(Part 3) Top products from r/Septemberbumpers2017

I am also incredibly inflexible, specifically in my hamstrings! I started getting into yoga with a fertility practice in September and that's poured over into a prenatal practice. I can't recommend Shiva Rea's Prenatal Yoga enough. It's really gentle but still challenging for beginners like us.

It includes squats, kegels, core strengtheners - all the goodies moms to be need for a good and healthy birth. She has models for modifications for both the second and third trimesters which can be used in the first trimester if you are inflexible!

I also found some prenatal cardio workouts online but I haven't tried any yet.

I think the biggest piece of advice I've been seeing is that you can add activity, but nothing super strenuous where you're stressing your body out in ways it's not used to. I lift 30-50 pounds at work all the time, and walk about 20k steps on the days I'm there. My whole shift I average 90-100 BPM. My midwife says that's ok because I'm used to it. But if someone who averages 5k steps a day and doesn't lift anything got pregnant and started a fitness routine that upped their step count by 15k, had a bunch of lifting and elevated their heart rate for 6-8 hours the doctor would say absolutely not. It's a shock to the system.

Mostly I've seen that you should do walking, yoga, running if you ran before the pregnancy and light lifting - they have some recommendations for lifting in What to Expect When You're Expecting.

Hope that helps!

Honestly I bought a bunch on amazon one day when I was irritated as all get out and tossed my smaller chested friends the ones that didn't work out.

I really like [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MA39LSX/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495501343&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=sports+bra&dpPl=1&dpID=51B19hQEvcL&ref=plSrch) but the pads rolled up everytime I washed them so I took them out.

I also like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0020814V4/ref=sxts_bia_sr_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495501460&sr=1&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2973120562&pd_rd_wg=Xw7GY&pf_rd_r=N9RHXRCGE88DSCHGDRK0&pf_rd_s=mobile-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=9701&pd_rd_i=B0020814V4&pd_rd_w=VppHW&pf_rd_i=champion+plain+sports+bra&pd_rd_r=HV0TPYPYSRVYVZPEXN01&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65) one from Champion, its waay worn in and I love it, elastic has held up really well.

Hmm, we also have a large dog (100lbs) who will be sleeping in the room with us. DD will be sleeping in a pack n play at first which is pretty large and sturdy and just a bit taller than the pup is so I haven't been too concerned, the pack n play will also be beside me which is on the other side of the room from where pup sleeps.

Could you use half of the play yard to just surround it on one side? (not sure if that makes sense) Or something like this?

Edit: Also no judgement for wanting your doggies in the room with you. Our dog gets really stressed out being separated from us, so its best for all of us for him to sleep in the room with us. The kitties on the other hand, they got kicked out of the bedroom when we found out I was pregnant so they could get used to it :) lol.

Twins are 2 months old! Also, that is what my bottle prep looks like.

I am pumping, and supplementing my breast milk to boost the calorie content still. I use the Dr. Browns's formula mixer pitcher to prep the milk for the day, and then sterilize and fill bottles so they just have to be warmed up.

Also if you are pumping make sure to change out your valves if you notice a drop in output. You can use the duckbill with most pumps, and they are easy to clean. I just don't get why something for 2 boobs comes in a 5 pack.

Excellent!

Now for Bassinet sheets here is one from Kushies the brand I'm using. There is also the American Baby Company

Viva Naturals Prenatal DHA for Moms, Kelp - 325 mcg of natural iodine, and Nature Made Prenatal Multi Vitamin.

Haven't used them yet, but I am stashing samples from my OB as well.

How about a moses's basket? It's very small and most of the new ones have a rocking motion which is supposed to help newborn sleep. My first wouldn't sleep in the pack n play either as it was too big. But she was born at 37 weeks, and I did a lot of skin to skin in the first week, probably giving her bad habits as she only slept on me for her naps, then I couldn't have her sleep anywhere else! We ended up cosleeping (bed sharing) for a while. For this new little nugget, I'm def. gonna try to let her sleep in her moses basket a bit too!

My favourite's so far have been:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

The Birth Book

Birthing from Within

and my husband is reading The Birth Partner

I use Rainbow Light.

https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Certified-Prenatal-Multivitamin/dp/B0033ZDGQY/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487430556&sr=8-2&keywords=prenatal+rainbow+light

I got these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002N3H8PW/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are the ones I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YIQEQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

OMG.....use this stuff. It changed my freaking life: Monistat Anti Chafe Powder Gel!

I can wear shorts/dresses again. It's a freaking MIRACLE.

Yes gummies!! I need to look for those.

I've taking taking these and have had no stomach upset yet including constipation:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029JF3RU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This has been my worst pregnancy symptom and I've had it every day for months. I just started going to the chiropractor and hoping for a longer term fix, but let me tell you the one thing that has helped a lot with mine: a rib belt. I put it on at the first tinge of pain and it keeps it from getting too bad. I definitely recommend it and it is inexpensive.

Mine was awful, then I fixed it with two products, then I got lazy and it came back. Lessons were learned. My two products are tea tree oil body wash (https://www.amazon.com/Body-Shop-Tree-Wash-Vegan/dp/B002K8W1UC) and glycolic acid pads (https://www.amazon.com/Nip-Fab-Glycolic-Daily-Cleansing/dp/B00BL5LB2Y). Note that this combo would be way too harsh for your face, so don't get any crazy ideas!