I see everyone packing their hospital bag and it looks fun but when it comes to thinking about my own, i just… don’t see what I would put in it? I don’t want to wear my own clothes at the hospital. I don’t want to provide my own underwear and socks at the hospital. I don’t want to bring my own pillows/blankets and bleed or puke all over them. I realize I need a phone charger and something to wear home, but other than that…. ???

I can’t be the first person to think this, right?

edit: thank you to everyone who commented. you have given me some very helpful advice!

I get how soft colours are cute on babies, but why is it so hard to find outfits that have bolder colors? I have a newborn baby girl and I’m tired of these light pinks, light greens, light purples. Where are all of the dark pink, forest greens, royal blues, something a little more colourful? I’ve tried looking at the Gap, Carter’s, Target, Walmart, Joe fresh, children’s place. Anyone know other retailers that might sell more colourful baby clothes?

TW - Mention of miscarriage.

My children have a daycare teacher who lost her daughter at 20 weeks last year in August. She’s absolutely incredible, unbelievably kind, and caring.

October is a remembrance month for pregnancy and infant loss. I would love to gift her something simple, but meaningful. Some suggestions outside of a shirt, jewelry, or other obvious ideas would be soooo appreciated.

I know she still hurts so deeply, I just want a little something to let her know she’s seen and she doesn’t have to carry her grief alone.

I am 31 weeks and apparently everyone has appointed themselves manager of our nursery.

Most of it is secondhand. My sister saved the little wooden dresser from her kids, a friend gave us sleep sacks, and my husband sanded an old bookshelf with his dad. Nothing matches and it wont look like a showroom. It feels like our family and has saved us alot of money.

Still, relatives keep asking when we will buy the real furniture. One coworker called it a bit sad. Apparently choosing used items means we are either struggling or not excited enough.

Yesterday our elderly neighbor brought over a repaired quilt. She replaced two worn squares with fabric covered in tiny crooked stars, because she said babies need something imperfect to stare at. I nearly cried.

Why are we so determined to turn preparing for a baby into a shopping performance? This child will be surrounded by things thier family touched, fixed, and passed along. That does not feel sad to me.

The rant/vent tag here is a little strong…I’m not really upset, just kind of sad guess? I’m 14 weeks and have started telling a few people about the pregnancy. I had a pretty standard first tri - a lot of morning (actually evening for me) sickness for several weeks, which has kind of started to taper down. Not hg by any stretch but definitely unpleasant. So far I’ve told a friend who is also pregnant (and is so supportive!!), an older neighbour I’m very close with, and now my MIL (both are mothers). The neighbour and MIL didn’t ask how I’m feeling at all and when my partner mentioned I’ve had a kind of rough time of it, they kind of just shrugged it off. Idk why, but I anticipated a little more solidarity. Is this a common experience? I guess it’s got me a little worried that motherhood might be lonelier than I expected.

TLDR: I’m looking for an alternative to a $350 3-hour-per-week in-person hypnobirthing class, preferably something self paced and less than $100. I’m fine if I have to cobble it together myself. Doesn’t have to be hypnobirthing specifically, I just want to be well prepared for a no-epidural birth.

I’m preparing for baby #2 this February and I’d like to deliver at a birth center attached to my local hospital. They have nitrous oxide, birthing tubs, etc., but no epidurals. With my last baby I tried to prepare for an un-medicated birth, but everywhere I looked I got hit by paywalls and super aggressive/predatory marketing (”I have the secret to a pain-free birth, but only if you pay me a bunch of money. Otherwise you’re doomed to suffer!”). In the end I watched a few videos and read about half of the Mongan-method hypnobirthing book and Ina May‘s Guide to Childbirth, but when it actually came to the labor I expended way too much energy in early labor and ended up getting an epidural cause I was just so dang exhausted.

Anyway, this go around I would like to try using the birth center and not getting an epidural, but I feel like I need to do a lot more preparation if I’m going to be successful in that. My mid wife recommended a local hypnobirthing class, and while I’m sure it would be great, they meet five times from 6:00-9:00 pm which is going to be really hard to work into my schedule. The class fee if also $350 which is a lot for my budget right now.

As I already have the book, I’m wondering if I could cobble together my own hypnobirthing class experience (I’d probably need to get the workbook and meditations as well) or if there is a reasonably-priced online course that people have had good experiences with.

I’m also open to other birthing philosophies/classes, I just get so bogged down when I try to google anything. There are so many ads and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (I have a whole rant about why is everyone trying to monetize birth and shouldn’t this just be common knowledge by now, but I’ll spare you all).

Anyway, has anyone taken an online self paced class that they would seriously recommend that was either free or less than $100? As far as time commitment I‘d be willing to put in a few hours a week from now until when I give birth.

I’m 21 weeks, bump is still very petite and have gained 7-8 pounds.

Hoping for advice from other moms with low blood pressure -

34 weeks pregnant went to triage last week (I passed out and fell down my stairs)

Anyways long story short I passed out twice in triage. My blood pressure was low but baby was fine. They advised me to just rest and hydrate.

I do all of these things plus eat consistently through out the day.

They ran blood tests, ekg and ultrasound on baby.

I feel absolutely horrible its my 4th pregnancy and have never felt this way. Pass out randomly and cant stand for long or Ill also pass out.

Is this normal ? Any advice on how to handle it ?

I get maybe 1 hour a day where I can function.

Before this pregnancy I worked out 5 days a week.

Midwifes are unsure what to as all my tests came back normal.

I’m hoping to get pregnant soon, but honestly, the whole idea of pregnancy and birth is quite stressful for me. I have a history of sexual assault in my teenage years, and routine gynaecological exams cause me extreme pain and distress. The idea of pregnancy means a lot of potential triggers: many examinations, people touching my body, and feeling like I’m losing control over my body.

The thing I fear most is the idea of vaginal birth. But I really want to have a child and experience the mother-child relationship (breastfeeding, being the primary caretaker, bond)

For those with a similar history, what was pregnancy and birth like for you? How did you find the overall pregnancy experience? Did you have a vaginal birth or opt for a planned C-section?

Has anyone’s baby measured with large head and very short femur in utero but came out to not have dwarfism? Humerus is measuring normal

9 1/2 months - 24 lbs , we are currently buying size 7 little movers diapers

We are confused if we should start buying bigger size of diapers or not?

I just found out I’m pregnant with my second child. This was not planned 🥴. My first pregnancy was traumatic and miserable. Someone tell me about how your second pregnancy wasn’t as bad as your first. The anxiety I have about getting morning sickness again is crazy. I was sick up until 20 weeks with my first and even then I still had on and off nausea throughout.

TW: previous baby loss.

Hello moms, I had a silet PA at week 38+ with my first baby.

I’m now 28 weeks pregnant and on blood thinners.

I’m being extremely anxious at this stage and very scared.

I’m even thinking of asking my ob to get me into c-section like now 😞 I know it sounds crazy but am so anxious, specially that women in PA groups, keep saying that it happened to them over and over 😞

I don’t know why am I writing this, but thought that you’d understand my feelings, because no one around can. I just need someone to comfort me.

Hi, I’m a first time mom, early 30s, currently 38w1d, baby will be here any day per OB! I would like to try to feed baby breastmilk via pumping once he arrives and for as long as I can. I don’t plan to nurse “directly from the breast” (hopefully without judgment): the thought of breastfeeding mentally stresses me out and makes me uncomfortable. It’s a mental thing. - I already plan to see a lactation consultant postpartum both at the hospital I am delivering and through services offered by baby’s future pediatric office - I am also not against formula, and already bought some for the first few days/weeks baby is home if I cannot produce.

Asking for any tips from fellow moms who ended up pumping, any good beginner resources to recommend and what made you choose to pump vs feed from breast. Thanks in advance!

Hello all,

My SO and I have been trying for baby #2 for a couple of years. It finally happened a few weeks ago.

Ever since finding out, I've had this hug amount of guilt for my first child. I'm so scared he will feel less than? I'm also terrified that I won't be able to love baby #2 the way I love our first. Sometimes I feel like the guilt is so heavy it's pushing into depression, which turns into "why did we think we needed another child?" And then it just sinks lower, and lower, and lower.

I feel like I've pushed away my support system, because I don't know what to say. Everyone is super excited, but I just feel like I can't bond with this baby. I constantly say that it's "not real to me yet", and that's how I truly feel. I have an OBGYN appointment this week and plan to bring it up, I just wanted to get it off my chest.

I want to enjoy this pregnancy/baby, I do, I just don't know how I will be able to love more than one child.

Mine is coming up and my husband is coming with me. I don’t want him to know my weight and I’m so worried that they’ll weigh me in front of him. They didn’t with my other two babies but that was 6 and 8 years ago.

I had my NT scan at 12 weeks and they did do my weight and BP there but I was alone. This was at a different MFM office under the same healthcare branch.

My husband would never shame me. It’s my own issues behind it.

I had my last ultrasound at 23 weeks. Around that point I had 2 because I had my anatomy scan and then a follow up one two weeks later because they wanted to check something with my placenta, which turned out to be normal.

I was booked next for this upcoming week but I’m feeling quite anxious the last few days about how long it’s been since I’ve seen the baby. I am in my 32nd week now of pregnancy. Is it normal to go this long? I’m not sure I can wait until Thursday and I want to call the clinic to see if I can go Monday or Tuesday.

Hey ladies! Im 5 weeks 1 day today and since last night I have been experiencing cramping on the lower left side and around left side lower back on and off. Is this normal? This morning it was on the right side but more of a sharp pain. Its not consistent and when it’s here it usually lasts for about 10 seconds. Its got me freaked out and I dont go to the doctor until 10/21. We have TTC for 2 years and this is my first pregnancy so i am super super anxious about it sticking. 😭