*Baby Corner*

[MARM 7]

I usually lurk around here and gush over the baby pics....

But now that we are planning on starting a family of our own, I have a few questions that I thought I would post here and maybe anyone here can provide some direction to the answers.

I am 21 years old, never pregnant before, never on any contraceptives, healthy and in a wonderfully stable relationship (financially no worries either), and my partner is also very healthy, 30 yrs old, and we are at a good stage to start trying (according to the dr.s)

I wanted to know:

1.) How long (in terms of time) should we continue to try to conceive until we should see a specialist if we aren't successful?

2.) How much does it cost, realistically, lump-sum to have a child? I mean the total 9 months of pregnancy+ delivery (C-section or normal)+ preparing for the baby and regular immunizations,etc up to age 1. Any one have a rough idea?

Thanks in advance for any input everyone!

-Marm

Edited March 9, 2009 by MARM

[Chrissy25 0]

well we are back from our trip, got most everything, travel system etc...Dylan was so tired and cranky all weekend! went to Ikea and got some great bedding for him, Eveline, was transistioning Adam to a big boy bed hard?

[Eveline 9]

Hey Ladies. Congrats to all the successful babyshowers. Hope you had a great time.

@Darkhorse: What a cutie. Your baby boy was born one day and two years after Adam. Enjoy those first couple of months, they grow up way to fast.

@MARM: I can't tell you. Insurance pays for almost everything. We didn't pay anything for our sons birth (c/s) and 25 Dollars for my daughters birth (vaginal) but I'm sure that bill was actually a LOT higher than that. Well baby visits and immunizations are free, sick visits or urgent care cost 12 Bucks a child.

@childress_london: Glad to see you had such good birth experiences. My friend had two very easy (if you can call it that ) births too. Unfortunately most moms seem to experience 'horror' births though. I'm glad Allie was my VBAC baby, that kinda made me feel a lot better about me and my body after doubting myself for over a year for having that c/s but I guess it was necessary.

I didn't feel anything in my ####### ripping. I couldn't even have stopped pushing. When I watch those Baby story shows on TLC they have those women that don't want to push because of the pain when the head emerges (the ring of fire, as my doula called it) but - and I have to agree with Anna, even though Allie was 8+ lbs - the pushing is a piece of cake cause you can finally be active about something and at least channel all that pain into one spot instead of just taking it. I didn't even feel the episiotomy, I just wanted to push her out.

Adam had his 2year birthday party yesterday and after almost every mom from my playgroup cancelled on me, we still had a nice party. Not many people and luckily not many presents but it was fun.

[Nessa 23]

@childress_london: thanks for sharing. it's nice to hear something positive for a change.

@MARM:

1.) How long (in terms of time) should we continue to try to conceive until we should see a specialist if we aren't successful?

are you in a hurry to have a baby? i'd wait at least a year if i were that young.

2.) How much does it cost, realistically, lump-sum to have a child? I mean the total 9 months of pregnancy+ delivery (C-section or normal)+ preparing for the baby and regular immunizations,etc up to age 1. Any one have a rough idea? -

Our insurance pays for everything, well, at least so far, including immunizations, dr.'s appoitnments, birth (unless you're having an elective c-section, the it doesn't), etc.

as for how much you spend it really depends on what you buy. furniture, clothing, etc.

are you a SAHM? is he going to go to daycare? are u gonna have a baby sitter?

this is a website that can give you a rough idea:

http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm

@Darkhorse: congratulations!! i love his middle name.

[Eveline 9]

(unless you're having an elective c-section, the it doesn't), etc.

I guess there it - again - depends. If you have elective c/s for a transverse or breech baby they would most likely pay, if you're doing it for reasons, like you don't want to go though labor or so, then they wouldn't pay I guess.

I was so mad at my aunt in law yesterday. She fed Allie mayonnaise...I didn't see it, luckily and her mom told her to stop it. I hate that. Why do people take the freedom to stuff food into baby's mouth. Allie never had anything but breastmilk and now it's mayonnaise?? Why would you think that is ok? This morning her poop stunk like rotten eggs. I don't know if it has anything to do with the mayo or if Allie is getting sick or teething again...

[Nessa 23]

breech baby is not elective c-section. it's the best for you and your baby. elective would be people that don't wanna have natural birth, they want a c-section even though they could have natural.

that would be like cosmetics, that insurance don't cover.

it's not something necessary, it's an unecessary surgery that u wanna have.

[Anna C. 4]

I think everyone experiences labor differently - it very much depends on your baby's position, if you have pain relief, how long it is etc... So for me, labor was far worse than pushing. I had terrible back labor and I elected natural childbirth, so my pain relief was a hot shower and a hot water bag on my back and shouting and yelling at hubbie Jona was probably posterior and turned throughout labor. He kept his fist in front of his forehead though - so even though he was only 5lb 10 oz, his head was bigger due to the fist in front of it. The midwife also thought that the fist pushed on some nerves and the spine which lead to the back labor... Arrgggh! I didn't feel the tearing, no ring of fire, it was constant. I didn't stop pushing though either. I wanted him to be out and that's it Pushing was very exhausting in terms of hm like running a marathon, but painwise, not that bad compared to contractions. My mom said she experienced it the other way around... So you never know until you have the baby I guess And MIL is another story - labors of 4 hours including pushing - like 3 pushes and she was done. All her babies were big (8.5 pounds to 9.5pounds, that little whopper is my BIL). Me so jealous

DH's cousin was in active labor for about 11 hours, but had an epidural at 4cm and then didn't feel much. She pushed 5 times and the baby was born, 8 pounds, however, she tore in 3 places. Yes, in 3 places and one of them is 3rd degree. Wow I had never heard of that before!!! Her son's head was only as big as Jona's (33cm). Apparently the obgyn thought she couldn't make it yet in that push and said give a big push, but it was THE push. Oh well, it will heal, but she's a little unconfy currently.

I just returned from a trip to the Bay Area and went to 2 baby consignment stores there. the stuff is in top condition and really cheap. I mean CHEAP. I bought Gymboree and Jacadi stuff for $1-$2 a piece. All the money I saved I had to spend at Janie & Jack afterwards But honestly, those stores are awesome. Many things still had tags on them...

Jona is cutting multiple teeth, he's coping well, but sleeping poorly. We use Hyland's teething tablets and they help a little. He's not running fevers or anything. But the poor sleep is exhausting. At least he slept 2-3-3-2 hour stretches last night....

@ Darkhorse: Congratz He's a cutie! I hope you recover quickly!

@ Evi: OMG mayonnaise??? I hate it when people feel compelled to feed babies food, let alone food that certainly isn't made for babies. Argh. Like on Thursday, it was my niece's 2 year birthday bash, DH's uncle was like: oh Jona looked at the Oreo cake, he should eat some. I grabbed my little one and made sure no cake would come close to him. He isn't even eating solids yet, and they want to feed him cake.

Edited March 9, 2009 by Anna C.

[Nessa 23]

just had an idea. i'll go to the PX, walmart, commissary and take pics of the diapers aisle, so i can come home and write a list comparinf the prices, way easier than writting down while im in those places

then i'll check online in other places that sell it and see if it's cheaper with taxes and shipping and all that #######.

just had an idea. i'll go to the PX, walmart, commissary and take pics of the diapers aisle, so i can come home and write a list comparinf the prices, way easier than writting down while im in those places

then i'll check online in other places that sell it and see if it's cheaper with taxes and shipping and all that #######.

[Ban Hammer 13,441]

just had an idea. i'll go to the PX, walmart, commissary and take pics of the diapers aisle, so i can come home and write a list comparinf the prices, way easier than writting down while im in those places

then i'll check online in other places that sell it and see if it's cheaper with taxes and shipping and all that #######.

just had an idea. i'll go to the PX, walmart, commissary and take pics of the diapers aisle, so i can come home and write a list comparinf the prices, way easier than writting down while im in those places

then i'll check online in other places that sell it and see if it's cheaper with taxes and shipping and all that #######.

don't forget to get the real price - commissary add 5%, off base add 7.5%, at the px it's as marked.

[Nessa 23]

i'll take a pic of the price announced, then i create a spreadsheet where i use a formula to add 5% for the commissary and 7.5% for walmart.

then all i have to figure out is which diaper brand to buy.

[sara535 15]

I swear by costco store brand diapers. and between my 2 kids, I've tried them all

[Nessa 23]

i'm not going to costco, that if they have one here. my options are limited to walmart, px, commissary and online. preferably commissary and px.

[Eveline 9]

OK, here are two pictures of my lion cake. We had a wild animal theme so that's why it was a lion.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...ly/DSC05420.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...ly/DSC05421.jpg

I'm not a betty crocker but it tasted good and I think you can tell it's a lion

Edited March 9, 2009 by Eveline

[Nessa 23]

aww how cute

[Anna C. 4]

@ NEssa: Well the cheapest diapers at the commissary (and it's cheaper there than the BX) are Natural Choice diapers. Walmart Brand is $2 less per package, so that's the cheapo option. However we tried them once cause DH insisted, and they do not work. They leaked poop and pee all over the place and never stayed in place to begin with. Even DH admitted that they stank. Amazon.com is a great choice, cause a) diapers are delivered to your door and b ) no taxes, no shipping. That's cheaper than the commissary and less hassle. Just my 2 cents....

Btw as far as disposables go - I agree with Sara, the Kirkland (Costco brand) diapers are great.

@ Evi: Cute cake How long before Adam ate it all ?

Edited March 9, 2009 by Anna C.