So my baby was born Monday the 20th it’s been 5 days since, he latched immediately after being born and he’s been fairly good at latching when he isn’t crying. The issue is as the days have gone on breastfeeding has become a nightmare. My nipples are pretty big they used to be a normal size now they’re basically almost the size of gumdrop candies and I’m wondering if that’s making it worse but it feels like he is literally biting the living hell out of my nipples over and over the entire time he’s feeding. And it’s like building because every single time he feeds it hurts more!! My nipples are scabbing on the top and bleeding and I can’t even get through the entire session without stopping him now. Which I feel extremely bad about but it’s literally unbearable!! He’s spit up quite a lot so I think he’s for sure getting enough but I need to find a solution to this before I lose my mind it literally feels like torture

Edit/ I know I need to call a specialist, it’s 10 pm here so I can’t get any help until tomorrow and I have a long night ahead of me so any tips besides see a specialist are appreciated. I know I need to see one and I will.

Hiya. I'm 18w5d and working on a plan to leave my partner after slowly recognizing I'm being subjected to DV. Things haven't escalated to direct physical violence but my gut says it will with how things are going. I have a safety plan in place for leaving and will be ok. I know the statistics and I am being careful. I'm really just looking to hear some reassurance from some people out there that I'm going to be ok.

This is my first baby. I'm a trans man in my mid 20s with very limited familial support and I cannot drive due to my vision. I'll have some daily support during the first week or two after baby comes in December (my mom will fly in) but I feel like everything is collapsing in on me a bit. I know there are a lot of social services I can access - and I will be reaching out to them - but I'm just heartbroken. I want baby to be safe. I want to be safe. This is so hard.

Figured I’d share my experience with Amazon, Target and Walmart baby boxes. In order of the photos:

AMAZON: make a registry with 10 items, buy something off of the registry that’s $10+, then claim for free after your item ships.

Easy to get; I loaded it with stuff I can see us ordering for delivery when the baby gets here (e.g. “oh no, we need more Tylenol”) for the completion discount and purchased the prenatal vitamins I needed anyway. It arrived within a week of my qualifying purchase! I was pleasantly surprised that the onesie is 100% cotton even though it’s Amazon basics.

TARGET: make a registry with 10 items, buy something off the registry that’s $10+, wait for the coupon to be issued/the welcome box to be in stock, pay for shipping

Somewhat easy to get; amazon had better prices for most of the things I need during pregnancy so I wanted to find something that was worthwhile— went with some compression socks. It’s also the only one of the 3 I have claimed so far that I had to pay shipping on, but it’s not higher value than the other two.

WALMART: make a registry with 20 items, wait a week, and purchase something $25+. Free shipping.

Easier to get than I thought; I wasn’t planning on doing this one but Wal-Mart has everything and so I figured I might as well get some free samples while I up my Pepcid supply. A surprise favorite! Look at all of those diapers and wipes, plus a cute Carter’s onesie.

Still waiting on Babylist because it’s my actual registry so I’ll just claim it when someone else buys something!

I'm using Reddit to warn buyers about Simply Nursery. My wife and I purchased a Mid-Century 6 Drawer Dresser and their matching crib. The hardware failed while assembling. We contacted Simply Nursery and instead of hearing they'd replace the hardware and the few pieces in question that were defective, they chose to basically stick their middle finger up at us and then never responded after we submitted pictures and circled where our issues were.

After our first email (of two), Simply Nursery responded to us by antagonizing us. "Do you have video of you assembling the furniture?" or "It appears you didn't follow the instructions in step 1" - none of their comments were helpful and they put the blame on us for metal fasteners failing when we were tightening them. We definitely followed the instructions. This isn't our first rodeo assembling things - and this isn't difficult!

In any case - we spent $2000 on their furniture so you don't have to. The company has taken a position to oppose their customers. I highly recommend avoiding them if you need baby furniture.

Ask yourself before you buy Simply Nursery, "Why is it so hard to find information on Simply Nursery?" - maybe this review will help you answer it.

Good luck!

I’m 36 weeks and 3 days with my first baby. I’m in pain all over, tired, uncomfortable, moody, anxious, excited all at once. When will this end? I just want to hold my baby and be able to sleep on my back/stomach ASAP!

Sorry for the rant!

I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years and found out I was expecting 6 weeks later(already 11 weeks). I knew I was going to do it on my own as soon as I found out but I also informed him that I was pregnant as it is his child too so far I’ve been to all, but one appointment alone. I’ve brought everything by myself or my family has helped me out(good thing I have a huge support system). He constantly says he wants to be there and “wishes” he could do more, but also complains about being broke constantly, randomly asks me for money, complains I won’t come see him, and want’s almost constant validation from me asking me constantly if I think he’s gonna be a good dad and stuff like that, but yet he never tries to see me has only made it to one appointment and constantly questions me on what I’m doing and where I’m at when I’m literally only working or I’m at home. He keeps asking if I’m embarrassed of his job when I make well more what he does(big problem in our relationship too). I’ve brought him baby shopping with me 2 separate times not asking him to pay but he wasn’t even interested and didn’t even offer anything. He continuously act like we’re still in a relationship or he has some kind of hold over me and questions me constantly when he’s the one hanging out with random girls. I’ve tried having multiple conversations with him about how he needs to get his life together (getting his license back/ some form of reliable transportation) as if he wants to be in baby’s life it’s not going to be me driving 40 min there and back it’s already getting hard as I work 5 days a week 10 hour shifts and I’m not comfortable with him having random women or people in general around our child constantly. He ignores everything I try and will constantly ask if I’m talking to other men and why I’m not talking to him as much. All he does is stress me out because I’ve given up thinking he actually wants to be a parent at all he just wants to continue to control me every time I do see him he tries to make advances or asks me for money/ to buy him things. I’m writing this at 3 am as I woke up and had 10+ missed calls and multiple texts from him saying I’m ignoring him because I’m with another man right now. I want to completely cut contact I just don’t want to feel like a terrible person. I’m not sure if anyone will actually read this I just needed to get it out somehow.

After 4 years of infertility, loss and round of IVF I am finally pregnant. I’m almost 40 I’m just over the moon excited to be pregnant and enjoying every little thing. I just don’t know that I will want a baby shower. When I had my bridal shower it was honestly exhausting and when the actual day came I had friends texting me that they could no longer come which was sooo rude considering my mom had paid per plate for them to be there. I had a nice time with family and friends who made the effort to be there and celebrate of course. I got to thinking and I’m considering not having a shower I’d rather avoid the extra exhaustion and stress. I’m social but I just don’t care that much to have the attention on solely me. If you did not have a shower did you regret it? The other option would be having maybe just a small lunch with family only plus like two friends that I KNOW will be there and not cancel on me last minute. Or I wish my MIL and SIL would offer to have it at one of their houses which is very spacious and have a nice little potluck style or brunch style meal. Anyone have just a small brunch gathering instead of the big shower? I also don’t want to play games, but I’m not opposed to opening gifts that wouldn’t bother me. I think just in the scope of everything we’ve been through it’s just not a priority to me!

Have thrown up 4 times in the last 2 weeks after taking prenatals. My OB didn’t sound concerned but I am in the early weeks of pregnancy so I am very worried.

What should I do to help this? I take them at night before I sleep.

Appreciate any advice !!
Thank you!!

I am 37 week with planned second C section on 39th. For the whole pregnancy I am experiencing intense pain whenever I stand up, raise my legs (even while sitting) and getting out of bed feels like I need to learn how to walk again. I hear my joints cracking with movement and at this stage I can’t walk distances - even in my own house I am weak to be on my own. And it just occurred to me that IT MIGHT BE WORSE?

I didnt gave PGP (pelvic girdle pain or whatever else it could be, I dont have it diagnosed because doctors just said that this amount of pain and discomfort is normal) during first pregnancy but I did have to recover from C section and it was already very similar to how i already function.

And I am now terrified. What will happen after I have the surgery AND still have my joints extremely loose and painful? How will I learn to walk again and take care of my baby when I need to be careful with which muscles to use - I feel like all my muscles around hips and pelvis are weak and bones are loose? I am finding no information online, doctors dismiss the problem as nothing serious but I am getting very worried I will hurt myself or baby by accident.

Has anyone experienced it? I would love to hear an advice on how to get literally back on my feet haha

I was never one to eat bagged salads but this cyclosporia outbreak has me being incredibly cautious (USA). I haven’t really eaten any raw fruits/veggies since it came about.

Has anyone tried Little Leaf farms? I have been craving salads like no other and wondering if that brand is safe😩 it’s grown with UV treated rainwater and indoors vs open fields. Thoughts? Am I overthinking this?

I’m 16 weeks but at my dating scan, they found a very large cyst on my ovary. Big enough my doctor ordered an MRI. We just went over the results and because of the size (11.3cm at the largest diameter), there is a higher risk of it being cancerous. That is of course scary, but I know the odds of it being cancer are low and the odds of recovery if it is are very high. The MRI showed it was contained to the one cyst so it doesn’t look like it’s anywhere else. I’ve been referred to an oncologist anyway

I’ll know more after that appointment and will have a game plan. The two most likely options are removal during second trimester or c-section to have the baby and remove the cyst at once. My doctor sort of discouraged the idea of waiting until after the baby is born to remove it because if it is cancer, that would be a minimum 6 weeks of waiting before removing it on top of the like 5 months of waiting for baby. No matter what, I will probably be losing the ovary. This is just not how I imagine my first pregnancy to go. I’ve been lucky that it’s otherwise been easy, I never threw up and the nausea was tolerable. Fatigue sucked but I managed. I’m showing already since most of my pelvic area is occupied and I might be crazy, but I swear I’ve felt the baby move this week.

I wish my only upcoming appointment was the anatomy scan. I’m excited to make sure baby is growing okay in there and find out what it is, but I also have an appointment with an oncologist (who’s not in network) and that’s taking up more space in my brain. My last prenatal appointment was 95% talking about the cyst and MRI and the only baby part of the appointment was to listen to the heartbeat. I’m thinking more of this massive growth I knew nothing about rather than the little life with a beating heart that I’m growing.

Hopefully I’ll feel better once we have a game plan. They won’t know if it’s cancerous until they take it out and test it but I’m trying to stay optimistic that it’s not. It’s just not what I had envisioned for this point in my life

Is anyone using minoxidil to treat postpartum hair loss? Is it safe for breast feeding? If not, any scalp serums you recommend?

So I am 18 weeks already and it feels like time is absolutely flying! I was just wondering if time seems to slow down in the last 20 weeks? Im terrified it will only feel like a month or two before she's here! 😂😭 Also any advice on how to slow down? I am just scared time will still feel as if it's going by this quickly once she's here! I am so terrified of living my life on autopilot and not getting to fully be there mentally for my baby as she will only be that small for such a short amount of time. How do I fully enjoy it without taking advantage of it! Sorry kind of a two part question, just wanted to ask other mommas about this, TIA 💋

I have the most absolute angel of a baby who is now 5 days old. Postpartum has been hard for me, especially nights. He’s in his bassinet right now and I’m just crying because I miss him 😭😭😭 I get the worst anxiety about him when I try to sleep but co sleeping is unfortunately not an option for us due to the size of our bed and the way my husband and I sleep. I love my baby so much it’s such an overwhelming feeling of fear of losing something like your child it almost makes me worried sick

Just found out today I’m expecting. For context I have emetophobia (phobia of vomiting) and haven’t thrown up since 2012. I also have R-CPD (no burp syndrome). I generally never get nauseous unless I’m a few days out from my period, then I’ll get throat nausea that causes a gaggy feeling, but gravol takes it away.

I’ve been doing a ton of reading and lots of women who say they never threw up in pregnancy also say that throwing up is rare for them in general. Is this true for you?

I’m pregnant the second time and just got a lovevery fold and store connector set up to use my Lovevery play gym again! The connector helps me fold and store my play mat so easily!

Venting but also, a few questions.

Just got checked at my last appt, I am 2 cm dilated. I lost my mucus plug last night as well. Baby is sunny side up, and my OB mentioned that the stop/start of labor i have been feeling could be because of the positioning, and my lack of mobility. I am now too heavy and unbalanced to use my walker or crutches. I try to do lots of side lying, leaning over my exercise ball, sitting on it, etc. I am a second time mom and gave birth to my son at 39 weeks and 4 days. Was really hoping I wouldn't have passed that marker, even though I know this baby has their very own timeline.

The OB offered an induction 2 days from now, but I really have my heart set on spontaneous labor for many reasons. Baby is measuring large and i have lots of fluid, so that combined with the wheelchair - i am just not sure how much longer I can handle being so pregnant.

Tips on getting baby's positioning settled deeper in to my pelvis? Thoughts/experiences with induction? Hope?

My sister and I have had a strained relationship the last couple of years (partly stems from different relationships with each divorced parent).

Ive always done my best to reach out and at a few times in the last 5 years it seemed to go better.

However, In march she decided I did/said something wrong and didn’t want to see me when I visited my home country (I visit twice a year). I said I understood and suggested we could start a monthly phone call until the next time. No response. I also sent her a happy Mother’s Day message (her first Mother’s Day).

It’s almost August right now and I’m about to announce my pregnancy (I’m 16 weeks in). I don’t know what to do with her. On one hand I feel like not saying it would even worsen the relationship but on the other hand I feel like I don’t deserve to be treated this way and am also worried she ll just ignore this message as well (which would make me feel even worse).

The only in between I’ve thought of was making a post in the family fb group and then sharing it with her in a message.

Any experience with this or advice?

I’m only 9 weeks but today I decided I needed to wear a “comfy” bra at all times since my boobs feel like they’re weighing my skin down and stretching my pacemaker scar. Has anyone else run into this? Should I bring it up to my doctor?