(Part 3) Top products from r/BabyBumps

We did:

Four-week "comprehensive childbirth" class at our hospital, which I really liked and am glad I took. The instructors were all either nurses or former nurses at our hospital and were familiar with our hospital's policies and standard practices, so I now feel very comfortable with what might happen during our birth; also, it turns out our hospital is pretty awesome. It was also actually some nice bonding time with my husband, especially when we practiced having him coach me.

One night breastfeeding class, also at the hospital. Informative, but not necessarily anything I couldn't have learned on my own. It was good to hear about the breastfeeding support that my hospital offers, but I suspect I would have found out about all of that anyway during my stay.

Watched the DVD series Laugh and Learn about Childbirth. It was nice to have a second perspective, and there is so much to know about childbirth that there was material covered in the videos that wasn't covered in our class. The instructor has an interesting style which we found to be hit or miss, tonally, but overall it was a good use of time. We also have Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding, but haven't watched it yet.

I also read (I've been to the library more in the past two months than in the previous two years...):

• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (highly recommend; very empowering)
  
• Husband Coached Childbirth (The Bradley Method) (seemed a bit dated, even though it was an recent edition, and a bit "out-there" for me)
  
• The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence (recommend)
  
• Pregnancy Sucks: What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You Miserable (a fun and quick read; more helpful for general pregnancy than labor and delivery)
  
• Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too! (also more helpful for general pregnancy)
  
  My husband is reading The Birth Partner, Third Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions, and likes it so far.
  
  I still have HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing; The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library); and Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds on my reading list. About three weeks to go; we'll see how far I get.

Hi! There's still a small chance that they are identical or one was a polar body. If you were on clomid, then they are probably fraternal but don't be shocked if they grow up looking identical.

Look in your local area for a Mom/Parents of Twins/Multiples club. In addition to giving you great resources and help, they also tend to have consignment sales where you can get great deals on twin items. Every mom and set of twins is different, but I can tell you what I'm doubling up on and what I'm getting single if you'd like.

My favorite book on healthy twin pregnancies is When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads because it is well researched and contains nifty charts on things like weight gain. They recommend seeing a specialist and thankfully, my doctors office automatically gave me one. Some OB offices won't, simply because twins aren't seen as unusual now a days, but a twin pregnancy is different than a singleton pregnancy and there are higher risks involved. I love all the doctors that I've seen through my specialists and they have given me referrals to people like a nutritionist, which a regular doc might not think of. With twins, early weight gain is important.

I also like Mothering Multiples because it has helped reassure me that I will most likely be able to breast feed my twins. I also went to my local libraries and got every single book on twins I could get my hands on, but the best advice I've gotten is from fellow mothers of twins. That's who I relied on to build my baby shower registry and plan for my boys.

One of the things they say in r/multiples is that the best thing you can get a mom of multiples is a housekeeper for the first few months. Don't be afraid to ask for help or assistance.

Hi Bumpers! I’ve loved reading everyone’s birth stories, especially as my due date drew near, and I finally have a chance to sit down and do my very own. I tried to include as much useful detail as possible, so here goes:


At my last prenatal appointment I was 1 cm/80% effaced. On Sunday 9/4, I was 3 days past my due date but felt the same as any other day over the previous couple weeks. I was convinced I would need to be induced later that week. I had not lost my mucus plug, had no bloody show, and hadn’t felt LO drop very deep into my pelvis, so, basically, no signs that labor was approaching. I treated myself to a prenatal massage to pass the time.


That evening around 9pm, I had what I thought was a Braxton Hicks contraction that was also slightly painful in my lower abdomen. It could easily have gone unnoticed. I’d been having Braxton Hicks extremely frequently for several months, so this felt very much like those (tightening/hardening across belly) except for the very mild pain. I mentioned it to DH and started timing my contractions, just in case.


I continued to have what I assumed were Braxton Hicks (given the none-loss of my mucus plug and absence of any other signs of labor) and timed them to be anywhere from 4 minutes to 8 minutes apart. DH thought it could be labor but I was skeptical since the contractions were extremely mild. DH made dinner and I baked an apple pie and we went about our evening while still timing the contractions.


The contractions continued through dinner, so around 10:30 PM DH and I debated calling the hospital. I was scared of going in and getting sent home, so since DH is a doctor I had him check my cervix. He had to think back to his med school and residency days, but he estimated that I was about 2.5 cm and fully effaced. That was enough to convince me to call the hospital and we were told to come get checked out. We packed the rest of our hospital bags, grabbed the car seat, and headed to the hospital (only 5 minutes away) around midnight.


When we checked into L&D triage, I was all smiles and was apologetic that we were taking up these people’s time when I was probably just in early or prodromal labor. The contractions had continued but were still super mild (a 1/10 on the pain scale) and I was convinced they would stop as soon as the monitor was attached to me. My triage nurse said she could tell by my face and calmness that they’d be sending me home that night. At 1:15 AM she checked my cervix and said I was 1 cm, so we assumed DH was just a little out of practice and had been mistaken when he checked me and thought I was 2cm. The contractions did show up on the monitor, however, so they told us we could go home or we could walk the halls for 2 hours and get rechecked for any progress.


We opted to walk the halls. As we did, the contractions started to pick up a little in intensity in the sense that where a BH felt like tightening of the front of my abdomen, this felt like a three-dimensional tightening, like a sphere in my belly that was getting tighter. Each contraction would start with a tightening sensation, then start to be a throbbing pain, the pain would subside but the tightening would remain, and then the tightening would finally subside. When I stopped to rest, I could actually feel the contraction pulling my lady bits apart. By the end of the two hours, I did have to focus somewhat on my breathing during the contractions, though they still weren’t super painful (maybe a 2-3/10).


At 3:15 AM, the nurse checked me again and said I was still 1cm. I asked about effacement and she said 50%. That should have been a red flag that she was not the best cervix-checker, since I had been 80% at my last 3 OB visits. In hindsight, I think DH had been spot on when he checked me at home.


Because (according to the triage nurse) there was no progress, they sent me home and advised that the contractions would probably peter out and that when I started to sound like the woman in the next curtain (who was moaning like crazy and was someone I NEVER wanted to sound like), that’s when they’d keep me. They gave me a mild sedative and sent us on our way.


We went home and got in bed around 3:45 AM. By then, the contractions were at a 4/10. As soon as my head hit the pillow, a contraction hit that had me audibly moaning (a 5-6/10). The contractions continued and I was unable to sleep. The sedative they had given me made me feel a little groggy but did nothing to ease the pain or help me sleep. At 6 AM I tried taking a bath and woke DH to help me time the contractions and decide what to do. The bath felt nice but the contractions continued and I vomited after one of them. We called over to the hospital and were told to come back, so off we went.


By the time we got to triage (around 7:30 AM), I was that moaning lady. The contractions were a 7/10 and I was vomiting. A triage nurse (different from the first one) came to check me and I told her I was terrified I would still be at 1 cm. She checked me, smiled, and said, “You’re not at 1 cm.” I burst out crying, I was so happy. She said I was 4-5 cm. I asked if I could have the epidural now and she immediately paged anesthesia.


We got moved to a delivery room and the epidural team arrived around 8:30 AM. They gave me a lidocaine shot first that was just a tiny pinch and then I didn’t feel any of the epidural administration, which apparently took them a few tries. They gave me an epidural plus a spinal because the spinal would act immediately. Within 5 minutes of the medicine flowing, my legs started feeling warm and heavy. About 10 minutes into the epidural, the monitor picked up a contraction that I couldn’t feel—I was in heaven! The only negative side effect I had was mild itchiness as the epidural wore off.


For the next couple hours, DH and I just hung out and waited for me to progress. My OB was on call that day, which was fantastic. At 10:50 AM they checked my cervix and I was 7 cm. My water broke during the exam and I kept feeling gushes with each contraction, which felt oddly soothing.


Around this time, I started feeling pressure in my butt, as if someone was biting my right butt cheek (that’s the best way I can describe the sensation—though the nurses looked at me like I was crazy when I told them that). The pressure was uncomfortable but bearable.


At 12:40 PM they put the “peanut” between my legs (big inflatable peanut-shaped ball) to widen my pelvis and help LO move down. This part was pretty uncomfortable since the pressure in my butt was getting more intense.


At 1:30 PM I was at 10 cm so we did a practice push. LO’s head was starting to come through so we immediately jumped to real pushes. At first it felt just like a poop, so I pushed exactly as if I was trying to poop and made great progress getting LO down the birth canal. After about 50 minutes of pushing, at 2:18 PM, my little girl was born.


She was absolutely perfect. Apgar was 9/9. We did skin-to-skin right away and tried breastfeeding. She latched and ate like a champ for about an hour.


I had a minor 1st degree tear that got stitched and my recovery has been great. I got by for the most part on Motrin and Tylenol, but also got a 5mg oxycodone when cramping got really bad during breastfeeding (PSA: breastfeeding causes painful uterine cramping; I did not know that going into this!). Aside from that, I’ve been feeling pretty good!


Things that were/weren’t useful at the hospital:

• Clothes - I ended up wearing my hospital gown during the entire hospital stay, so I never touched any of the clothes that I packed for the hospital except for when we went home
  
  
• Long iPhone charger – if you don’t have one already, invest in one for you and your support person
  
  
• Eye mask – this came in handy when I tried to nap while LO slept during the day
  
  
• Nursery – take advantage if your hospital offers it; with LO in the nursery, DH and I actually got some decent sleep
  
  Postpartum thoughts
  
  
• Breastfeeding took some practice. When my milk came in, LO had a tough time latching since my boobs got too firm. I had to pump to make it possible for her to latch. At 9 days out, we are now getting the hang of the whole thing and breastfeeding has gotten a lot easier, so my advice is to stick with it and just know that it WILL get easier
  
  
• Cloth diapers make for amazing burp clothes. I use 2-3 per breastfeeding session
  
  
• Dental bibs (https://www.amazon.com/Avalon-Papers-1053-Dental-Polyback/dp/B0025TWH8C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473890336&sr=8-2&keywords=dental+bib) and disposable underpads (https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Disposable-Underpad-inches-Count/dp/B005X0U43K/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1473890356&sr=8-2&keywords=underpads) have really come in handy. We use the underpads for poopsplosions and changes on-the-go and dental bibs for all other diaper changes. That way, we don’t have to wash the changing pad liner as often.
  
  
• I was pretty grossed out with my postpartum body when we got home from the hospital (3 days PP). My boobs got enormous and everything looked super round and pudgy. My weight was only down 8lbs, 7 of which was baby, so I felt pretty bad. I hated how all my maternity and nursing tops looked over my hips and belly. I’m only on day 9 now, but I’ve already begun to look and feel more like my pre-baby self. My boobs have gone down to a more manageable size and everything else is starting to look less round. So, to any ladies who might feel similarly, hang in there and keep in mind that everything will feel better in just a few days.
  
  
• Google Express. OMG Google Express. We signed up for a free three-month trial, and they will go to Costco (and other stores) for you and get you all the diapers and wipes you could possibly need.
  
  And, finally, baby tax: http://imgur.com/a/qbjmF

Warning - lots of text below! My baby is about 6 weeks now and I'm exclusively breastfeeding. My Medela Harmony manual pump has been fine for building a stash - I pump 1-2 times a day for the freezer and occasional bottle feedings from Dad. I think it's pretty convenient, but I'll be using a double electric pump when I go back to work (waiting to see what Tricare will cover in 2015!).

Whatever you decide to use for diapering, I'd strongly recommend getting some prefolds (I got Osocozy unbleached). They're great for burp cloths, catching milk from your other boob during letdown, etc and they're also way cheaper and more absorbent than fancy burp cloths. Personally I love prefolds and covers for diapering, but don't buy too much into any one system or brand until you know what works for you. My husband hates prefolds so now I'm having to add pockets and AIOs to appease him.

I'd get some swaddlers (at least 2; my favorite is from Nuroo but that was a gift and they're pricey, the summer infant SwaddleMe wraps are good now that she's bigger but didn't fit well until about 10 lbs). My girl lives in footed pajamas and I love the Gerber zipped ones, we found tons at goodwill for $1.50 each but if you can't find them used, they're on Amazon for $10 for a 2 pack. You're right that other people will buy clothes, but they'll pick cutesy stuff and you need some practical choices too.

Nursing pillow - I had an unexpected C section and this has been so necessary. I love the Luna Lullaby since it's big and I had a big baby.

Some kind of baby carrier, I got a Moby wrap while she's small and it's amazing for running errands (I put it on before getting in the car and pop her in before going in the store, WAY easier than a carseat and stroller).

We were gifted a used swing and it is a freaking godsend. It's the only way I get chores done since I can pop her in there and cook, do laundry, clean, etc without her crying. YMMV, some babies hate them, but buy used and you won't be out too much cash.

Wubbanub pacifier is easy to keep track of and super cute.

Pack n Play with a mattress for cosleeping (recommended to reduce SIDS risk for the first 6 months). At least 2 mini crib sheets.

Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter is amazing for the first couple weeks.

QuickZip crib sheets will be amazing once you use the crib.

Simba baby safety nail cutter - no bleeding!

Finally, the Itzbeen pocket nanny timer is so helpful for keeping track of feedings and diaper changes, especially in the first few weeks.

Hope this wasn't too overwhelming. Good luck!

*Edited to add links to products.

I had similar concerns before my son was born 3.5 months ago. It seemed like everyone had trouble, so I was fully prepared for a miserable experience and was mentally steeling myself to power through for the sake of my baby. And then... it was super easy. No real latch issues. Minimal pain. No supply issues. Used a bottle day 2 and pacifier at week 2 without any nipple confusion. When needed, we used formula here and there without any problems. It's pleasant and sweet for me to nurse him and it's been a wonderful bonding experience! I was lucky, but I also think people with good experiences don't tend to comment online about them as much, so maybe they're underrepresented.

I will say that if it's in the budget, stocking up on some supplies, including just-in-case supplies, was helpful. It's great to have them on hand the second you need them - I'm not sure I would have thought to go out and buy them in the moment otherwise - and also provides some peace of mind before the baby comes knowing that you're prepared.

For me these included:
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter - use early and often!
Hydrogel pads - Ameda, Lanisoh and Medela all make them; they are reusable over a 72 hour period or so and they feel AMAZING, especially when refrigerated first (I used and liked the Lanisoh; I snagged a bunch when the price dipped to ~$3). Don't wait till it gets bad to use these!
Lanisoh heating/cooling pads - cooling is soothing and especially nice when you're milk comes in; heat is good for encouraging let down and helping with any clogged ducts
Medella SoftShells - The least essential of the bunch, but a nice-to-have if you want to slather on nipple butter but not stain your nursing bras/tanks or just want to allow some more airflow. Worked great for me but possibly not for everyone's anatomy?

As I'm writing this I remembered many of these recommendations came from this excellent (and now recently updated) Lucie's List article on breastfeeding prep.

You can't predict how this stuff will go but for as much as there is to worry about, there's also a lot to look forward to with nursing. Good luck!

Since I just bought a bunch of stuff off of amazon for baby #2 today I can go over some things I found useful.

Bouncer: I didn't have one with my son, but wished I would have. I had bought two different types of fancy swings, and my son hated them (plus they are big and bulky). But a bouncer would have worked great because it is nice and portable, so things like showers would have been so much easier.

A Moby or a Mei Tai wrap: I loved these with my son. They were perfect for grocery shopping so I didn't have to lug around a giant car seat that takes up a whole shopping cart (PSA never put an infant carrier in the infant seat of a shopping cart). Plus it kept all the strangers grubby hands off my baby. It amazed me the amount of people who would just walk up and touch my sons face when he was in his car seat.

Lots of footie PJs: They are so much easier to deal with till they are about 3 months.

Night gowns for babies: Like these are awesome for nighttime. the bottom part is open so no need unbuttoning or unzipping and waking baby up even more.


Burp clothes (gerber cloth diapers): Like These. Don't waist your money on the cutesy burp clothes in stores. They are thin and horrible material. Plus they barely cover your shoulder. These are what the hospital used as burp cloths and they worked so great! They are super thick and huge (covers your whole shoulder). My son had bad acid reflux so there was a lot of spit up.

Receiving blankets I didn't use them for swaddling (my son hated to be swaddled) But they work great when used on top of a changing table cover, or on a couch/bed. They save you from having to wash the changing table cover a zillion times. And are a great to throw in the diaper bag for an outing to use on changing tables.

Boppy: I used my boppy so much! They are great for breastfeeding, but also for laying baby down for tummy time.

These were just some things that helped me. Hopefully some of it you find helpful =)

It's painful in the beginning, if the baby is latched on correctly it shouldn't hurt as much but until your nipples toughen up it's sore. I used nipple cream all the time to help with it, you can also try a nipple shield if it hurts a lot.

My sister got me these and whether you breastfeed or not they're wonderful for engorgement!
https://amzn.com/B0070767DU


If you can make it through the first two weeks things get a lot easier. It's a good feeling seeing your baby putting on weight and growing, knowing it's all from your milk. It's also nice to have that ability to comfort them anywhere. I've never really had supply issues, you just have to make sure you eat and drink enough. I fed my first on demand early on to establish my supply and let her decide when she wanted to eat instead of scheduling her and that helped, some foods like oats help too.

There's actually a subreddit entirely devoted to this called /r/breastfeeding if you want to check it out. I would definitely recommend breastfeeding though because it's a beautiful experience and it makes you feel so proud knowing your body created and then fed your baby. Good luck!

We have this one and we love it. It's cute but also manly ish so my husband has no problem wearing it. Plus I love that it's a backpack so it's hands free. And I get compliments on it ALL the time. Including many people who don't even realize it's a diaper bag and are surprised when they find out!

It's spacious, stands upright by itself, and stays open by itself as there's a frame in the opening.

Edit- also, it's made by a Japanese company (I believe?) and the box it comes in says "MAKE BEST BAG ENJOY HAPPY TIME" which is great for a chuckle.

I did the pitcher of formula & fed it to the baby cold, and it was a lifesaver. Before that I felt like all I ever did was make bottles! And the whole time my baby would cry and cry, begging for food. Now it's just pour twist serve, easy as pie.

I was very prepared to handle engorgement, and here's what I gathered from research, asking for advice here, and talking to my doctors:

1. Don't pump, as it will signal your body to make more milk; but it's ok to take a hot shower (gives you a bit of a letdown) or hand-express just a little to relieve pain.
   
2. Buy a REALLY supportive sports bra. Like the kind for high-impact exercise. It shouldn't be too small/tight as that can contribute to mastitis, but you want to keep those puppies as motionless as possible to minimize pain.
   
3. They used to give prescription meds to dry you up, but they no longer do that because it can cause blood clots (iirc).
   
4. Heat stimulates letdown and production, so don't use heat (unless you REALLY need that hot shower). Instead, ice it up. It helps with minimizing production and relieves pain (and lasts longer than cabbage leaves). I got these awesome boob-shaped ice packs.
   
   Then, I got very lucky and my milk never came in. My boobs felt sore and tingly for a day, so I was all geared up for the pain to start, but instead the next day I felt totally fine. It isn't guaranteed to come in. I hope you will get lucky too!
   
   One last note, there are SO many things I LOVE about formula feeding. I first chose formula for the exact reason as you, unsafe medication, but it turns out I love it so much, I would do it again even if I wasn't still on those meds. I hope it goes really well for you too!

Another vote for both of the Emily Oster books, and the best practical book I've read is Heading Home with Your Newborn. Also this one's not a pregnancy book but I would strongly recommend How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen if you're at all scared of the toddler through kinder stage. It's an entertaining read that aligns well with developmental psychology and has all these really funny real life examples of using the strategies from the book.

If I had to only pick a handful, I'd pick those.

I also liked the Ina May book which people will recommend a lot, but keep in mind it really is exclusively about childbirth and it's a bit crunchier than the average (though this pertains to the birth stories included more than Ina May's actual writing IMO). There's a good interview with her on the Longest Shortest Time podcast that addresses some of the things I felt the book could have benefited from stating outright to avoid sounding a little preachy at times.

If you're looking for like a detailed read that starts with absolute basics that would be especially good for anyone who hasn't researched much on pregnancy before, I would recommend Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide. It's as thick as a textbook but it doesn't read like one. They have a page in most sections directly speaking to partners as well, which is neat.

I'm pregnant with my third and still using cloth. People thought the same stuff about us at first. My MIL said she wouldn't be babysitting with them but gladly does.

Side note, we used disposables before and I babysat for a friends kids who used disposables. People would say "cloth is gross" having never used it. Meanwhile I've had wayyyyy more poop explosions with disposables rather than cloth. Enough that my friends daughter would have to be bathed and outfit changed almost every time she pooped at my house. My friend told me it was common at her house too.

Gonna be honest and I was a little turned off by what people were saying at first. But we LOVE cloth over disposables any day. Now my husband and I joke around and make fun of the people at his job who complain how much disposables cost. I couldn't see adding a ton of disposables to a landfill and the chemicals that go into making disposables.

I'll help you out with any questions you have. Feel free to PM me whenever. We've used pretty much every different type and brand available and have stuck with prefolds and covers. I'd say invest in a couple prefolds if you can. I used the small size (yellow edge) from 3 months to over 2 years old. We buy from green mountain diapers or Amazon. You can get 6 of these for $13. Don't be thrown off by the 7-15lbs. That's about the size you'd use them if you wanted to wrap them around baby. We did that in an "angel fold" from newborn to 3 months and then did a trifold after. Also in terms of "prepping" we prep prefolds with regular laundry. So they get washed and dried with other stuff and not wasting the water and soap by themselves.

These are a couple books/resources I found most helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/Heading-Home-Your-Newborn-Reality/dp/1581108931

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Baby-Child-Birth-Five/dp/0375712038

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Baby-Speaking-You-Behaviors/dp/0547242956

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/

https://www.marchofdimes.org/nursing/modnemedia/othermedia/states.pdf (This is a great explanation of newborn states of arousal. However, I think the information at the end about co-sleeping may be out of date at this point.)

This is my favorite breastfeeding resource. If you are formula feeding, the AAP book as well as Penelope Leach's book both have good guidance. Formula fed babies, like breastfed babies, should be fed on cue/demand, and allowed to determine their feeding volume and schedule. https://education.possumsonline.com/programs/gestalt-breastfeeding-online-program

http://www.zerotothree.org is a great reference for normal development and milestones.

This is a great read about co-regulation, or the process of how babies and children learn to self-regulate:

https://fpg.unc.edu/sites/fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/reports-and-policy-briefs/Co-RegulationFromBirthThroughYoungAdulthood.pdf

Lots of people hate on Ferber, but his book Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems has good information on sleep cycles. You don't necessarily have to implement all his techniques, although in some circumstances they are useful.

There are a lot of different soothing techniques out there. The Happiest Baby on the Block covers the basics. Most newborns like to be held flexed with firm touch. They like movement. They like to be close to another human. They like access to their hands. A baby who is in a frantic or crying state (see the march of dimes link) often needs help to come back down to a quiet alert or drowsy state, and soothing by an adult caregiver can be the key. You don't necessarily have to soothe them all the way into sleep, though, especially as a newborn. Sometimes just getting them calm and drowsy is enough that they can do the rest. In addition, a baby who is crying too frantically will have a hard time latching on to a breast or bottle so it is a good idea to feed before they become frantic since it can be difficult to soothe them if they are frantic with hunger. However, even offering a pacifier or finger to suck on, gently bouncing, or holding them can help them get calm enough to eat.

You don't need 3 swings/rockers - pick one.

You don't need 2 strollers - pick one.

You don't need 2 activity mats - pick one.

You don't need 2 cribs - pick one.

You don't need 2 mattresses - pick one.

You have 3 different bottle types; I'd recommend choosing just one and not bother getting another brand unless your baby has issues with that one. You don't want to unbox, sanitize, etc. and risk not being able to return the other set.

I don't see the point of those "wet and dry wipes" organizer pouches; a ziploc bag works just fine if you want to carry small amounts of wipes with you.

As far as baby carriers go, I recommend Lillebaby over Infantino, hands down. They sell some of their styles in Target, but you can get more on the Lillebaby website or Amazon. You may want opinions from /r/babywearing, or go to a local Babywearing International meeting to try out carriers before choosing one.

Things I don't see:

• Washcloths
  
• Towel/robe
  
• First aid essentials (thermometer, nail clipper, Nose Frida, baby Tylenol, baby Motrin, diaper rash cream, Aquafor, hair brush, shampoo, etc.)
  
• More sheet sets. My daughter just had a nose bleed last night and that means we only have one more fitted sheet that isn't stained in some way. Get more! Haha.
  
• Baby monitor - totally a personal choice, but I recommend one.
  
• Muselin blankets or swaddles. I know you have the velcro swaddles, which are great, but sometimes baby just needs a light blanket in the car seat or in their swing. Even though my daughter is almost 2, we still have a swaddle cloth in her diaper bag. I use it to cover the ground if she wants to play on the floor somewhere that's filthy (like an airport terminal).
  
• Burp cloths. We always used these tri-fold diapers as burp cloths - they're not trendy-looking, but they're cheap and very effective.
  
• Other basic clothing items like footie PJs, pants, hats (since you're having a winter baby, assuming you're in the northern hemisphere), etc.
  
  I always recommend Lucie's List when it comes to having a basic, not-overdone registry. They talk about essentials (not fluff) and sort things by price.
  
  You may also want to post this in /r/beyondthebump rather than here, since everyone in Beyond The Bump have already had a kid.
  
  Good luck!

This was my wifes inspiration. https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Expecting-Twins-Triplets-Quads/dp/0061803073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483150828&sr=8-1&keywords=twins+triplets+and+quads
She is very into fitness and eats very healthy. This book told her the importance of weight gain for twins and wait gain early on. So you still have time. We have both found that the super fit pregnancy is the new thing so moms can look awesome in 6 weeks again and she said that wasn't right for her and couldn't take that risk with twins. (Everyone is different and that is no slam on anyone. We have just noticed a trend of skinny mommies and under weight babies and wast going to do that.) She packed on the weight and thankfully it was all belly and looked incredible the whole time.
Best of luck with you. Keep us updated on how it goes. This Sub has been amazing for us.

Absolutely no issues with flying during pregnancy. Some airlines restrict pregnant women from flying past ~36 weeks, but I think that's because they don't want you going into labor in their airplane cabin at 32,000 feet. After getting thru security, buy a bottle of water for your wife. I was on a 2-hour flight over Christmas and was dying of thirst waiting for the drink cart to come down the aisle. Also, give her the aisle seat if possible so she can walk the aisles periodically to keep the blood moving and access the bathroom quickly if needed.

As for books, I've read a lot of good ones. I've liked the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, and Elisabeth Bing's Six Practical Lessons for an Easier Childbirth and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth for info on labor and delivery, and The Happiest Baby on the Block and the Wonder Weeks for infant care. Also The Birth Partner is a great book on delivery for both pregnant women and husbands. If you can find a secondhand bookstore near you, check it out--a lot of people sell off these types of books once they're done with them.

• Changing Table: I had a c-section and would have been useless without it
  
• changing table organizer
  
• Toys!: Freddie is a favorite. We couldn't live with out these. We really didn't get any, so when my son got interested in toys we were running out to buy them. Also the last thing to add, an exersaucer type deal. My son can sit in it and play on his own for a good hour. I have having a bad evening and wanted nothing more than to relax in the rub. I drug the dam thing into the bathroom for him so he could play while I bathed.
  
• A place for baby to sit/nap. Whether it be swing or rocker. We used this the most.
  
• gas drops, gripes water, and tylenol.
  
• sleep sacks
  
• Aden and Anais swaddle blankets: My spawn could break through most of the velcro swaddles, but use one of these and the russian swaddling method and he was stuck.
  
• covered garbage can for diapers. We use this with just plain shopping bags.
  
• all different kinds of diapers and diapering supplies. It lets you go through the different brands of diapers, butt cream, and wipes to find what works best for your child.
  
• Even if you plan on breast feeding have a small thing of formula and bottles on hand just in case.
  
• Crib soother thingies. We have a giraffe that does music and heart beat sounds. We also just got a Baby Einstein fish soother thingy.
  Seasonally appropriate clothing. I got tons of cute little short sleeved onesies for my Late Dec. baby. He lived in fleece sleepers his first couple of months.
  If you are having a winter baby a car seat cover is a necessity.
  
  Sorry I'm kind of rambling. This seems like a lot, but we bought a lot of our stuff second hand at garage sales and thrift stores.

Congratulations!!!! My husband and I tried for about 8 months before we finally got our positive. After the first test, I looked up into the mirror and saw my face all red and grinning and I had to remind myself to breathe :) Here are a few things that have been really helpful for me (outside of this forum)

• www.pregnantchicken.com
  
  
• www.lucieslist.com
  
  
• Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
  
  
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
  
  
• Start a journal (even a simple one, like https://amzn.com/0307336182)
  
  
• Getting early treatment from a chiropractor for pregnancy-induced back pain has turned out to be a really good decision
  
  
• If people tell you "it's too early" to clean out a spare room to make a nursery, just remember that you're more agile now than you will be in a few months!
  
  
• Allow yourself to buy a few things for the baby while the excitement is still new and fresh. Celebrate your good news!!

I was/am in the exact same boat - first kid, limited funds, starting from scratch, going through reviews and prices drove me insane. It took me probably three months to get my registry together, and, even then, I am still switching things up, lol.

lucieslist.com was invaluable while picking everything out. I highly recommend you check it out.

What we have bought ourselves that fit our tight budget:

Graco Comfy Cruiser Travel System. We had already decided to go with that car seat, given that it seems to be the top-rated budget option, and the stroller ended up being a much-needed bonus. We go on walks a lot, so it works for us. If you don't need the stroller, the seat itself is, I think, only ~$100.

The Pack N Play, which I've heard from literally everyone and their mother is almost a necessity.

Because we don't have an IKEA near us to get our hands on a swanky $99 crib, we bought this DaVinci crib. We still only ended up paying $100 for it, as we found it on sale, however, we would have paid the $200 for it, given that the reviews are good, and, when compared to some other cribs that cost $400 and up, the price isn't bad at all.

As for the rest of the registry, we have on there a Moby wrap (affordable baby wearing, yay!), nail clippers, outlet plugs, nursing pads, a wipes case, a baby tub, baby wash, assorted crib sheets, waterproof crib sheets, Pack N Play mattress, and sheets to go with, crib mattress (we actually bought this one when we found it on sale for $20, and it's just fine), receiving blankets, dirty diaper bags (because we aren't getting a diaper pail, just a small can with a seal-able lid), changing pad, and a cover to go with, pacifiers, Dr. Brown's Gia Nursing Pillow, a bottle brush, bottle warmer, thermometer, booger sucker, camera to monitor the baby, and a few other assorted things that I couldn't really find a definitive "best in class" for, so pick at your own discretion: diaper bag, swaddles (although I've read good things about the Summer Infant brand), bottles (we're going with Phillips Avent), a bouncer (we got this one), and a swing.

I agonized over this stuff for what felt like forever, lol, so I hope it helps you and saves you some hair-pulling. It's all so overwhelming!

I also have a bunch of stuff on my registry that is inexpensive ($10-$25) for friends and if my coworkers decide to do a shower here which they have done for other new moms in the past. Here are some of the things I have on mine
Sleeping gowns so you don't have to unsnap the onesie for midnight changes

A baby tub

Tub Thermometer

Baby thermometer

Nose Frieda which others have mentioned

preferred bath/care products

Cloth diaps which make fantastic burp cloths/cleanup

Nursing pillow also good for tummy time


Plus some other odds and ends. People will also buy stuff that they like, so you'll probably get stuff that was not on your list and that is ok. You can also request to have a "diapers n wipes" shower which a friend did since she was on her 4th child, and she probably got 2 months worth of diapers and wipes out of it if not more. Also, make sure you get multiple covers for your changing pad, it'll be nice to have more than 1 when it needs washing! Congratulations!

I have a 6 month old right now... We have a ton of toys but here are a few examples of the only stuff he plays with right now.

blocks

Monkey teether

Rings

Rattle

He loves anything that crinkles, we have a crinkle book that came with his baby gym, that he doesn't like being under.... But he loves that book.

This can also wait too, but I highly recommend one of these, we started putting him in this thing at 4 months with a box under him so he could reach, he loves this thing and could bounce in it for hours.

Okay - this book is excellent - https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Expecting-Twins-Triplets-Quads/dp/0061803073/. It's well-researched and practical. As someone suggested earlier, your local mothers of multiples (MoM) group will likely be a good resource, and they often have consignment sales that can be good for getting things you need. If you're going to formula feed, the Baby Brezza has been a lifesaver for us, and you could start looking for a good deal. The 2017 Triplets Mom group that I described above is a great resource and well vetted so it's fairly private.

I had the rock n play bassinet- not the original reclined one, but they make a green flat one. We loved it because it met all safety standards, our newborn could be swaddled in it, and it was a small foot print. Highly recommend.

Edit to add: we bought it just a few days in when we realized how freaking huge the pack n play was. It seemed way too big for a newborn who wanted to be cozy. Plus it was cumbersome. They work great for older babies, though.

Congratulations!!!!! I read Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives by Deepak Chopra. It's a good book on pregnancy and offers some good tips on relaxation, nutrition, etc. It's kind of a holistic, eastern meets western philosophy book. I really enjoyed this because it treats your pregnancy as a beautiful journey.

For babies, I have read [Secrets of the Baby Whisperer] (http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Baby-Whisperer-Connect-Communicate/dp/0345479092/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374606157&sr=1-2&keywords=baby+whisperer) and Happiest Baby on the Block. Both came highly recommended by other moms.

Your husband is a douchebag. Sorry. When he can carry and push a baby out of HIS hoo-ha, he can freakin' decide what birth he wants. His resistance/ambivalence to your plan/emotions/desires just really blows. If I were in your position, I'd be so effing pissed. It really doesn't matter what research your provide him. It is really easy to critique all research. If he's made up his mind and is deadset...well, what can you do?

Require that he read these two books:

• http://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-without-Fear-Principles-Practice/dp/0953096467/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314615929&sr=8-3
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Fifth-Bradley-Natural/dp/055338516X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314616093&sr=1-2
  
  I had 2 of 3 of my girls at a free-standing birth center with a certified nurse midwife. I wish I had just used a certified midwife and had a homebirth. Yeah, my births were great. They could have been better. Birthing at home, IMO, would have been much more comfie.
  
  I had to have an emergency induction for my third because my water was low. There is a time and place for medicalization of the birth--and that time is when it becomes dangerous. Birth, itself, is not a dangerous process. I hated my hospital birth. I felt like goddamn prisoner. They had this two page checklist of tasks that they were requiring I complete before they would allow me to check out. What? Seriously? After I gave birth at the birth center, I was able to go climb into my own bed at home in two hours. And I delivered in what was supposedly the most baby-friendly maternity ward in the COUNTRY: Loma Linda University Medical Center. Jesus, if that is the most baby-friendly maternity ward in the country, the whole country has a long way to go. Yeah, sure, they do rooming-in; tons of free breastfeeding paraphernalia; and beautiful, spacious, private post-partum rooms, but there is so much more to birthing and bonding than that!
  
  My eldest daughter summed it up nicely when she asked me why a birthing friend chose to have her birth at a hospital, "Why is she going to the hospital? She's not sick."
  
  Also, my husband was on board with the midwife because his mother had completely safe births using midwives, also.
  
  Edited for formatting.

I nursed my son for 18 months, including pumping at work for months 3-12.

For bottles, I'd start with the Medela ones that come with your pump. Some babies are picky and some aren't - my kiddo would take breastmilk from a garden hose. If baby is not into these, go from there.

For your pump, double check to make sure it will come with some kind of cold-storage bag and ice pack. I have the PISA tote bag one from when my 4yo was a baby, and it came with this, but I bought it myself so I don't know about the insurance options. You might also be interested in milk storage bags or some other longer-term milk storage solution as you pump more.

Finally, I'd recommend having some flat cloth diapers around in addition to nursing pads. After a few washes, they're super absorbent and perfect for spitup messes, overspray when your kiddo gets distracted and lets go of the nipple, and putting in your bra while you sleep in case you end up on your belly and start leaking!

Kimono-style shirts for while cord is still attached.

https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487257675&sr=8-1&keywords=cloth+diaper
These are great as burp cloths and wiping up milk while feeding.

Muslin blankets are our favorite. I got a 4-pack of Aden & Anais blankets and we use them every day. They were good for swaddling early on. They don't take up a lot of space.

Scratch mitts! Your baby will scratch its face otherwise.

We barely used our bathtub. You could probably skip it for now and just sponge bathe your baby as needed. They don't get really dirty and frequent baths dries out their skin anyway. I sponge bathe once or twice a week.

A few pacifiers to try. Our kiddo likes the Dr. Browns.

Saline spray for when you use the Nose Frieda.

Cold mist humidifier if your air is dry.

Nursing pillow. Nipple ointment. Nursing tanks for you.

I just use a towel on the bed for diaper changes.

Subscribe to Enfamil and Similac and they'll send you formula sample containers, so you can just keep something on hand in case you need to or choose to supplement at some point.

DAPPLE! This cleans bottle parts a lot better than regular dish soap.

Yep! Rainbow Light is OTC and you can get it on amazon. To be safe, I ran it by my DR and she said it was great. http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-Tablets/dp/B000EE8036

I started yoga around 8 weeks (I previously loved and went to regular/heated classes... sadly you can't go to heated during pregnancy) and have gone at least once but sometimes up to three times a week since then. I've tried about 4 prenatal studios, but found 2 that I loved and stuck with them.

Thanks :)

To add on to your puppy pee pad comment, I bought some of these after seeing them suggested often. They're about half the price of the amazon pee pads and a lot of the reviews suggest them for use on the changing pad :) Of course, I haven't used them yet.

We decided not to breastfeed early on for personal reasons and I've gotten some snarky comments and pressure from friends and family. I understand why people are encouraged to breastfeed, but I wish that people wouldn't shame formula-feeders in the process.

Late congratulations on your little one :)

We read Husband Coached Childbirth and took the class and it focused heavily on its relaxation methods and had a few exercises that are not difficult but have made a difference in my comfort. Mostly kegels and pelvic rocks. But the relaxation practice is key for getting through contractions. I've also heard good things about hypnobirthing but haven't looked much into it.

I assembled this cart for our living room, and I thought y'all would appreciate it. We also considered naming it the T&A cart, but "boob & butt" won out.

• Cart: 3-tier rolling cart from Target. I went with this instead of the ever-popular Raskog from IKEA because our local IKEA didn't have the colors we wanted in stock.
  
• Butt: diapers, wipes, IKEA hedgehog toy for diaper time entertainment, Pueen pump dispenser (yasss, Pueen) and CVS premium cotton squares for water-only cleanups, dog poop bags and dispenser for poopy diapers, tube of Vaseline as meconium shield and Boudreaux's butt paste
  
• Boobs: rolled receiving blankets to use as burp cloths, Bebe Au Lait nursing cover for when we got company, Lanisoh lanolin for da nips, Lanisoh disposable nursing pads, Bamboobies washable nursing pads, Lanisoh soothies gel pads, Avent comfort breast shells, bottled water, and Graze snacks in the back. When baby arrives I'll store my Kindle here, too.
  
  The bottom shelf just has extra diapers, wipes, and nursing pads.

Thanks for all the info! :)

I think I found another option! They sell better mattresses for the pack and play on amazon; cheeper than buying a bassinet and it turns my new pack-and-play into a sort of mini crib comfy enough for a few weeks :)

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B006Z2BZBU/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB

I have a book called The Belly Book which is basically a baby book for pregnancy. Prompts and questions, photos for pictures, questions about major events like baby shower and birth story. I loved it with my first so I got it for my second, too, so they'll have the same book but different answers and stories.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307336182/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_N0R7BbADVW2K2

I also have their baby book and birthday book. I found these to be funny and original, not sappy and typical like other books about the same subjects.

My midwife recommended The Birth Partner to my husband - she said it's amazing and she recommends it to every birth partner that walks into her office.


There's also The Bradley Method - which is husband-coached childbirth. I've heard good things, but my husband wasn't too into this method since he thinks he might crack.

I'm reading HypnoBirthing now and relaying everything I learn to him. I'm going to pick up The Birth Partner for him from my midwife's lending library for him to read and we're also going to start watching HypnoBirthing classes on YouTube - I'm really hoping that'll be good for us.

I bought The Belly Book at the beginning of my pregnancy and have been updating it weekly, and my husband adds to it from time to time as well. It is already fun to look back through the early weeks, and I think it will be nice once he is born and older to look back through. There's also a spot for photos each week so now that I actually have a little bump going it's fun to see the progression :)

If your wife is planning to nurse, she needs lanolin cream for her nipples, and also either nipple shells like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-Breast-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B001XDKTXQ/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2ASXZDZYVCW83&coliid=IQ61JE9TGHYQY) to help protect her chapped nipples from her clothing, or gel pads like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Soothies-Gel-Pads-2-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1371531566&sr=1-2&keywords=nipple+soothers) or, preferably, both. Those poor boobies get really, really sore in the first few days.

Plus, as someone else said, either nursing tank tops or simple nursing bras. Don't get specific size nursing bras (like 36C) yet because you have no idea what size they will be once her milk comes in, just just find one or two that are "medium" or "large." She'll have to go out and get the right size in a week or two when everything is established.

A nursing pillow, like a boppy, is also handy, but definitely not required. It helps with positioning and arm support during marathon nursing sessions.

Not nursing related, but one of those inflatable butt donuts can feel pretty good on tattered and torn lady bits. So can pain relief spray and witch hazel. And a squirt bottle to use instead of wiping - my hospital provided that. And colace (stool softener).

I was a 32 G pre-pregnancy and gargantuan by the end. I used a boppy nursing pillow and loved it, but I am sure other brands are great, too, just something! It does feel like you have about 12 less hands than you need in the beginning, but you will figure it out. Babies make a lot of noise while they breastfeed. You will be able to hear her breathing and swallowing so it would be obvious if she could not breathe. I don't recall ever have any smothering problems. Really early on, since she was so tiny I had to tuck her body under the boob that she was not feeding on so that she could get close enough to eat. We breastfed for 16 months. The first month was hard. We had latching issues and I had bloody nipples, but we eventually got there. I don't think the latching had anything to do with my breast size. I would also recommend lanolin cream and these soothie gels. Put them in the fridge they are amazing.

If you end up with super sore and chapped nipples I cannot recommend hydrogel breast pads enough! They are amazing, cooling, soothing and help speed up any healing. Like these ones!

I got these pads for the first few days that are super heavy. I still have some left, I only needed such a heavy pad for the first week. After that I was able to use these regular sized ones. The wings are really helpful in getting everything to stay put, and also the longer ones are good for night-time when you may be moving more. You can also get these pad ice packs, they gave them to me at my hospital and I loved them, but you could also buy some more to have on hand.

I know what you are talking about, the hanging bassinet attachment. I had done some research on it and my husband and I decided that it was still the safest option available, after getting our Pack 'n' Play with the bassinet, we still believe that it's very sturdy and safe. (The Newborn Napper attachment that some PnPs come with is NOT safe for sleep, however.) I understand that it seems like a flimsy design, but it's quite sturdy, the pad stays very firm (as long as you are using it within the weight limit.)

If you are really set on an alternative, another bassinet that is commonly recommended is the Rock'n'Play bassinet. Now, many people will talk about the Rock'n'Play SLEEPER, but that is actually a bit risky for a newborn because it has them sleep at an incline, and that can, in some babies, cause them to slump and have difficulties breathing. Some people do use the inclined sleeper for babies with reflux, but that's up to you and your pediatrician. The RnP bassinet has a nice flat surface and breathable mesh sides, however, so it should be quite safe for a newborn.

Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality https://www.amazon.com/dp/1581108931/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XnWBybNM51P39

I was given a copy of this book before my son was born from my cousin who'd found it helpful. Ive since given my copy to a friend and bought another for another friend. It was very helpful for a lot of instances.

Have you read Barbara Luke's book about expecting multiples? While some of the things she says in there are a touch alarmist IMO, one of the things she mentions is that early weight gain is good for twins. Remember, you're doubling the baby, the fluid, the placenta and your blood volume!

My weight gain has actually slowed a bit now - there's just not enough room for me to eat anything substantial.

Not going to lie, it can hurt! I ended up using nipple shields for the entire time I breastfed (22 months) and I super recommend having some in the house - they make it so much more bearable! Getting your supply started with just the pump will take a lot of effort so if you can manage to feed direct it is honestly easier.
These are the nipple shields I used and I also used these gel pads for the first week, so soothing! Do what you’re comfortable with though, don’t feel pressured, just do what works.

Backpack! Preferably the kind that also has a sorta handle to it.

Reasons:

1. I already feel too wide, I don't want to add an extra 8-10" to my side to knock over everything (and that's assuming I don't stuff it, which I totally will).
   
   
2. Don't have to worry about the strap slipping off your shoulder while fussing with baby.
   
   
3. Backpacks make it way easier to organize by priority since you put the stuff you only maybe might need every once in a while on the bottom and the "oh no I definitely need this now" stuff on top.
   
   
4. Better coverage of your stuff, because strangers don't need to know what you're carrying.
   
   
5. It's not obvious it's a diaper bag! I like this.
   

I'm currently reading "Heading Home With Your Newborn" and love it so far. It's written by two pediatricians/moms and has a lot of helpful info for the first few weeks and months. It includes a lot of what other books do, but also the very simple things that they tend to skip over like how to bathe the kid properly. Useful if you're a first timer!

If she's interested in a natural birth, read Husband Coached Childbirth and The Birth Partner - they're what you would learn in a Bradley Method Class. There are a lot of good tips for making your wife feel comfortable while she's in labor.

http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Fifth-Edition-Bradley/dp/055338516X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343354598&sr=8-1&keywords=husband+coached+childbirth

http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Partner-Third-Childbirth-Companions/dp/1558323570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343354644&sr=1-1&keywords=the+birth+partner

As a lot of people have pointed out, this book isn't a guide to what to do when you are pregnant. She doesn't make any suggestions, but takes the studies that a lot of conventional wisdom are based on and investigates what went in to making the studies. Essentially, she is breaking down the "Spinach is fine" and "ibuprofen is safe" arguments and explaining what they missed or showing that these 5 spinach studies tested larger groups over an extended period of time while these other 5 only looked at 10 women each over the first trimester.

If you want more in depth information about how the book is written and what it contains, here is the amazon listing with a description. It is a very interesting read.

I get what you are saying but I am not (nor is the author) telling anyone they shouldn't listen to their doctor. This really just gives depth to where your doctor is coming from and what studies formed the beliefs and practices of American OBs and how those studies were performed.

HypnoBirthing, Fourth Edition: The natural approach to safer, easier, more comfortable birthing - The Mongan Method, 4th Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0757318371/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_25q7xbA17YN2V

My favourite is definitely Expecting Better, as the author looks at the actual scientific evidence behind most common pregnancy do's and don'ts.

I've also bought:

• What to Expect When You're Expecting
  
• Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
  
• For husband - The Expectant Father
  
  And I've just ordered a pile of books from the library:
  
  
• Pregnancy Day by Day
  
• The Mother of All Pregnancy Books
  
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
  
• Birth Day
  
• The Happiest Baby on the Block
  
• Bringing up Bébé
  
• Retro Baby

I had a pack and play for my first baby and I just sold it to a secondhand store. I think they are too big for their intended use. My daughter never liked it as a sleep device and she hated it as a containment device once she got mobile. We ended up getting a snuggle nest to put in the pack and play for her to sleep in because the pack and play was too wide open.

This time I went with a travel crib to put next to our bed for the first few months. I hope the new baby likes it. I guess we'll find out here in the next week or so.

Another option I considered was the Fisher-Price Rock and Play Bassinet, because as I said the pack and play was just too big.

Yay!!! check out /r/parentsofmultiples and pick up a copy of Dr. Barbara Luke's book, When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads. How did your kids react to this news? So excited for you :)

Kids II Bright Starts Lots of Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001ABZGU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_I4DOCbX64Y7RK

☝️these are the ones I’ve got, rings of plastic that you link together and attach to toys/dummies/bottles and pretty much everything else

Makes it easy to add things to play gyms and stops toys being thrown out of prams

Most twins are fraternal and yeah, there are fewer risks with them. If you would be interested in a twins book I have a copy of this one that I no longer need and would be happy to send it to you. I found it to be very comprehensive on twin pregnancy, but a little heavy handed in the wording. Like, "you must do this" but not anything that can't be looked over. The content is solid and that is the important part.

I've heard the Gerber pre folds have declined in quality. I went for the [OsoCozy] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AJHDQW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f3URCbTVMJ1NA) and love them. Super thick!

I've been taking Rainbow Light Embrace Prenatal 35+ this pregnancy. I take the age-specific version, but they sell regular one-a-day prenatals and even a mini pill version.

Pros: it's been easy on my stomach even without food, it's vegetarian and food-based, and it has loads of 'extras' in it like digestive probiotics.

Cons: have to take 3 a day (for the 35+ version) and it's not the cheapest prenatal you can buy.

In my first pregnancy I took a prescription chewable prenatal that I couldn't take without food because it made me nauseous.

This wasnt super cheap ($60 USD) but me and SO are in love with it. Its high quality, and he doesnt feel like he's carrying a cheesy diaper bag...for that matter neither do I!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9E9UNV/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_6nkqzb1KZEZSV

Looking at the listing I suppose they’re actually for humans because they don’t have the chemical attractant but I call them puppy pads. We like these — the size is nice for changing pads. We also use really big ones in the car if we have to change a baby in the back of the SUV.

The Mongan Method Hypnobirthing Book (http://www.amazon.com/HypnoBirthing-Fourth-approach-comfortable-birthing/dp/0757318371/ref=sr_1_1/182-6966116-7885857?ie=UTF8&qid=1451932471&sr=8-1&keywords=hypnobirthing)

has transcripts of the relaxation scripts in them. During the class I took, we also wrote our own so our partners could help us with our visualizations.

I'll admit that it was difficult to learn to just slip away; I haven't given birth yet (any day now) and I hope this will work for me.

For the puppy pads we actually go these, which are the same thing, but fit better on the changing table as they are rectangular instead of square. Where I am they were actually a tad cheaper, or at least the same price as getting the puppy ones.

https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Disposable-Underpad-inches-Count/dp/B005X0U43K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

I've been reading The Happiest Baby on the Block and it's made me feel so much more confident about dealing with a fussy/colic-y baby. The basic premise is that babies are actually supposed to stay in the womb for another few months, but need to be birthed early because of their big heads. So they're unprepared to deal with the world, and that makes some of them extra fussy. He goes over a bunch of techniques for recreating the womb experience to calm the baby down- swaddling, shushing, etc.

I use Rainbow Lite and really like them. They are rated well enough especially in terms of value, and I like that they have iron and probiotics in them!

I really liked Heading Home with Your Newborn. It gave a good overview of all the baby basics without being overwhelming. Basically, enough to figure out what else you want to look into.

I am broke and couldn't afford the classes, but have been reading the book and it's great!
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0757318371/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1977604502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0757302661&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_r=YAMPN156JWFCRVF2CEA5

I purchased this one and am really happy with it. I haven't used it yet, but the size, compartments, and everything else seems to be nice and compatible. Plus, my husband can carry it without it looking like a purse.

I've been doing The Belly Book. It's a weekly journal, so every Sunday morning, I take my morning coffee, and I jot some down some notes on the week.

It also has prompting questions about things like movement, maternity clothing, current events, and separate entries for pre-natal doctor visits, so I don't have to be too creative.

To piggyback onto this, I saw these recommended on a previous thread. I purchased some for after my delivery- I don't know how well they work, yet, but the reviews are good!

Ftm here too, I registered and received this one, but it’s flat with no buckles, more like a bassinet. Think this one is recalled too? Are there specific recalled model numbers?

fisher price rock n play portable bassinet

Yup! We have a clothes rack for drying inside (apartment) and it works really well. I’d probably recommend prefolds for your inserts, because you can clip them flat. I’ve found that the fancy ones that snap in tend to take a lot longer to dry at the edges, and you wind up having to dry them right-side out and then flip them inside out to finish them.

Prefolds: https://www.amazon.com/OsoCozy-Prefolds-Unbleached-Absorbent-Best-Selling/dp/B003AJHDQW

Fancy ones: https://www.amazon.com/GroVia-Certified-Organic-Cotton-Diapering/dp/B002KKQBK6

this book made me excited to have a fussy baby! "Happiest Baby on the Block" by Harvey Karp, MD

I bought them ALL because I just could not get comfortable and out of all of them I ONLY use the Round Wedge Pillow. The second trimester it was god sent on my back, and right now that I’m a couple weeks from having my baby, it’s been amazing under my bump or as an extra neck pillow. The huge L and C pillows were cozy but they just did not fit in my bed with my husband next to me so they ended up on the ground very quickly.

Here’s a link to one of them from amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OIGTRKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OjSSAbPE8ZJ30

I have heard so many good things about Earth mama nipple butter from several new mama's around who are currently successfully breastfeeding their little one. It has been 9 years since I've since BF a baby and I struggled for the first 6 weeks. I'm hoping it's a little different this time.

Amazon actually has a good description of it with different pictures, too: http://smile.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rock-Play-Portable-Bassinet/dp/B008DDPL32/ref=pd_cp_ba_0

Expecting Better by Emily Oster =)

I don't have a kid yet, but I'm in the same situation as you - small condo, no space for a crib. We're going the pack-n-play route too, and I do plan on buying a mattress. They sell mattresses specifically for pack-n-plays. Here's the mattress I registered for on Amazon.

I don't know what I'm doing, but since I plan on having baby sleep there for as long as she can, I figured a mattress would be a good idea.

I took 1 newborn sized sleeper and 1 0-3 month sleeper. I didn't really use much that the hospital didn't provide, except for nipple cream (I got this kind and really liked it) and the Boppy pillow.

For the discomfort, I found a combination of two pillows works swimmingly for me: the Snoogle, and a wedge pillow for under my belly. I just had the Snoogle for a while, but once my belly really started to grow I needed some additional support there. It's crazy how much my tiny wedge pillow helps.

So, would this be something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506274314&sr=8-3&keywords=burp+cloths

I liked this book:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Book-Everything-About/dp/1491518235

Edit: Also http://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Baby-Block-Harvey-Karp/dp/0553381466/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0CS7A9MYGEXRD9AJ9SFT

Don't get too caught up in Sears books though. I don't have nearly as much money as they do, so I will not be able to do all the things they suggest. I still know a lot more now than I did before.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9E9UNV/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_0IuMDb31KA1ZG

I've got this backpack and really like it. $50

Reading this book: Expecting Better may help relax you a bit - it definitely did for me. She is an economist/researcher and basically spent her entire pregnancy summarizing tons of research on all the do's and don'ts and risks in pregnancy. To sum up the chapter on alcohol, it's more about speed of drinking than amount - if you drank 5 large glasses of wine in an hour, you might be at risk. But a leisurely glass every week is not going to put your baby at risk. It's only when you drink more than your liver (and your baby's liver) can handle that you might have any problems.

Check out the lansinoh 3in1 breast therapy pads... they help SO MUCH when you're engorged or have a clog.

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-TheraPearl-Breast-Therapy-Count/dp/B0070767DU

Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. It's especially great if you have some experience with infants but haven't had one 24/7 before.

I take this prenatal, this DHA, and 2 of these vitamin D gummies every day. (Extra vitamin D at the rec of my midwife).

These are MUCH cheaper and are great for changing and tummy time but probably wouldn't last all night for PP bleeding (not that you get a full night's sleep anyway at that time).

These and these are the ones someone had recommended in a previous thread

They actually sell mattresses for them on amazon. I'll try to find a link for you

here ya go

I bought this book which has been a great way for me to keep up with what's happening. I don't have all the bump pics because I suck at taking them every week (or even every other week) but I'll print whatever I do have at the end and toss them in.

I have a snoogle and I finally had to kick it out of bed. It was not helping and it was a wall between my husband and I.

Instead, I found this wedge from Boppy to be amazing... I think I've been using it for 6-10 weeks now? I'm almost 34 weeks. Once my bump got big enough, I needed to keep it elevated so it stopped pulling my ribs forward while I was asleep. An extra regular pillow between my knees has been enough there, and that's it. I was surprised how little modification I could use, given how much there is with tons of pillows and big pillows. Its really come down to figuring out your pain points and supporting them

I'm using The Belly Book

https://smile.amazon.com/HypnoBirthing-Fourth-approach-comfortable-birthing/dp/0757318371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473623021&sr=1-1&keywords=hypnobirthing

I got this stuff http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVCBBG as an alternative to lanolin.

Winkle or Lots of Link. She can hold them similarly to an oball but the shape allows her to get a bite in her mouth too.

We just use puppy pee pads as our changing station. If they get anything on them, you just toss it.

You can buy more of the [lovely mesh hospital undies]
(https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Seamless-Postpartum-Maternity-Underwear/dp/B016QO93QA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500912979&sr=8-2&keywords=postpartum+underwear+mesh#Ask)

Perineum Cold Packs

And finally, belly binders. There's a ton to choose from.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BLE60T4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Combination ice pack and absorbent sanitary pads.

I registered for this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M9E9UNV/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh sorry! The Mongan method:
Link on Amazon

I've got earth mamma angel nipple cream. no experience using it yet, but it says it doesn't have to be wiped off.

I can't recommend this item enough (Boppy Wedge)! I place it behind / under my hip / low back area, and I'm able to lay slightly on my back, but never fully. It blocks you from rolling and its smaller than an extra pillow or snoogle. I just couldn't take the bulk and its been a life saver. I also use it between my legs for when my hip is unbearable!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OIGTRKG/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00474CUTO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JGWDKZ9SK4QT740S18T

For less messy amazon links you can extract the part after "/dp/" in

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-TheraPearl-Breast-Therapy-Count/dp/B0070767DU/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484417101&sr=8-3&keywords=breast+gel+pads

and make it:

https://amzn.com/B0070767DU

Or via smile link:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0070767DU

___

BEEP BOP

Plz send any recommendations to my owner via PM

I concur with everyone else. Also, I'm going to suggest Expecting Better. It gives you so much good information about the risks of different things that are supposedly "off limits".

Stupid mobile won't let me edit the original post...

Product link.

Medline MDS148055 Deluxe Perineal Cold Packs with Adhesive, 4.5" x 14.25" (Pack of 24) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLE60T4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_E7Qgyb9FRNBH9

I know my OBGYN office won't see anyone until at least 8 weeks. I was seen at 9w4d. That's partly because there's such a high risk of miscarriage and partly because it's usually around 10 weeks when they can find the heartbeat (even though it starts beating around 6 weeks).

For a prenatal, I've been taking this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EE8036/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1449868666&sr=1&keywords=rainbow+light

It's a real horse pill, so if you have trouble with large pills it's not the one for you. It gets high reviews and good lab test results. I feel like it actually helped a small amount with my morning sickness. I suggest taking it at bed time.

I've also been using an app called Ovia Pregnancy. You'll find it's pretty popular with the bumpers on this sub. It has a food guide when you swipe left, symptom checker, and you get little facts about your baby everyday.

For nausea/vomiting, vitamin b6(25-50mg) taken with unisom sleep tabs is what got me through the worst of it (I took half a sleep tab). I started with just at night, then during the day if I'm starting to get bad, I take about 1/4 of a unisom tab and can still work/do school/etc. It's prescribed form is called Diclegis and is category A which means it's been proven to be safe for use in pregnant women. Unisom is listed as category B which means nothing has happened to suggest that it is not safe during pregnancy. However, if it does not work for you and you find yourself not being able to keep anything down, call your OB even if you haven't been seen.

Food restrictions [short list version] - no sushi (raw - cooked is okay but cannot have touched the same surfaces as the raw), no lunch meat (think like subway style) unless it has been heated/toasted, no red meat, no soft cheeses (like bleu), nothing unpasteurized.

Also, see the Wiki/FAQ on the sidebar. It has tons of helpful info!

Does she have a wedge pillow to put under her bump? It sounds silly but just that little bit of support under my bump kept me from arching my back when I slept which caused some pain the next day.

I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pregnancy-Wedge-Petite-Trellis/dp/B00OIGTRKG

I had a natural birth in a hospital. I think as long as you go in there knowing exactly what you want and your husband is on the same page so he can be your advocate when you can't do it yourself you will get everything you need.

I decided to use the Bradley Method (husband coached childbirth) for my labor. I really think it helped, I didn't take the classes but I bought 2 books about it. I felt prepared with the information I had.

As soon as I went in I made it known to everyone what I wanted. No meds, intermittent monitoring and necessary staff only. Literally the only person I saw the whole time was my nurse every couple hours. My water broke before I got to the hospital but no contractions, they literally walked in with pitocin and if I didn't know any better I would have let them give it to me! I told them I didn't want it, the doctor let me know that was ok but if by midnight I didn't start contracting I had to or baby was at risk. Luckily by 7pm everything got going on its own, I labored for 12 hours in the dark with my husband by my side and only saw any other hospital staff when I pushed, as soon as my baby was born everyone left the room and we got 2 hours together alone to nurse and get some rest.

So... movies, tv and other works of fiction are seriously NOT where you'd want to get childcare or healthcare advice. Even if they're correct, it's a coincidence. Even internet research needs to be read with a critical eye.

Google and read about SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. And talk to your OB and/or Pediatrician when your child is born if there are special circumstances involved.

Generally, the advice nowadays is to always have the baby sleep on its back. With no blankets, a firm mattress with just a fitted sheet and no bumpers, even. The idea is to keep airflow open at the baby's face.

Humans have a reflex where if they don't get enough oxygen, they wake up or their bodies just force themselves to breathe. But this reflex is apparently not very well developed in infants, so they might be ... just stopping.

That said, babies do seem to prefer sleeping on their fronts and sides - source: Harvey Karp, MD., Happiest Baby on the Block.

Mine is probably going to be a back sleeper, unless there's a reason why she can't... but if I'm rocking her to sleep in my arms, she might be on her side or front.

I take the Rainbow Light ones another poster mentioned. Like they said, they aren’t small but it’s only one per day, and I personally don’t find them disgusting. I take them before bed and have had no issues. No DHA though so I take a separate thing for that.