Baby Corner

[Staashi 371]

OK, I checked Tricare again and again I only find this (from february 2010) http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/jsp/Medical/IsItCovered.do?kw=Maternity+Care&topic=Women

Maternity Ultrasounds

TRICARE covers medically necessary maternity ultrasounds separate from the global delivery fee. Doctors often perform medically necessary maternity ultrasounds at different times during pregnancy, and if your provider has reason for concern, TRICARE will cover the ultrasound. Specific conditions for which TRICARE will cover an ultrasound include the following:

• Estimating gestational age
• Evaluating fetal growth
• Conducting a biophysical evaluation for fetal well-being
• Evaluating a suspected ectopic pregnancy
• Defining the cause of vaginal bleeding
• Diagnosing or evaluating multiple gestations
• Confirming cardiac activity
• Evaluating maternal pelvic masses or uterine abnormalities
• Evaluating suspected hydatidiform mole
• Evaluating the fetus's condition in late registrants for prenatal care

There's at least the two bold points that a doctor could easily do an ultrasound for, especially the biophysical evaluation for fetal well-being part. If it came down to the ultrasound I'd make up something for them to give me one around 20 weeks. that's ridiculous to not pay for one anymore.

I wouldn't want to totally get rid of Tricare. I like that we have it. Without it we'd be screwed.

They always have to do that 20 week one to make sure all its organs are in place, that its heart is formed, and that there are no birth defects. Finding out the gender is just a bonus (if you choose to) but not necessary at all.

[Eveline 9]

Circs aren't covered by insurance here - and I have one of the top 10 in America. My OB asked if I wanted it done and it would be $100. We had decided against it - I figure if Enzo wants it he can decide on his own someday.

Tricare does cover circumsicions fully for active duty and for a little copay (12 bucks) for retired military

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/jsp/Medical/IsItCovered.do?kw=Maternity+Care&topic=Women

[Anna C. 4]

Along with my maternity care approval I received a notice that only medically necessary ultrasounds are covered now. So I called our Tricare office on base... a 20 week routine scan is not medically necessary in any given low risk pregnancy. They woll however cover every single necessary ultrasound, but mom has to have a condition, family history or something. The lady explained that they used to cover the 20 week scan for all, like when I had Jona, but now only if medically necessary. Routine scans are not medically necessary. I confirmed that with their global hotline. And if you read the website cited, it clearly states medical necessity and exclusion of routine scans. I have spent a good half hour on the phone to verify it and heard from local women how their obs made up medical reasons. I'm sure my midwife can make up something too, like measuring too small so we have a medical reason to evaluate fetal growth. I always measure small, we just have small babies in the family.

@ chnst: holy cow I would have been mortified.... one week in the hospital costs tons... just my hospital bill for delivery, and that was without epidural or any fancy stuff was 25K alone. Of course insurance pays a preset amount only. But I was like wow, did they charge like $500 per piece of toilet paper used?!

I'm surprised that many insurances won't cover circs. At our hospital the nurses were all relieved that we didn't want it, but California has a below 50% rate anyways. I had to convince hubbie, but he quickly saw my point how its cosmetic and since we are neither of the Jewish nor Muslim faith, there is no need. If our sons ever want it, they can have the surgery when they are 18 and older. Shockingly MIL told me that in the 80ies they didn't even ask for parental consent... just wow!

[chnst 6]

Staashi: thank you for that info, that is interesting to know. When we had Ben they really really tried to pressure us into the circ, I was against it, hubby is on the fence because of "tradition", so when he walked out to the hallway they approached him and told him it was a medical routine and tried to get him to consent. I think our insurance would cover it too, because the hospital ended up charging our insurance for the circ even though we didn't have it done. Some of our friends in upstate NY didn't know whether or not to have a circ and the nurses tell them that it's a hygienic necessity or medically necessary. That was in the hospital I had some interns this year and they are extremely old fashioned, no anesthesia etc. Of course parents agree to that when the medical staff tells them it's necessary, and they are never there when the procedure is done. I don't think many parents would consent to that once they see how it is done in some places. Although I have heard of hospitals who do use proper anesthesia.

I don't know other than for religious reasons I don't understand why circumcision is still so big over here. I also agree though that it is different from state to state but here in NY its common practice.

@Vi: I think Evi is right, sounds like a yeast (they can be painful)- usually found in the creases. You did the right thing for letting her "air" out, do that frequently, keep her very dry, and get that nystatin. Just to be sure I would take her to the ped, so you know it isn't Impetigo and needs antibiotics. Does she have a temperature? Hope she feels better soon!

[Staashi 371]

Along with my maternity care approval I received a notice that only medically necessary ultrasounds are covered now. So I called our Tricare office on base... a 20 week routine scan is not medically necessary in any given low risk pregnancy. They woll however cover every single necessary ultrasound, but mom has to have a condition, family history or something. The lady explained that they used to cover the 20 week scan for all, like when I had Jona, but now only if medically necessary. Routine scans are not medically necessary. I confirmed that with their global hotline. And if you read the website cited, it clearly states medical necessity and exclusion of routine scans. I have spent a good half hour on the phone to verify it and heard from local women how their obs made up medical reasons. I'm sure my midwife can make up something too, like measuring too small so we have a medical reason to evaluate fetal growth. I always measure small, we just have small babies in the family.

@ chnst: holy cow I would have been mortified.... one week in the hospital costs tons... just my hospital bill for delivery, and that was without epidural or any fancy stuff was 25K alone. Of course insurance pays a preset amount only. But I was like wow, did they charge like $500 per piece of toilet paper used?!

I'm surprised that many insurances won't cover circs. At our hospital the nurses were all relieved that we didn't want it, but California has a below 50% rate anyways. I had to convince hubbie, but he quickly saw my point how its cosmetic and since we are neither of the Jewish nor Muslim faith, there is no need. If our sons ever want it, they can have the surgery when they are 18 and older. Shockingly MIL told me that in the 80ies they didn't even ask for parental consent... just wow!

Anna, if I was you, I would state that you had previous issues with your last pregnancy, as Jona arrived 4-6 weeks early correct? If you've had a premature birth you're at risk for another.

[Anna C. 4]

@ Staashi: He was 3 weeks early, but I had preterm labor for quite a while... And they checked my cervical length via ultrasound up to 30 weeks, thereafter they claimed it is of no use while my sister in Germany continued to have hers checked... I was all baffled, but it's not like I can make them do it... But PTL would only check for cervical changes... But my mom lost a baby at 5 months due to spina bifida, I'm gonna try to use that, as harsh as it sounds... Or one can always claim less fetal movement to get an ultrasound done, but they'd only check for viability, not for every organ... But I still have some time, and I actually might be in Germany around 20 weeks, so I'd just see my sister's friend & perinatologist again. 185 Euros is really not a big deal.

@ Vi: Oh I am so sorry for your little one! I have no idea, but I would take her in for such a rash. It can't hurt to get it checked out. I hope she feels better soon. If the doctor clears it, sitzbaths in Calendula really help. Weleda sells a calendula oil and at Wholefoods or any health store/ natural store you can get it too. Jona had a horrible rash when he was teething and I had to use disposable diapers to which he reacts with rash (his bum needs air) we put him in those sitzbaths. They really helped to clear it up quickly, among with diaper freeness, as much as possible.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Mommies thank you for ur great advice, I have a question, what is sitzbaths?

Can I get that nystatin at the counter or I have to take her to see the doctor, we went to seee him last friday and completely forgot about the rash, it didn't look as bad as it is now, stupid me!

Edited June 30, 2010 by Vi Mazzella

[anya-D 8]

Hi ladies,

WOW!! There are so many pregnancy, congratulations!!!!!! The only thing I can say is that there really is the end in sight lol (I was so glad I was only 2 days past due and didnt have to use any induction methods) and you will get to hold your little one sooner than you though!

Sam went to his frist week check up and he weigh 8 lbs 13 oz - almost back to his original birth weight at 9 lbs. I still couldnt believe I created a NINE lbs baby!!!!! and delivered vaginaly with only second degree... it seemed so unreal!

Anyway, I need advice please. Sam is getting quite a lot of gas and he's fussy during the night. He loves sleeping on his tummy (during the day so I can watch him closely) and will nurse beside me and fall asleep on his side at night. But he has so much gas he woke himself up a lot at night. Do you have any advice for gassy baby?

I'm also pumping too just so may be my in-law or my husband can help me feed him during the night.. I'm wondering what's a good brand (cheap and easy to use etc) to get for a milke storage bag? and nursing pad? should i get reusable or disposable one? what brand do you find best? I leak everywhere!!!! Doyou have any recommend for nursing tank? nursing bra brand? I'm so over whelm about these things.

I also got a weird rash problebly from all the gel they used to monitor the baby and me in the hospital.. very itchy and I'm so afraid to take alergy medicine. Do you know what kind of alergy medicine I can take while nursing? goodness.. i'm so clueless!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

ANya

[Staashi 371]

Hi ladies,

WOW!! There are so many pregnancy, congratulations!!!!!! The only thing I can say is that there really is the end in sight lol (I was so glad I was only 2 days past due and didnt have to use any induction methods) and you will get to hold your little one sooner than you though!

Sam went to his frist week check up and he weigh 8 lbs 13 oz - almost back to his original birth weight at 9 lbs. I still couldnt believe I created a NINE lbs baby!!!!! and delivered vaginaly with only second degree... it seemed so unreal!

Anyway, I need advice please. Sam is getting quite a lot of gas and he's fussy during the night. He loves sleeping on his tummy (during the day so I can watch him closely) and will nurse beside me and fall asleep on his side at night. But he has so much gas he woke himself up a lot at night. Do you have any advice for gassy baby?

I'm also pumping too just so may be my in-law or my husband can help me feed him during the night.. I'm wondering what's a good brand (cheap and easy to use etc) to get for a milke storage bag? and nursing pad? should i get reusable or disposable one? what brand do you find best? I leak everywhere!!!! Doyou have any recommend for nursing tank? nursing bra brand? I'm so over whelm about these things.

I also got a weird rash problebly from all the gel they used to monitor the baby and me in the hospital.. very itchy and I'm so afraid to take alergy medicine. Do you know what kind of alergy medicine I can take while nursing? goodness.. i'm so clueless!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

ANya

Anya, I loved the Lansinoh pads - very nice quality. Milk storage bags can be bought at Target or Walmart - I just pumped into bottles with the Medela that could be stored in fridge. My pumping advice is short and sweet - just like the small amount of milk that I produced.

[Eveline 9]

Anya: when you say you leak everywhere does that mean you have way too much milk? How often do you pump? I would go down with the pumpings to...well...NOT AT ALL because 1st of all your little man is so young, he might get the nipple and bottle confused (even though a lot of babies don't do that) and 2. you might mess up your milk supply from the pumping that you actually have too much milk because the pumping tells your body that you are 'feeding' a whole lot so it needs to work and work and work and make more and more milk, resulting in engorgement for you, which hurts and you will probably pump more for relief.

As for nursing pads. i did have some reusable ones but I didn't like those cause you could see them through clothes so I stuck with the Lansinoh or Medela ones. Same goes for the storage bags. I think I mostly stuck to Lansinoh.

I never owned a piece of nursing shirts. Nursing bras I got at Target or Walmart but Motherhood sells some good ones too I have heard.

[chnst 6]

Anya: I used the Medela pads I loved them. I was leaking all over too but they are thin enough so you can't see them through the bra. I bought them at Babies R Us. But Lansinoh are very similar I think price-wise they are the same. I also used the medela storage bags. Nursign bras: Look at walmart/target/burlington coat factory has a nice and very very affordable selection. Because I leaked so much I ended up throwing the bras away after just a few weeks, it ruined them, sorry, tmi, but I didn't pay much so it was ok. If you have a lot of milk- make sure they are tight fitting.

About the gas- pay close attention to what you eat some babies can get very irritated from certain food mom eats, like cauliflower, cabbage and stuuf, but some are even sensitive to dairy or bananas. It's trial and error. There is infant mylicon drops, have you tried these? You can buy them at the pharmacy aka little tummys gas relief. also warm (make sure they are not too warm) compresses on babies tummy- not on the skin but above the blanket/shirt. swaddling may also help with gas.

I'm not sure about your rash, try alcohol free lotions or aloe. Or you coul call your doctor and ask her?

Vi: Nystatin is a rpescription cream according to my drug book (2009), but you could get clotrimazole, that's an over the counter cream (another antifungal) or ask the pharmacist to mix something together- some pharmacists mix and antifungal with zinc or something. I think triple paste consists of 3 premixed creams, but I am not sure. If it is very bad I would take her in to the pediatrician, or go speak to your pharmacists and describe Sofias symptoms. ETA: or just call the pediatricians office and speak to them they may just call a nystatin prescription in for you without having to see her.

Edited June 30, 2010 by chnst

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

Mommies thank you for ur great advice, I have a question, what is sitzbaths?

german for sitting bath.

The sitz bath is a European tradition in which only the pelvis and abdominal area are placed in water, with the upper body, arms, legs, and feet out of the water. The water can be warm or cool and one or two tubs may be used.

To ease discomfort from a vaginal yeast infection, women should take a warm saline sitz bath. To prepare, fill the tub to hip height with warm water and add 1/2 c of salt (enough to make the water taste salty) and 1/2 vinegar. Sit in the bath for 20 minutes (or until the water gets cool). The vinegar will help bring the vaginal pH back to 4.5 (pH is a measurement of how acid or alkaline a fluid is).

link

[Anna C. 4]

@ Anya: I pumped in the first weeks to establish my supply when Jona used a nipple shield per my lactation consultant, but I'm a dairy cow, so I ended up with way too much and had to slowly wean from the pump. I ended up pumping once a day the first three month and Hubbie would feed it to Jona right after I pumped it around 4-5pm. He didn't suffer from nipple confusion, but I know it is a concern. I didn't want to use pumped milk at night, it's way too much trouble - you have to heat it up and on and on all while baby is crying. The first 12 months I did all the night feedings, which are fairly easy as all you do is pull your t-shirt up, and thereafter, DH helped to soothe Jona at night and eventually night-wean him at 14 months and he started to sleep through the night at that point. DH still goes to him whenever he wakes up at night as I did all the night parenting the first year, now it's his turn!

As far as products go, Medela and Lansinoh are equally good. The Lansinoh milk storage bags however are bigger and hence is a better value. I always pumped at least 5 ounces in 5 minutes and needed large capacity storage. The Medela milk storage bottles are nice too, and freeze as well. My favorite pads are the Lansinoh ones. I tried washable ones from Avent, but they had no waterproof backing and leaked like nobody's business. They have better washable options, this time around I'm opting my WAHM made PUL-backed bamboo pads. Way cheaper in the long run! You can buy such stuff at hyeanacart.com

The gas... Well it happens. It might be your food, it might not be. I tried different foods and Jona still was gassy. I tried Mylicon and it doesn't help really. I tried Gripewater. I tried cycling his legs, which sort of helped. Wearing him a lot alleviated the situation. But frankly, it didn't get better til he hit 3 months, everything gets better at that point. One of the baby books I read described the first 3 months as the 4th trimester: it's a fragile time when most babies are fussy, gassy and so on and just get used to the outside world.

Nursing gear... Cheap at Walmart, Target. But they start at size 36 so no luck for me. Motherhood Maternity has all sizes, and bras start at $16. All nursing tanks are rather expensive... You can wear a normal tank top and then a V-shirt with a deep cleavage (wrap style tops), it sort of makes your own nursing shirt...

Here is a list of approved breastfeeding meds: http://www.kellymom....#Antihistamines Claritin would be ok.

@ Charles: LOL, I wouldn;t wanna be in a vinegar sitzbath after delivery of my baby (but that recipe appears to be meant for yeast infections???)!!! You can prepare it with all kinds of herbs, really, it's up to the situational need and condition....

Edited June 30, 2010 by Anna C.

[Eveline 9]

The gas... Well it happens. It might be your food, it might not be. I tried different foods and Jona still was gassy. I tried Mylicon and it doesn't help really. I tried Gripewater. I tried cycling his legs, which sort of helped. Wearing him a lot alleviated the situation. But frankly, it didn't get better til he hit 3 months, everything gets better at that point. One of the baby books I read described the first 3 months as the 4th trimester: it's a fragile time when most babies are fussy, gassy and so on and just get used to the outside world.

Exactly the same thing with Adam. At 12 weeks he stopped grunting and farting at night..until then it was on EVERY SINGLE NIGHT but I know I shouldn't complain lol. My kids are great sleepers.

[tnh9479 1]

We had lots of issues with Zak, gas, and just overall tummy sensitivity until about 3 months. My two were formula fed and we changed their formula to the sensitive version and it helped, but he was never totally happy until his system matured.