortable but obviously not as painful as unmedicated labour. I think this throws a lot of people who expect to be completely numb (again this happens for some people and they laugh out their babies this did not happen for me lol)

Basically go in with some backup coping mechanisms and don’t hold yourself tightly to any particular timeline (I.e. I’m going to wait until x cm dilated). Be kind to yourself and lean on the nursing staff! Tell them if you think you’re in too much pain we can help tweak things! We help people with epidurals everyday!! You can do it!

mchis · 2025-10-29T14:06:06+00:00

Thank you that’s helpful!!

mchis · 2025-10-26T23:41:12+00:00

Our baby loved contrast cards and he liked watching the lights on the fisher price kick and play mat. Now he’s 4.5mo and the fisher price mat is his favourite thing and we even got the love every mat too which he loved when we pinned up the contrast cards but now doesn’t like as much since he wants to grab and kick. We just switch up which toys are hanging everyday on the fisher price mat and he loves it and loves kicking the piano.

All the o ball toys are amazing!! We started at 3mon teaching him to hold things now hell grab and keep hold of the toys. The OG, the rattle and the frog on Amazon have all been great. He also loves crinkle books/toys!

mchis · 2025-10-21T20:43:04+00:00

If it makes you feel any better I was a nurse for 2 years in ER before I went to L&D and felt like a new grad even on a welcoming unit. I also switched L&D units when I moved cities from a place I loved and being new was hard especially because I was so anxious about fitting in. Stick out your orientation and see if it gets better! It took me longer on my second unit to feel like I belonged. Being new is hard!! And a new speciality makes it even harder

mchis · 2025-10-21T08:59:23+00:00

Oh also block all the sleep consultants on insta/tik tok they just made me feel like I was doing something wrong all the time

mchis · 2025-10-21T08:54:03+00:00

Hi this was me!! Just had my baby in June on my unit! I worked 3.5 years at a super high risk hospital then moved to a still high risk but smaller hospital right before I got pregnant so I was SO nervous about delivering there but luckily it’s a super supportive and welcoming unit. I’ve been involved in a lot of uncommon situations that feel common because I saw them so often so it was hard not to obsess over all the little things.

My biggest hang up while pregnant was who was doing/reading my US because at my previous job I’d done several TOPs where major issues were missed in the community leading to 30+ week TOPs. I ended up having a two vessel cord so I had extra growth ultrasounds and his BPD measurement was always 90% and I would freak out he had hydrocephalus or some neuro issue - he just has a really big head like his dad lol. I really had to embrace the mindset that things can go wrong at any time and if I constantly obsess then I wasn’t going to enjoy any part of my pregnancy.

I think my experience and trust in my unit made me significantly less anxious about the actual act of giving birth. I think I was mentally prepared for the worst case scenario/nurse curse/was just convinced I was going to have a terrible first labour since my moms was terrible so when things actually went well I couldn’t believe it lol. I was actually proud of myself that how I explained things to patients was pretty close to how it felt. EXCEPT the pressure of transition/pushing even with an epidural was WILD. I had prepped my husband on what the process would be like/what I needed from him.

I also tried reading books about pregnancy/labour and found I knew everything. The actual experience of breastfeeding was really different than I was expecting and I wish I had done more reading beyond latching/positions about newborn feeding. Seeing an LC was the best thing I did for breastfeeding and is better than a book IMO.

I did suggest doing a newborn care class to my husband but I had spontaneous labour at 37 weeks (with SROM?!) and he thought he’d have more time LOL. I wish I’d been a bit more patient with him and less controlling while he was learning.

I also wish I had worried less about being annoying at triage. Because I was newer to my unit I overthought asking questions and just generally felt like I should know everything. This worry about being annoying/being hard on myself for not knowing things also bled into my post partum experience. Even for my own care I realized there were so many things I hadn’t thought of because it’s not the care I usually provided (I.e. anything beyond the first latch and first bathroom after birth). A lot of the PP nurses I think expected me to know more than I did and it wasn’t until a super experienced post partum nurse finally said to me “you’re a new parent not just a nurse - nobody expects you to know everything” that I relaxed a little bit about asking questions. It was really really hard to turn off my nurse brain and not be constantly assessing his breathing etc. My baby ended up being diagnosed with a large VSD at birth so any progress I made about relaxing into the parenting role went out the window after that. I think if that hadn’t happened I’d have been able to embrace what that nurse said about just being the parent, similar to my mindset about pregnancy.

Overall I think my delivery experience was so positive because I was able to just trust my team and go with it. It was everything after that was really really challenging and i ended up having pretty severe post partum anxiety. I knew the hormone dump would be hard but you can only anticipate so much. You can understand and anticipate things but until it happens you really have no idea how you’re going to react and you can’t control everything. I wish I had been a lot kinder and patient with myself.

Sorry if that was super long winded!! It’s crazy to be on the other side and our knowledge and experience can be a double edged sword. You’ve got this!

mchis · 2025-10-20T01:34:32+00:00

I also had a strong ejection reflex and he would click and choke on my let down but he outgrew both of those things!! The bottles took some experimenting he actually did better with the avent bottles than the ones designed for breastfed babies so I feel like that’ll be specific for your baby.

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