u/Odd_Equipment8924

I unfortunately have been lurking on reddit and social media all throughout my pregnancy and immediately post partum, and I was expecting the newborn phase to be a lot worse than it is.

I imagine this is highly baby dependent but

*My almost 5 week old sleep every night in 3 - 4 hour stretches

*If she cries, its for a reason and it’s doable to soothe her

*She can take some bassinet naps during the day, but prefers to be held - this gives me a chance to shower or cook or chill (my husband is able to tag team)

*She likes the stroller and car seat so pretty portable

*No reflux or milk protein allergy

*she’s cute and healthy

I had a rough delivery and unplanned c section so having a manageable baby has been a blessing. I’m sure more challenges will emerge? but we’re doing ok

I may be getting ahead of myself here with my 3 week old, but my husband goes back to work once she hits 2 months, meaning I’ll be doing the bulk of night care solo.

Currently, it’s manageable with two wakings between 10 PM and 6 AM and she goes back to sleep easily and is back up beyond her birth weight

But I’m curious if the 4 month sleep regression means wakings every hour

And how long will this last?

It feels so scary and insurmountable

I’m getting 6 - 7 hours of broken sleep while recovering from a c section, and so far is working out well, so I’m afraid of what’s to come.

Due to a confluence of somewhat rare circumstances, I had an unplanned C section after 52 hours of labor.

I was entirely mentally unprepared for a C Section, and because of that, plus an infection, and a post partum hemorrhage — recovery has been really tricky.

I have been exhausted, even with adequate sleep

For some reason, I had debilitating nausea and severe diarrhea for the 2 weeks after delivery

Very little appetite

And the hormone crash has had me emotional, sad, sensitive, and down

Every day has been A LITTLE better, but I can’t believe how hard week 1 and 2 were - my nausea is gone, diarrhea is better, pain has improved dramatically, mobility is really good, mood has gotten a bit better, bonding has gotten a little better

Can anyone validate that it continues to get better? That things feel brighter? That bonding deepens?

Can others validate that maybe I’m through the worst? And the first two weeks are in fact uniquely brutal?

I just want hope that my optimism and joy and positivity will return — because right now it feels like an endless bubble of housebound repetitiveness and feeling blah

After 52 hours of labor and an infection, I had an unplanned c section. It was sort of traumatic, but at 11 days post op, my mobility is pretty good and I’m feeling a bit better.

What has not gotten better is my digestion. I’m eating like I have a stomach virus, very bland foods.

I have very little appetite

I have diarrhea and loose stools that come and go

And I have nightly nausea

Has anyone else experienced this?

I’m looking for hope that it’ll be short lived and won’t last forever ):

Hi all - this is my last week of pregnancy before my induction is scheduled and wanted to share some of the snacks and meals that got me through GD:

Snacks:
- Roasted salted fancy nuts (Costco)
- Fairlife chocolate shakes
- IQ BARS! Chocolate & Sea Salt
- Parmasean crisps
- Chomps jalapeño beef sticks
- Poppi Orange Soda
- Mozzarella sticks
- Seed Crackers & Hummus
- Turkey Pepperoni

Meals:

Breakfast:

- Hard boiled eggs chopped up with some mayo and seasoning on toast
- Avocado toast with side of fried egg
- The Fruit Loops favored magic spoon cereal
- Oikos triple zero yogurt parfait
- Almond Flour Pancakes with butter and sugar free maple syrup

Lunch/dinner:

- Steak, mozzarella, basil, tomato, red onion on bed of arugula/romaine with balsamic vinaigrette
- Maroulosalata with chicken
- Rotisserie buffalo chicken salad in a low carb pita
- Palak Paneer (restaurant or Trader Joe’s)
- Tandoori chicken
- MaPao tofu
- Pho soup, order with Half noodles and remove some noodles /: lol but extra veggies
- Chipotle steak salad with guac
- Cava salads
- Sweetgreen
- Salmon with Bok choy on bed of cauliflower rice (with a litttle regular rice mixed in) topped with sriracha, kewpie mayo, pickled cucumbers
- Barbacoa (slow cooker recipe)over cauliflower & regular rice
- no rice sushi (occasionally, sue me lol)
- Starbucks egg bites! And the Costco dupes
- Quest chips for some homemade nachos
- Lavash flatbread wrap (low carb Af), light pizza sauce, sprinkle mozz on top with turkey pepperoni (high protein pizza)
- Burgers in lettuce wrap!
- Big Mac salad
- Meatball and mozz + small serving protein pasta

Dessert:
- Skinny dip coconut and PB cups
- Breyer’s carb balance ice cream (the best)

Ingredients I liked:
- Joseph’s Lavash wraps and pita (super low carb)
- Ezekiel bread (1 slice at a time)
- Real Good chicken strips
- Siete almond flour tortillas
- Rotisserie chicken (especially at the end)
- smoked white fish dip
- NuTrail granola
- charcuterie
- guac

I have what I think is an old model that was given to me by a friend, and it’s an HP LaserJet P 1505.

This thing never breaks, is really easy to troubleshoot, prints quickly and year after year, gives me no issues

I got a Cannon Pixma last year, and it has been one of the most frustrating purchases ever. This thing gets paper jams like crazy and while it has a lot of bells and whistles, does not reliably do what I need it to do.

I am so happy with my old basic black and white printer

Hi all! Are there types of trails that due to their flora, width and composition, or location that makes them a safer bet for tick avoidance?

Of course we would dress to avoid ticks, use spray and do thorough checks after, but was curious if there’s some trail systems that are safer than others?

Hey all — I’ve had my Vitamix since 2016 and it’s still going strong, but I notice we are using it less and less.

This thing is huge, and I’m wondering if we’d be more likely to use a bullet type blender and if that would be easier to clean, use, and have on the counter.

Use cases are mainly smoothies, shakes, and sometimes I’ll blend some soup.

Anyone end up storing their Vitamix in favor of a smaller blender?

SO many people in the comments keep saying how it’s the most humane, natural, sweet, effective best thing ever

And I keep getting posts about it too

What is up with this? What is the hype?

I’m due with our first baby in a few weeks and it’s starting to confuse me — will it help me sleep more? Am I heartless for not wanting to do it?

We were planning to sleep train around 5~ months or so

I feel like the combo of lower energy, boredom and what feels like pleasure seeking have made my scrolling habit so much worse during pregnancy

Anyone else??? Just flopping and scrolling

I feel so bad about it. I hope when my baby arrives (FTM) I can reset a little and especially reduce my screen time as they get older and more aware.

EDIT: Wow!! So many people in the same boat. Helpful to be reminded that it’ll be temporary and soon our hands will be full ❤️❤️ I’m going to try and scroll a little less today

Wondering if there’s anything mentally peaceful or freeing about being on mat leave and fully baby focused? Or if the stress of the newborn period overrides and relief mat leave brings.

Hey all!

My employer gives new parents nearly 6 months of paid maternity leave.

My daughter will enter daycare at around 7 months old, which is on the same campus as my work.

I return to work mid November, my husband will take leave to cover childcare from Nov. to late December

We get 30 subsidized daycare days through my employer as well

2 questions:

1. Any tips of making the most of the time I have off?

2. Is it worth reserving a few stays at the daycare center in December (1/2 or full days) prior to her starting there full time in January?