Baby Corner

[Jenn! 918]

Ben's lab report came back finally and it's benign!! The surgeon wasn't able to read the whole thing, he sent it to the dermatologist who wants to follow up with us but the nurse told us it's benign. so yay! It's such a relief! My heart almost stopped when she told us because she said "benign" like its a bad thing. She was a little rude. It took me a few seconds to realize it and I just wanted to cry because I was so happy!

So happy to hear that!

uhm I'm so confused right now, I got a phone call from the dermatologist this morning who said she talked to the surgeon and apparently something is not right with the lab report. She is requesting the slides from the surgery and to re-do the whole thing with her own pathologist. She said it wasn't done correctly. I asked her if we have to be worried but she said she would rather discuss it in person with us once it has been evaluated again.

Oh man this is driving me nuts. WTH?? Why is this so f-ing complicated?

Ugh, oh no! I can't believe it, that's just not right. I hope they get the re-evaluation done quickly.

[MARM 7]

@chnst: That is just ridiculous, one second they tell you benign and then they say it was not done properly?!? Fingers crossed for you, I hope that it really is benign. It's not fair that they are putting your family through this!

[MARM 7]

I don't have any experience with this, but I'm sure that the risks the drug could present are less than the high BP itself. I'm sure if your doctor is closely monitoring you, you'll be fine. But I know it's scary still - I'm sorry!!

After doing more research, I feel more confident that I will be fine, this drug is apparently the first line of defense doctors use against high bp in pregnant females. And it's a good thing that the bp was under control for the first two trimesters, that's when it is most risky. My dosage is 100mg twice a day (200mg/day), which is considered a low dosage. And I love my doctor for being so attentive and monitoring me every week. I hope and pray to carry at least to 37 weeks and that he is healthy!

Edited January 14, 2011 by MARM

[Anna C. 4]

@ Steffi: WTH?! What's wrong with those people... Did your derm give you an ETA how soon she can get her hands on the slides and have it looked at?

@ Joyce: I hate to be an enabler, but did you know that on the Grovia website they have seconds really cheap? I don't have their seconds, but Bumgenius seconds and they are just as good as the firsts, I haven't even found yet what qualifies them for being seconds....

[chnst 6]

yeah I told the hubby that from now on he has to deal with the doctors, I'm just totally lost and frustrated. I am hoping its nothing, Ben is doing just fine, and that the first lab dude was right regardless how much he didn't do the job right.

Marm: good for you, your doctor has been right on the spot from day one with your thyroid issues, so he seems like someone you can really trust. I find it very hard to find a physician who knows what they are doing and really care about their patient.

TG my OB&midwife are great too.

Anna: dont you have enough diapers already? How many cloth diapers do you need? I have 2 so far. lol. I want to give it a try if the sitter doesn't mind but I don't want to buy hundreds of diapers and then find out its not for me. I can't believe they're asking $18 for a diaper. I was kinda grossed out when I saw a friend using the poopie scraper (that thing that scrapes the messy part into the toilet). I like to roll it up and put in in the trash but I do feel bad about all the waste. Do you use these disposable liners (they're like toilet paper and they are flushable?) And do you use cloth from day one? I was thinking maybe starting when he is a few weeks old and doesn't pee&poop every 8 seconds. Oh and another question- how do you get the diapers clean? Most of the time when Ben has a #2 accident in his underwear my washer can't get it clean and I have to throw them out.

[TracyTN 237]

$18 a diaper for one that lasts until potty training - or $$ every week for disposables (I don't even know how much they are anymore). We decided we'd rather pay more upfront and save money in the long run, which is why we've been using Fuzzi Bunz since day one.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

@ Joyce: I hate to be an enabler, but did you know that on the Grovia website they have seconds really cheap? I don't have their seconds, but Bumgenius seconds and they are just as good as the firsts, I haven't even found yet what qualifies them for being seconds....

I saw that and was tempted, but I think I have all I need for now. I'm curious about the AIOs, though (I'm doing the AI2s).

Edited January 14, 2011 by Empress of Groovy

[Anna C. 4]

Oh I didn't buy any Grovias, I'm fine with the stuff I have now... I have a lot of them, cause I love them and some are so cute I get so tempted. I got some extra Sunbabies with girl prints since I didn't have the girlie stuff before.... I started out with some prefolds and covers and worked my way up... But I always buy on sale, which saves a lot, overall I spent maybe $600 on diapers, wipes, wipe warmer and accessories. I will be cloth diapering from day one this time, I made all the small stuff myself, I have some flips (disposable) inserts for the night in Denver. Breastmilk poop doesn't even have to be rinsed, you can wash it as is, it's water soluble and as we know not stinky...

@ Steffi: Hm my washer gets it all out with no troubles. I dump the poop in the toilet, if it's pasty, I have some gloves and just rinse it really quick, no biggy at all. I put all the diapers in the washer and run a cold quick cycle with extra water (HE frontloader, it has a button for extra water which you wanna use to get it clean) and then a hot cycle, and it all comes out clean, I have no stains whatsoever. On clothing with stains I throw Bacout (Wholefoods) or Shout Triple action and 90% comes out. Stuff that doesn't come out ever are grease stains... But if you go with microfleece diapers, such as Fuzzibunz, Bumgenius, Sunbaby and so on staining is not an issue. That stuff never stains. Even my cotton prefolds didn't get stains when Jona was on iron - the puke never came out from the onesies, but the poop did... Oh and we have no changes in water nor electricity bills. Two - three extra loads a week make really no difference!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Anna 600$ seems like so much! Do they last until they are potty trained? We spend about 32$ a month on disposables, (huggies) so less than 400$ a year. I wish I could be more concerned about the economical factors of disposables but with my work/school/household schedule I couldnt imagine doing it any other way. I also dont think my babysitter would be willing. I do see alot of women who CD become very adddicted to it! lol must be like my hairbow obsession for Salma!

Stef, Im sorry your going thru this. Im kmfx for you guys <3

Im home on modified bedrest for elevated BP, protein in urine, and a 5lb weight gain in a week. (the first time i gained the whole pregnancy so 5lbs was a shocker) I go in tomorrow for my lab results and an US and NST. Hoping everything is ok bc i dont want an induction at 37 weeks that could be as early as monday for me. keep me in your thoughts please. I was expecting another 1-2 full weeks at least before shes here, I really need to finish out the month at work. Hoping im able to without jeapordizing me and salmas health

[Anna C. 4]

@ Kelly: It's actually not that much, especially since it lasts through potty-training and other kids too and you can sell it off at the end. There is a thriving market for used cloth diapers (in good condition of course, but all my diapers look very good still). How do you get away with so little for diapers? When Jona in the beginning was in Pampers we spent $100 a month on Pampers and wipes. It was crazy! I bought them at diapers.com... That was the Swaddlers, once we were passed Swaddlers he got rashes from the BabyDry stuff and that's when I switched. But you can have a really cheap stash of cloth diapers that lasts years and through several kids (if you go the prefold and diaper cover route)... But yes, one does get addicted because they are awfully cute. And the prints, colors, oh my.

I hope your BP remains stable and that the protein doesn't get too high so you can "cook" her a little longer and get around an induction... Did you try evening primrose oil or something similar to maybe help you dilate and efface naturally?

[Anna C. 4]

Argh it's not letting me edit my post... I wanted to add a vent... So today I skyped with my parents and my mom asks: so what does Jona have to say about his mama's fat belly? WTH!!! I hate, hate, hate those thoughtless, passive aggressive comments. My mom firmly believes that pregnany makes you fat and ugly and already told me at 5 months wow your belly is really huge and a couple weeks ago that it's getting "so fat". Pregnant bellies are beautiful and healthy to me, and certainly not fat. What ticks me off about this is the wrong image of pregnancy that she always taught me and my sisters, that it is bad because it makes you fat (she's very vain) and you have to hide it. ANd even worse for me, I actually am concerned with having another little baby who might have latching issues just like Jona did, so there I am a little worried about measuring a week behind and hoping for 7 pounder or more and sort of with not a big belly for the gestational age at all, and she comes along and tells me I'm fat. Thanks mom, totally awesome, cause being fat is like the number one concern in pregnancy

And about the cloth diapers, here are some prints I have that I just couldn't resist:

Edited January 14, 2011 by Anna C.

[chnst 6]

oooh these diapers are so cute! Do they make them this cute for boys too? Sorry for this stupid question, what are these called, these are the covers, right? And what do you put in there, a regular cloth diaper (that piece of cotton that you fold?) I have a ton of the cloth diapers from gerber (they gave them to me to use as burp clothes but I never acutally used them, can I use them in these covers?)

I don't know what your mom would say when she see's me, haha I warn people to ride the elevator with me at work bec I have gained 45lbs so far (and counting)

I don't think we spend much on diapers either once Ben was past the newborn stage. It didn't really make a difference with groceries and stuff but I think we prob still spent more than $600. I think Formula would be a huge bill. Holy cow I looked at them the other day at traget $33 for a can. How long does that last? I really really hope I will be able to pump as long as possible.

ETA: kelly, I'm keeping you in my prayers, be very careful and rest and see your doc if you feel funny. You're almost there!!

Edited January 15, 2011 by chnst

[Anna C. 4]

@ Steffi: Those are one-size pocket diapers actually, they come with one microfiber insert, but you can stuff the Gerber prefolds in there for absorbency too... It will work (it has an opening in the back where you stuff in the absorbent material, the outer print is waterproof, the inner layer is microfleece which is very soft and wicks moisture away from baby's skin)! Those diapers adjust in the rise which is nice, but they really don't fit newborns well, but from there on out. That's why I sewed newborn diaper covers and fitteds (fitteds look like Pampers basically, either with snap or velcro closures, it's daddy-friendly). You can use the Gerber ones and trifold them and throw them in a cover (cheapest covers are around $6 a piece), but Gerber prefolds have polyester in the middle which is not as absorbent as pure cotton prefolds (got mine as factory seconds for $12 a dozen!)....

And yes, they have super cute boy prints too Lookie here as an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/12-SUNBABY-4-0-ONE-SIZE-SNAPS-CLOTH-DIAPERS-12-INSERTS-/180609894080?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0d3046c0

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-minky-one-size-Print-Cloth-Diaper-Nappy-1-insert-USA-/170589040267?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b7e62e8b

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-U-PICK-AIO-BABY-CLOTH-DIAPER-ONE-SIZE-10-INSERTS-/220694027110?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3362639b66

I can't imagine how much formula must cost. I was told a can lasts about a week, but I have no idea. And what about if you have to buy a special one for reflux or God knows what, it surely adds up!

Edited January 15, 2011 by Anna C.

[Autumnchik 6]

Nizzy - Yes, let's definitely support each other! Are you on Facebook?

Stef - Crossing my fingers for you that the first report was right. I hope you hear soon and don't have to be anxious too long.

Kel - Hoping bed rest helps and you are able to just relax and not stress about work stuff

Anna, Stef and Kel - I saw the pregnancy pics of all 3 of you ladies and you are all so beautiful with your bellies. Forget what your mom said Anna .... you are not one bit fat but are beautiful and pregnant.

So ... we just got back from our trip to Boston. Had an amazing time! I highly recommend the Children's museum. Had such a blast watching Declan enjoy it. We took him to a Japanese steakhouse, but the fire scared him, so that was not a hit. He saw his first movie in a theater (Yogi Bear) and we stopped at the Anheuser Busch brewery in SOuthern NH so he could see the Clydesdales, so that was a hit as well. My husband took Declan to the Boston aquarium while I was at my conference. He said it was okay, but not great. Of course, hubby is biased because he really loves the Vancouver aquarium!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Well as soon as Zaid hit 3 months we started using regular huggies which i get for 16.97 a case. (18.97 with a 2$ off coupon) The case lasts over 2 weeks so comes down to less than 34$ a month.

In the beginning soo many people gave us diapers for gifts that we didnt even buy any for a while.

Formula expense sucked with Zaid. Nutramigen enfamil (for colic) was about 90$ a week. I plan to use similac with Salma (keeping my fingers crossed for a colic free baby) and with coupons (my friends have saved me tons) it should cost about 30$ a week. Not bad considering we spend about 100$ on "zaid food" each week due to allergies/daycare food. I honestly dont know that i could breast feed and work full time and go to school. Almost every breastfed baby i know has sleeping issues. Zaid started sleeping 6-8 hours stretches at 2 months old and hasnt regressed ....ever. I couldnt imagine functioning at work without 6 solid hours of sleep. My twin sister weaned her son last month at 18 months and he hasnt slept thru the night ever since birth. lol. I really wouldnt have a 2nd kid for a LONG time had that been the case. Kudos to those who are able to do it

Well ill fill in everyone after my appt tomorrow morning. Im nervous