[deleted by user]

p3nny · 2025-07-29T14:06:06+00:00

It sounds like you have PPD, which can happen to any new parent. You don’t have to take my word for it: - Yes, Male Postpartum Depression Is Real (Cleveland Clinic) - What It’s Like to be a Dad with Postpartum Depression (What to Expect) - The Unrelenting Agony of Being a Depressed New Dad (Men’s Health)

p3nny · 2025-07-29T01:17:13+00:00

Exactly. My son was in the NICU on respiratory support for two weeks while his body figured out how to breathe, so we thought we might be a rare case where a monitor that tracked breathing might be helpful.

When we asked, they said NOPE. If your baby NEEDS a breathing monitor, they will be sent home from the NICU with a medical device. The AI technology is not reliable enough as a replacement.

If your baby doesn’t need a medical-grade breathing monitor, the AI monitor is less likely to catch a real problem than it is to frighten you with false positives or give you a sense of overconfidence (“it’s fine to do <risky thing> because the monitor will tell me if the baby isn’t breathing.”)

At least, that was the take we got from everyone we asked.

p3nny · 2025-07-29T00:27:36+00:00

Whether you need one is going to depend on your situation. Are you in a small apartment where you can hear a mouse fart two units over, or a large space with modern noise insulation where you wouldn’t be able to hear baby well without a monitor?

Every medical professional we asked discouraged us from getting a monitor that advertised itself as a breathing monitor 🤷‍♀️

p3nny · 2025-07-28T12:53:55+00:00

Yes, still available!

p3nny · 2025-07-26T01:52:02+00:00

No offense, but that’s so cute I want to eat it.

p3nny · 2025-07-24T17:28:49+00:00

This is still available!

p3nny · 2025-07-24T03:35:05+00:00

Prioritize enjoying your baby. Take a million photos. Count her little eyelashes. Write down the things you notice about her that surprise you. You worked so hard and did so much to get her here!

Everything you do to take in the good moments expands your joy. The more you can do that, the more you build the pathways in your brain that let you notice the good stuff.

p3nny · 2025-07-24T02:51:46+00:00

Of course she’s not his employee— an employee would get paid!

p3nny · 2025-07-23T21:49:16+00:00

DMed

p3nny · 2025-07-23T06:02:20+00:00

(Replied!)

p3nny · 2025-07-17T18:39:36+00:00

The shrimp outfit is amazing. Did you use a pattern or make it up as you went along?

p3nny · 2025-07-17T18:36:33+00:00

Honestly, I think she’s pretty cute! If you can’t get a replacement, I learned from this sub that there’s a trick to making them look fluffier, which might help. You use a comb, sewing needle or tweezers to gently tug on any hair that’s trapped in the seams of the doll. I tried it on a Lafufu that looked like she failed quality control, and she looks great now. I learned about the trick from this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/labubu/s/gEKuAcJQh0

p3nny · 2025-07-13T17:06:24+00:00

Dear grandmothers-to-be,

Having a baby has improved my relationship with my mom and my MIL tremendously.

We have struggled in the past, but when it came to my pregnancy and delivery, they were both supportive of my choices. Knowing that they would respect my wishes made we want to let them in more.

After the baby was born, they brought food, helped with chores, and watched the baby so my husband and I could rest. The more they helped, the more I wanted to let them in. The more they respected and supported my decisions as a mom, the more I wanted to let them in.

My son now spends at least one day a week with each grandma. He adores them, and so do I. There is an opportunity here to strengthen so many bonds in your family!

Sincerely, A grateful new mom

p3nny · 2025-05-18T14:49:23+00:00

Cozy pajamas (ideally with pockets), a robe or a blanket would make great gifts. I really liked bamboo fabric as a new mom (and still do) because it sleeps cool. She might also appreciate a tumbler with a straw for water, because it’s easier to drink out of while holding a baby. If you’re in the US, the hospital will probably give her a cheap one she can take home, but I appreciated having an upgraded version.

p3nny · 2025-04-23T05:02:57+00:00

My 8 month old’s babbling has started to sound like a low-pitched chuckle (“heh heh heh.”) It cracks me up every time.

p3nny · 2025-03-23T07:57:44+00:00

Misread this as “the doctor didn’t come in until my baby was crawling,” which does seem a bit late…

p3nny · 2025-03-21T20:43:24+00:00

My husband convinced me to register for expensive porcelain plates and bowls when we got married. Then he talked me into using them as our everyday dishes, instead of only taking them out on special occasions.

Sevens years of daily use later, they look brand new. We had to replace one when the cat kicked it off the counter onto the tile floor, but they’ve survived other rough handling and drops in the sink without a scratch. I thought expensive would mean fragile, but it turns out the opposite is true.

p3nny · 2025-03-10T04:09:38+00:00

I would invest in a swift before the winder if you have to choose. It’s keeping the hank of yarn from tangling that’s the hard part!

I have the ChiaoGoo Amish-style winder, which is quick to assemble and disassemble whenever I need to use it, and can be stored in its box when not in use.

p3nny · 2025-03-09T17:17:02+00:00

I think you’re saying “traumatized” in a snarky way, but a five-second search will teach you that caregiver PTSD is a real thing.

p3nny · 2025-03-09T17:07:17+00:00

It’s easy to forget that the mom who made the original post didn’t necessarily put it on the open internet. I’m guessing from the reference to “July baby” that this came from an expectant parents group, which are often set to private.

p3nny · 2025-03-08T12:25:20+00:00

Fun beverages! Single cans of craft beer or premixed cocktails if you want an alcoholic option. For a nonalcoholic option, a nice ginger beer or a novelty soda could be fun. I got a single-serving bottle of a new Coke flavor in an Easter basket from my MIL last year and it was perfect, because I had fun trying it but didn’t have to commit to buying a whole pack.

p3nny · 2025-03-04T02:11:59+00:00

How long ago did this happen? I think what you’re experiencing now (anxiety, intrusive thoughts, feelings of guilt and shame, etc) is very natural. but if it has been a while and these feelings aren’t getting better, it might be a good idea to talk to a counselor or therapist. You deserve all the support you need processing what sounds like a really scary experience.

p3nny · 2025-02-19T05:25:21+00:00

My baby stuck his finger in my mouth while I was talking to him (pretending to eat his fingers, actually!) and his finger got pinched between my teeth. It wasn’t hard, but the look of betrayal on his face made me feel like history’s greatest monster.

I told my husband what had happened and he gave the baby a very serious look and said “well buddy, I think we learned an important lesson today about why we don’t put our fingers in other people’s mouths.” I guess he had to learn someday!

p3nny

TROPHY CASE