u/catonesielife

My daughter is 6 weeks old and primarily formula fed. She’s gaining weight well and her stools are generally soft/normal, but she has a really hard time pooping.

She will strain, turn red, grunt and sometimes scream while trying to poop and it can last 10–15 minutes. Sometimes she even seems like she’s trying to poop while she’s feeding. It’s honestly heartbreaking to listen to because she sounds so uncomfortable.

Her pediatrician thinks it’s infant dyschezia/immature coordination since her stools are soft and she’s otherwise growing well. We’ve tried burping, bicycle legs, rocking, warm cloths, mylicon drops etc., but I’m wondering if there could be something else contributing reflux, gas, formula intolerance, etc.
She’s currently on **Similac Advance ready to feed**. She had the same issue with Emfamil gentalese, Similac total 360. We recently switched her bottle nipple to the Philips Avent Extra Slow Flow because she was gulping and getting very gassy with the faster flow, and she actually seems much more comfortable with the slower nipple.

For those of you who formula-feed:
Did your baby go through a phase of screaming/straining like this despite having soft stools?
Did it eventually improve on its own?
Did changing formulas actually help?
Has anyone tried Gentle Comfort, Alimentum, Enfamil Reguline, or Bobbie for similar symptoms?
Did probiotics help at all?
I’m trying not to change a million things at once, but it’s so hard to hear her scream and not wonder if there’s something we can do to make her more comfortable. ❤️

I’m 38 weeks and have a scheduled C section coming up, and now that it’s getting close I’m suddenly questioning my decision and wondering if induction would be better.
This is an IVF pregnancy at 43, with diet controlled GD. Baby is currently head down, measuring around the 40th percentile, roughly 6 lbs, with good fluid, placenta, and growth. My OB and MFM have both said induction or scheduled C section are reasonable options and have left the decision up to me.
I’ve been leaning toward the C section because I really value predictability and control. The idea of a long induction, potentially laboring for many hours and then ending up with a C section anyway, has always been my biggest concern.

But now that the C section is actually getting close, I’m getting scared about having major surgery and the recovery. Part of me is thinking, “Should I just give induction a chance and see what happens?” I know an induction could potentially result in a vaginal birth, but it could also be long and ultimately end in a C section.
I’m having a hard time figuring out whether this anxiety means I’m making the wrong choice or whether I’m just getting nervous because the decision is becoming real.
For anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially with the option of both induction and planned C section, how did you decide? Did you ever have last minute doubts about a planned C section? And looking back, are you happy with the choice you made?

Hi everyone,

Hoping someone familiar with EDD/SDI can help me understand what might be going on.
I’m currently pregnant and filed a California SDI claim for pregnancy disability. My doctor’s office submitted the medical certification, and they told me that their portion was approved. My income/wage information also meets the requirements as far as I understand.
Today I logged into SDI Online and my status says:
“Claim Denied: You are not eligible for benefits. Check your SDI Online inbox or your mail for the Notice of Determination and next steps.”
I haven’t received the Notice of Determination yet, so I don’t know the reason for the denial.
The only thing I can think of is that EDD recently sent me an additional form asking questions about whether I was working/applying for jobs prior to my disability. I completed and returned that form honestly. Could that have triggered a denial or eligibility issue?
Has anyone experienced something similar? Does the “claim denied” status appear before the actual Notice of Determination is available? And is there anything I should do now besides waiting for the notice?
I’m especially confused because my doctor’s office told me the medical certification was approved, so I’m trying to understand whether this is a medical certification issue or a separate eligibility issue.
I know EDD says the Notice of Determination will explain the reason and provide appeal instructions, so I’m waiting for that, but I’d really appreciate any insight from people who have dealt with this before.

Hi all,

Looking for pretty, somewhat unique middle name ideas for Lia! (Pronounced Lee-yah) We’re having a hard time finding one that feels just right.
We’re not really into the super traditional/common middle names like Marie, Grace, Rose, etc. We’d love something feminine, elegant, and a little unexpected without being too out there.
Our last name is also short and starts with L, so we’re trying to find a middle name that flows well with both Lia and a short L last name.
What would you pair with Lia?

Edit: Wow! Thank you everyone for the lovely suggestions. My husband and I spent all day yesterday going through these suggestions and here’s a shorter list of considerations and would love your feedback

Lia Isabella
Lia Josephine
Lia Samantha
Lia Juliet
Lia Josie
Lia Colette
Lia Elena/Alana
Lia Inaya/Inara (I have south asian roots)
Lia Olivia

I’m 43, pregnant through IVF, with diet-controlled GD. I currently have a C section scheduled for 39 weeks, but both my OB and MFM are encouraging me to consider induction while ultimately leaving the decision up to me.
Baby is measuring around the 40th percentile and about 6 lbs, so she isn’t measuring big, and everything else looks good.
Part of me really wants to try an induction because I feel like vaginal recovery could be easier. But after such a long road to get here, another part of me just wants to make sure my baby arrives safely, even if that means a more difficult recovery with a C section.
My biggest hesitation with induction is the possibility of laboring for a long time and then needing an emergency C section anyway. My OB quoted me around a 40% chance of C section with induction, and that makes me nervous.
What would you choose in this situation? Would you give induction a chance, or stick with the scheduled C section for the predictability?

I’m 36 weeks with an IVF pregnancy, 42, and have GD. Thankfully baby is doing great around the 40th percentile, head down, good fluid, and placenta looks good.
I also had some tachycardia concerns. My monitor showed 70 to 140 bpm with an average of 107, but my echo was normal and cardiology wasn’t concerned. Beta blockers are an option if needed.
My OB initially said my heart rate was too high for vaginal delivery, which weirdly gave me some relief because the decision was basically made for me. Now that cardiology has cleared me, my OB says I can either induce around 39 weeks and see how I respond or schedule a C section. She said my age, IVF, and GD do increase my chances of ultimately needing a C section, but she’s comfortable with either choice.
I’m honestly torn. Part of me wants the predictability of a scheduled C-section, especially because I’m anxious about a long induction, decels, assisted delivery, or emergency C section. But another part of me thinks maybe I should at least give myself a chance at vaginal birth.
What would you choose in my situation? Anyone with similar circumstances who chose induction vs. scheduled C section?

Hello ladies!
I’m 35 weeks pregnant with an IVF pregnancy, advanced maternal age and Gestational diabetes. At my OB appointment today, my heart rate was around 120 to 130 bpm. My blood pressure was completely normal but my OB was concerned about the elevated heart rate since it was higher in my last appointment as well.
She mentioned that if my heart rate doesn’t come down or if the cardiologist isn’t comfortable with me laboring, she would recommend a scheduled C section because labor and pushing could put too much strain on my heart. She’s referring me to a cardiologist for further testing.
I’m pretty anxious because I’ve been hoping for the option of a vaginal delivery, although my priority is having the safest outcome for both me and the baby without any complications.
Has anyone experienced tachycardia in late pregnancy and end up seeing a cardiologist? Were you still able to have a vaginal delivery, or did your doctors recommend a C section?
For those who had a C section because of a heart issue, what was the reasoning your doctors gave? I am unsure if this could be due to anemia, iron levels or preeclampsia but my OB said all my tests were normal so she isn’t testing further.
Would love to hear others experiences while I wait for my cardiology appointment.

Thank you all!

Hi!
I am 42 and currently 33 weeks pregnant with an untested frozen embryo after 4 cycles. This will be my first child and I am extremely anxious about birth. Going through infertility has made me brace for bad news and I feel like I had no control over anything. My OB is aware of my birth anxiety and because of my age she has given me two options. Induction at 39 weeks or a scheduled c section with a doctor I trust. I believe the current recommendation is induction at 39 weeks due to advanced maternal age. I was also diagnosed with GD although it’s been diet controlled so far and baby has been measuring around the 50th percentile.

My OB mentioned that as a first time mom at my age, there’s a reasonable chance I could end up needing an emergency C section after an induction anyway, but she also said we could reassess throughout labor and switch to a C section if things weren’t moving.
Part of me likes having the C section scheduled because it gives me certainty and guarantees I’ll have the OB I’ve built a relationship with. On the other hand, I wonder if I’d regret not at least attempting a vaginal birth if my body seems ready although I have some fears around that also.
For those who were AMA, IVF or both, what did you choose and why? If you attempted an induction, how did it go? If you chose a planned C section, do you have any regrets or are you happy with your decision?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who struggled with anxiety around delivery after infertility, because I feel like that has definitely influenced how I’m thinking about this.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,
I just got my 3-hour glucose test results back and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. My numbers were:
Fasting: 85
1 hour: 179
2 hour: 160
3 hour: 142
From what I understand, I barely missed the cutoff on the 2 hour and 3 hour values, but it was still enough for the diagnosis.
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and would love to hear from others who were diagnosed with similar numbers. Were you able to manage it with diet and exercise alone, or did you end up needing medication?
My baby was measuring around the 50th percentile at my 28-week growth scan, which was reassuring, but I’m still worried about how this might affect the rest of my pregnancy.

Any advice on:
Easy dietary changes that made a big difference
Breakfast ideas that kept your numbers stable
Whether walking after meals helped
What you wish you had known when first diagnosed
This is my first pregnancy after IVF, so I think I’m probably spiraling a little more than I should. 😅

Thanks in advance for any advice or encouragement!

I’m a 42 year old first time mom, currently pregnant after 3 IVF cycles. This baby is incredibly wanted and loved, and while everything has been going well so far, I’m finding myself increasingly anxious as delivery gets closer.
One thing I’ve been struggling with is whether to attempt a vaginal birth or request a scheduled elective C-section.
A lot of my anxiety centers around the unpredictability of labor. I worry about things like fetal distress, shoulder dystocia, forceps/vacuum delivery, a failed induction, or ultimately ending up with an emergency C-section after a long labor. Intellectually, I know these complications are not the norm, but I find myself focusing on everything that could go wrong.
I also think part of this may be related to my IVF journey. After years of infertility and needing medical assistance to get pregnant, I sometimes feel like I don’t fully trust my body, and the idea of a planned C-section feels more controlled and predictable.
For those who chose an elective C-section without a strict medical indication, what led you to that decision? Did it help with anxiety going into birth? How was your recovery, and looking back, would you make the same choice again?
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m not looking for anyone to tell me what I should do, just hoping to hear different perspectives from people who have been in a similar position. ❤️

Looking for middle name ideas for Lia 💕
My husband and I are expecting a baby girl and have pretty much settled on Lia as her first name, but we’re still undecided on the middle name.
Some of our current favorites are:
Lia Isabella
Lia Nina
Lia Hanna

Our last name also starts with an L and is only four letters long, so we’re trying to find something that flows well without being too repetitive.

What middle names would you suggest for Lia? Do any of our current options stand out to you?we don’t like the sound of the usual Rose, Marie, Grace and open to classic, elegant, feminine, or slightly unique ideas!

24w3d pregnant and looking for some reassurance/advice. This morning when wiping I noticed two small white clumpy/chunky pieces on the outside, which I’ve never experienced before, and now I’m worried it could be a yeast infection, mucus plug, or something concerning.

I’m not having bleeding, a gush/leaking of fluid, severe cramping, itching, or a strong odor. I’m currently out of town on a roadtrip and won’t be back home for a few days, so naturally my anxiety is spiraling a little.

Has anyone experienced random white clumpy discharge in the second trimester and everything turned out fine?