* when & where do I start..???! *

[OctoberMommy2014]

okay, so I'll be 15 weeks this Friday, 25 ftm, and I'm at that point where I'm starting to wonder when is the best time to start getting the baby stuff, and what do I need to have by certain times?

I'm pretty sure I'll have at least one baby shower.. this will by my parent's first grand baby (I'm an only child now, my brother passed away back in 1996) so I'll be the only grand baby maker for them! needless to say, he/she may be a little spoiled, BUT I don't want to wait until the last minute for anything.. at least not the simple things. plus, I'm not ashamed to say I've always been independent, and *I* want to buy my baby plenty of stuff too.. but I don't even know what to put on the baby registry? do I include big stuff.. like bassinet, crib, etc. or just small stuff like clothes, bottles, wipes, etc.???

I'm NOT stressing, but I just keep telling myself, "okay, let's just make sure the baby is okay at THIS ultrasound.. then we'll start buying stuff.." I don't want to be that way.. I don't want to keep expecting our baby to not have a heart beat, but of course it's every woman's fear..

do I start stocking up on diapers now? wait until the 20 week mark? wipes, bassinet, onesies, etc.??
oh my, this stuff is coming up so much quicker than I expected!!! lol

thank all of you ladies, keep praying for us, we love you so much!!!! ((((: ❤

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Yea... Unfortunately if you throw it up they make you come back on another day... thankfully I could stomach it...

[OctoberMommy2014]

ugh, I'll definitely have to bring that up!! luckily, when I had my diabetes test it was definitely cold.. I just have a sensitive stomach. having to wait that long to eat, then chug that mess down.. ughhh! awful, awful..

maybe I'll take a cup of ice just in case though!!! ew, I can't imagine!

[mckaylas_momma1018]

I didnt have a choice with my 1st- lemon lime... it was GROSS-- especially at room temperature.... 2nd time and 3rd time were a week apart... 2nd wasnt offered a choice just handed the orange one... I brought a cup of ice to ensure it was cold... but it was refrigerated- thank god... 3rd time I was given a choice between orange and fruit punch.. chose fruit punch-- way too sugary... make sure they refrigerate it, then its tolerable

[OctoberMommy2014]

ugh, well hopefully if I have a choice (HA! high hopes right?!) I'll ask for the orange.. just the thought of the fruit punch makes me sick lol

I remember the nurse asking me how I felt.. I said I'm probably going to puke!
she said well, if you get sick we'll have to start over..

I said nope. if I puke, I'm going home. the end!! lol I guess I'll have to do what I have to do when it comes to the baby though.. gag already! haha

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Yea... both of my parents are diabetic... and that test su cks!! Had to do it twice... and its the same... fruit punch, orange, or lemon lime.. orange is the best flavor (ive had all 3)

[OctoberMommy2014]

okay, well I still have a little while!!

& uggggghhhh, I remember when I had to do it I had the fruit punch flavor, and I didn't drink fruit punch for a VERY, VERY long time!!!! lol and then of course, and luckily, I am NOT a diabetic.. so I pray I pass the gestational diabetes test!!

my daddy is a diabetic, and as much as I don't mind having my blood drawn.. doing it from the finger is a pain!!!! "/

[mckaylas_momma1018]

You take it between 24-28 weeks... you drink a sugary drink in 5 min wait an hour and have a blood test.

the diet isnt so, so bad... just keep carbs under 30g per meal (or try), cut out most fried foods, soda, most juices, and sweets (I want a banana split!) But I hate having to check my blood sugar.. my poor fingers

[stacie725]

Yes buy breast pads! U will need a few not a lot though.

[OctoberMommy2014]

oh wow!! you're almost at the finish line!!! congratulations!!

I'm sure that is super hard for you too then having gestational diabetes.. when exactly do I have to take that test?!

I've been tested for diabetes before, and I HATED it!! lol totally not looking forward to that..

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Lol... I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow :)  I lost a considerable amount of weight in the beginning and having to modify my diet to low carbs and sugars hasn't helped me gain any weight at all (cause I have gestational diabetes)

[OctoberMommy2014]

well hearing about your weight makes me feel a lot better.. I swear up & down to my OB that I eat, my fiancé knows I eat as much as I can.. I literally take breaks & force bite by bite down! - how far along are you???

& you're right, it's not for everybody - I say that I'll try, but I know I probably won't. my mama didn't BF, but I think my daddy's mama did.. I guess it's just not for me. "/ I wish you the best of luck though! I have a girlfriend that did, not sure if she still does, but seeing it was amazing.. but it also reassured me that I probably won't do it lol

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Lol your soo funny... yea they also send you $5 checks for similac too.. I got $20 worth of checks too... you can onky use 1 at a time though... and if you qualify get on wic so you can get formula

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Yea.. I havent gained any weight either... I'm still down 6 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight... but baby is still growing and weighs somewhere close to 4.5 lbs right now (ill find out on Friday a closer approximation of her weight) so they arent concerned-- thank god thats one thing I don't have to hear! BFing isnt for everybody and it is by no means easy.. but im giving it another go and hope I get better results, but I wont hesitate to give her formula if I need to

[OctoberMommy2014]

whhaaaat????! I didn't know anything about that either!! the good Lord helped me ask this question for a reason tonight, b/c you are helping me SO much right now!!!! lol

I'll be creating that e-mail address asap!!!! that is so neat.. I'm just amazed right now lol like a kid in a candy store.. (((:

[OctoberMommy2014]

agh thank goodness lol no I'm jk, I want a healthy baby at any cost! but my OB thinks he/she may be small b/c I'm having a hard time gaining weight.. I haven't gained anything, at all.

I'm starting the Carnation Breakfast Essentials to give the baby more nourishment just in case.. I eat, but I have a colon disease that just makes it hard for me to gain/keep weight on.. we're keeping a close eye on the baby though. if need be, I'll see a specialist, but as long as I'm not losing weight we're good. I can't wait to meet this tiny little miracle!!

& yes, I'm glad to know they still offer the shot. I'd love to be one of the mommies that REALLY wants to breastfeed, I've thought about it over & over, but I honestly just don't think I will.. I can't get over the diaper shower though, that's so exciting!! (((:

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Also if you haven't already... create an email address solely for the purpose of getting a lot of junk email and sign up for newsletters and free samples for baby stuff-- particularly for enfamil, gerber, and similac.. they send you samples close to your due date... I just got a box of 2 cans of formula plus 4 ready to drink formula bottles from similac in the mail

[sprmom87]

Didnt know about the shot, good to know.

[mckaylas_momma1018]

Lol yup... and your baby's size usually goes off of how big you were.... I weighed 6lbs 2oz at birth and she weighed 6lbs 13oz... my sister was 7lbs 7oz and her daughter was 7lbs 7oz... your baby will probably be somewhere similar in weight

[abiandgabi_mom]

The diaper shower is what i am thinking about doing, instead of people getting a bunch of clothes u wont use. I am just gonna tell everybody to bring a box of diapers and wipes of diff sizes. Some people enter their name in a box if they bring diapers and at the end the draw a name to win a prize. Some cute ideas online

[OctoberMommy2014]

knowing my luck, I probably will lol so I may need a few!

& I had always planned on using the Playtex Drop-Ins simply because my brother & I loved them, my Godsister loved them, they're SO convenient, and they have a variety of nipples to try!! I think I may stick with that plan.. that way if I do have a picky baby, I can just change the nipples & still use the same bottles!! ((:

[OctoberMommy2014]

just saw your response about the breast pads, sorry!! lol so thank you for that!!! I didn't know if they still gave that shot or not..

my mama didn't breastfeed & she told me about that shot she got - I figured that was so long ago they probably didn't do it anymore?! lol

[sprmom87]

You will probably leak a bit until you dry up so a small box would be handy just in case. I would suggest maybe consider buying 1 small bottle of a few different brands that way you have a variety to try out and see what you and baby prefer.

[OctoberMommy2014]

ohh okay!!!! well, that makes SO much more sense!!! lol geez..

& wow, I've been to a few showers, and I've never heard of the diaper raffle?! that is a pure GENIUS idea!!!! my mama & the preacher's wife will more than likely be the 2 people to do the baby shower for me, so I'll absolutely bring that up!! if every woman from church brings a pack of diapers.. WOW! that can't go wrong!! lol thank you SOOO much!!

I need to bring that up to my fiancé too.. he doesn't have too many guy friends, as well as I don't have too many friends either, but who knows?! any reason to drink beer right!? lol I'm thinking, MAYBE I'll have a small baby too.. I know our sizes don't really matter, but I was only 6lb10oz not sure of my fiancé, but I'm very petite.. I definitely won't buy too many big sizes at all!!

this is all so helpful, thank you so much!!!
OH, and about the breast pads.. will I need those if I don't plan on breastfeeding? I know they may leak, hurt, etc. but will it be enough for me to have to wear those pads??

[mckaylas_momma1018]

If your not planning on BFing you dont need breast pads... at the hospital they will ask you if you plan on BFing... if you say no they usually give you a shot to prevent your milk from coming in... if not, you can take anything with sudafed products to dry it up faster... advil cold and sinus dried it all up for me (I got sick when my daughter was 4 months old and I had to make a choice)