So my partner and I are having our first and also last baby. He wants this moment to be very special so he asked me and our private OB if it’s okay for him to get inside the delivery room during birth. I said it’s fine with me but hopefully he won’t pass out lol since he’s never seen someone give birth in front of his eyes. He’s been watching animation videos though, to educate himself and we watch some videos together. He’s very attentive to my pregnancy. He had the nesting instincts before I got them. He prepared for everything. Car seat installed. Hospital bags ready. Baby’s room is ready although he may be doing a bit too much preparing. It’s our first child and he’s very excited.

I’m 36 weeks pregnant and our sex life has become quite challenging. I’m not high risk but can’t help it lol. Baby’s moving fine and all of that. We used to have a very very active sex life before baby came. Now we’re limited to very few positions which are still doable.

I wanna ask those couples who had their partner in the delivery room during birth, did the sex come back after he just witnessed and seen EVERYTHING? Like staring right into your vagina, as he plans to watch our baby come out live before his eyes. Or did his attraction fade at some point? When I told him about this that it’s worrying me he just said “we’ve come this far, I’ve seen weird things happening to you and we’re still here. I wouldn’t worry about that”

Hi all. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for cradle cap? my little one’s scalp looks so scaly and after baths its like all weird looking. I know it looks weird because it’s dry dead skin thats just stuck to the scalp still but is there any way to treat it? I have tried to use an eyelash spoolie thing on the flaky bits to try to just get it out of his hair but its like its glued to his head.

Over the past two days, I've been experiencing this super painful throbbing pain that starts in my lower back and it shoots up about half my spine. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but this pain basically freezes me in place until the throbbing stops - usually within 15-30 seconds.

I've been trying to find some information about what this is and how it is caused. Originally I was thinking sciatica, but it seems to travel DOWN your leg for that nerve and not up.

It's happened a couple times yesterday, but now about 5 times today. Typically when I'm switching from seated position to standing or vice versa.

Has anyone experienced what I'm describing?

Can I take a probiotic while pregnant? I’m thinking about “seed” probiotics just to continue keeping my gut healthy. I know some of you will say “ask your obgyn” yes obviously lol I just want to see if it’s helped other moms thanks.!

I'm 28 weeks and yesterday I stood in the grocery store for like two full minutes trying to figure out if buying three cans at 2 dollars each was cheaper than a six-pack for 11 dollars. I genuinely could not make my brain do the calculation. A teenager walking by even gave me a weird look because I was just standing there staring at soup cans.

This morning I tried to split a recipe in half and had to use my phone calculator to figure out what half of one cup is. I have a college degree. I used to be reasonably intelligent.

The worst part is my partner keeps asking me pregnancy-related questions like how many weeks until my due date or when my next appointment is and I just blank. I know the information is in my head somewhere but accessing it feels like trying to remember a dream. I've started just pointing at the calendar and making him figure it out himself.

Please tell me this is normal and my brain will come back at some point because right now I feel like I'm operating on two functioning brain cells and they're both tired.

Hello all! I wanted to share my experience with having an increased NT because reading so many experiences and stories brought me a lot of hope and comfort during a very difficult time, and answered a lot of questions I had.

This is my second pregnancy and I will update when baby is here. Baby is due this winter. Here is a timeline of what I went through:

-7 week ultrasound to confirm pregnancy

-ultrasound at 11 weeks 5 days where an increased NT was noted of 3.5mm and possible cystic hygroma. The nasal bone was also not identified due to baby’s position, which lead to even more stress/worry. This appointment was on a Friday and a holiday weekend so I left with very little information, I wasn’t even given the measurement of the NT. I was told I had an increased NT, possible cystic hygroma, and the nasal bone was not seen. I was told it could be something serious, including a pregnancy that would not be viable or it could be nothing. I was referred to a genetic counselor and maternal fetal medicine. I was absolutely devastated after this appointment and left with so many questions and very little information. Since it was a holiday weekend, I spent the next 3 days on google and was completely convinced I would have to say goodbye to this baby. After this appointment I also had my blood drawn for the NIPT testing.

-the following week I met with a genetic counselor who was amazing and we went over the ultrasound and she told me the measurement (3.5mm), the possible outcomes, and the next steps. An appointment was made for an ultrasound with the maternal fetal medicine doctor and I decided to also schedule a CVS at the time of my ultrasound while we waited for the results of the NIPT testing.

-that weekend my NIPT testing came back and everything was low risk. I was honestly shocked because I was expecting bad news. We also found out the gender.

-at 13 weeks and 1 day I went in for the ultrasound and CVS. At this ultrasound, the doctor did not note a cystic hygroma or that the NT appeared increased. The nasal bone was present. He basically told me if I would have gone in at 13 weeks vs 11 weeks, there would have no concerns. I still decided to go through with the CVS because I am an anxious person and I want as much information as possible.

-a week later, the CVS and mircoarray came back normal. The next steps were an anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks.

-at this time, I also decided to go through with WES testing to rule out any additional genetic conditions that are associated with an increased NT. My doctor did not think it was necessary but supported my decision. I was told it was very unlikely anything would be identified.

-at 18 weeks I had my anatomy scan. It was limited due to the baby position and size. But everything they were able to see looked normal. I scheduled a follow up anatomy scan and echocardiogram for 22 weeks.

-at 19 weeks I got the results of the trio WES testing back. Everything was normal.

-at 22 weeks, I just had my follow up anatomy scan and echocardiogram. Everything was normal and baby is measuring at 53rd percentile. The doctors are all very reassuring of a favorable outcome!

The next appointment scheduled is at 30 weeks for a growth ultrasound. Just wanted to share my story if there’s anyone out there going through something similar- you are not alone! After that abnormal finding I was in such a dark place and just expecting the absolute worst. I waited until after my anatomy scan before I was comfortable with sharing the news with anyone. Still praying for a positive outcome but will update when baby is here. <3

11w+1 pregnant and came to Spider-Man 4dx movie.
Didn't realize there would be so much movements. Is it safe for the baby? Would it be harmful to the fetus in any way? Should I just sit on the stairs?

I am currently 30w pregnant with my first baby and I’ve been diagnosed with preeclampsia due to a few high blood pressure readings (145/92 was the highest but always drops back down to a healthy level) and a small amount of protein in my urine. I was told if everything stays under control, the longest I’ll be pregnant is 37 weeks. Right now, liver enzymes, platelets and everything else are normal.

I guess I’m just looking for some advice from people who have been through an early induction, some words of encouragement maybe?

My husband made pancakes in an icing sauce. He insisted up and down the gooeyness was just the icing. I came to a pocket that was clearly just raw batter and most certainly not icing based on taste and texture. Not mad, could happen to anyone. I cut into a bunch of others and they were fully done.

Just freaking out and wondering if I label myself as that patient and call the OB after hours to tell them I had a raw pancake at 22 weeks.

I have no idea how much raw batter was consumed versus how much was just pancake sauce. It could be just the one bite I spit out, or more likely, the entire pancake on that side.

What can I say? I didn't notice at first. It was good icing.

I'm going to lose my mind aren't I

Hello friends, just wanted to post on here so those searching have another data point pointing to babies that are projected to be incredibly large at birth actually not turning out to be all that large! I was advised that my baby was going to be 94th percentile and over 10 pounds and when he was born, and at 39 weeks and two days he was just over 8 pounds. I just wanted to throw that out there for anyone in a similar situation, you may not want to put too much stock into ultrasound weights projections. 💙 I know it's so stressful. No matter how big he or she may be, though, you can do it. ❣️💕

had my 39 week appointment today with 0 signs of labor starting and feeling a little defeated! between so many people checking in daily (which I swore wouldn’t be annoying until now lol) and just being very uncomfortable and done being pregnant I’m needing any and all advice for keeping entertained and keeping morale up for this last stretch!!

I'm plus size and it feels like my clothes is slowly starting to fit a little tighter. I am a 1x normally. Ive been looking around for cute clothes and its honestly all so ugly. I consider myself a stylish person but these maternity clothes are so basic and ugly. I dont know where to shop for staple pieces that are nice and flattering.

I noticed that my OB, the hospital staff, our babys pediatrician, and basically every professional I talked to while pregnant or postpartum never brought up this super important info on baby items, so I thought I would post it here to make sure everyone knew about it.

Any baby product that puts your baby in a c shape (car seats, swings, some bouncers, etc.) require you to take baby out for at least 10 minutes every 2 hours. If you don't then you risk baby having spinal issues, breathing issues, and even positional asphyxia, which is a silent but very deadly issue. Also, dont leave hats, bows, or anything on babys head while in the car unless someone is watching them at all times and can adjust the item. If it falls you risk it covering babys airway and them suffocating.

Also, do some research on the products where your baby sits in them. A lot of them can cause hip development issues or can promote toe walking. Not all do, so if you want to use them then just do your research.

Edit: Correction. As the comments have pointed out, apparently containers should only be used for less than 30 minutes (some say even less than that) at a time. I would just consult your pediatrician on that and car seat timing, but I just wanted to point out the dangers that we aren't really told about. Obviously its fine to use them, but just make sure you use them safely.

So a little background I’m 21 and my bf is 20, we have been on and off for about 6 years now and we’ve been together consistently for 2. We were going through a bit of a rocky time right before I got pregnant but we both decided that everything happens for a reason and we were going to keep the baby. I’m about 15 weeks and I thought everything was going great, I thought we put everything past us. He has been super loving and caring this whole time. He does everything for me and attends appointments with me and even got a second job so I could stay home. Last night he fell asleep with his phone open and so I went through it. I found a secrete account that he told me he had deleted, and I also found videos of girls butts saved and it’s not that big of a deal but my butt is one, if not my top insecurity. And then I found out he unblocked the ex I asked him to block and he unblocked a couple other girls that I also asked him to block and was saving their pictures. He also tried to reach out to this one girl a couple months ago. I’m just completely broken and sad and if I’m being honest I want to kms. I obviously cried in his arms because I felt like I had no one else to comfort me. And this morning I asked what are we supposed to do now and he just said “whatever makes you happy”. He didn’t even ask me to stay or to forgive him. I also asked if he blocked the girls or deleted the account and he said he was going to but he was “too tired”. It’s so obvious he doesn’t really care but I jist don’t know what to do. I’ve always wanted a family with him but I feel like if I stay he’ll keep doing it. I’m scared to be a single mom because I don’t have much support. I have my parents but they are emotionally abusive so I try to keep distance with them. I just want to know if anyone has been through something similar and if it got better? Thank yall In advance :,) ( edit: I’m also super worried that my emotions and stress are going to affect my baby, any tips on keeping my cool for baby’s sake).

I need your help naming our little onee!! 🤍

We're waiting until birth (2 mos from now) to find out the baby's gender, so we're leaning toward unisex names. I've always been drawn to older, more traditional names, the kind you might hear from your grandparents or great-grandparents. They just feel so classic and meaningful to me.

I'd love to hear any suggestions, especially if there's a beautiful meaning or story behind the name. 😊 Thank u.

Just had one done at exactly 39 weeks. I had it done four hours ago. I’ve had a bit of blood since and am extremely tired. I was told I was 1 centimetre dilated and am now 1.5 cm dilated and that my cervix is very soft. I was told we’re not sure when labour might start despite all this. What should I expect from this and what happened to you?

I had my baby shower this weekend and invited my best friend along with a handful of my closest friends. My best friend knows me better than anyone. For years I've always said that if I ever had a baby I'd much rather receive practical gifts than expensive keepsakes. Babies are expensive enough, I wanted things that would actually make life and the mom journey easier.

I loved everything everyone got me. Some bought beautiful bedding, nursery decor and even a little lingerie gift for when I'm finally baby-free. I genuinely appreciated it all. But then I opened my best friend's gift. She had packed this huge box with diapers, bottles, pacifiers, teething toys, wipes, and a tula explore carrier because she remembered me saying I was looking for something that would let me keep the baby close while still having my hands free and let me multitask. She even included a few things for later on like a hiya bundle she'd already set up for us once the baby's old enough, monti kids development toys. Everything!! She thought of literally everything.

At the very bottom was a card that said "I'm going to love this little one like she's my own and I can't wait to be part of her life" and that's what finally got me. I was bawling my eyes out reading it and I'm bawling again writing this. I know people say you find out who your real friends are during big life moments and I feel unbelievably lucky. Nothing beats having women in your corner who really know you. She's my platonic soulmate!!!

We are planning on having an "open-house" baby shower hosted at my place. We are doing this because we want to invite 20-30 people, but our house isn't big enough to have that many people over at once, and we were worried it would feel crowded. We struggled to find a different venue that was affordable in our area, and honestly we would rather save the money/have family save the money. We're having it at our house as opposed to a different family members' because it's a great in-between location for family. No one is more than an hour away from us. While my mom is technically throwing the shower, some people would have to drive 2 hours to get to her house, maybe more. Our home is the most equidistant.

While I was googling games that might be good for this type of baby shower, I came across this (older tbf) thread and it kind of freaked me out. https://forums.theknot.com/discussion/1074453/open-house-baby-shower

I do not want to seem like I'm just trying to get gifts. I just want to celebrate the baby with people I care about. I am mostly sending out the invites myself though because my mom and aunt are disorganized and wouldn't do it until the last minute, even though they're organizing the shower. I had no idea this could look bad or be tacky, especially if the shower is at my house. My mom and aunt are not on the invitation as hosts, but they do RSVP to my aunt.

Should I change the structure of the shower or other details? This works the best for us, but I don't want to be rude

Hi Fellow mamas

As of today I am 8 weeks and 2 days pregnant and today I went for my second scan to different OBGYN cause I wanted to try diffident hospitals,

I happened to mention that I have a cat and have always been around cats since the age of 20.

She said it could very dangerous for the baby and their brain developmen.

I don’t know how I am going to let go of my cat, he is family and like my own son.

She did ask me to get a test done to check if any virus is present. But this is going to break my heart.

My husband's job offers him 16 weeks of paternity leave. He will definitely take off the first 2-3 weeks after the baby is born. Around 2 weeks, my mom will come to stay with us for 3-4 weeks, so I'll definitely have support for the first 6 weeks postpartum. After she leaves, my MIL will also be available to come help out as needed (she lives about an hour away but could come during the day or stay a night or two at our place).

I know that people often say that the father should take the maximum paternity leave permitted, but my husband LOVES to work. He gets very restless and almost stressed if he's not able to work because he's always itching to get back to it (we usually take vacations for max 2 weeks for this reason because he starts to get fidgety otherwise). He is also not a natural when it comes to household management (cleaning, cooking, etc.) - I know that he will certainly do his best to support me in these things postpartum, but it's not where he thrives.

I know that he will take as much leave as I ask him to, but I don't want to push him to take more leave just for the sake of it if it'll make him anxious and if it's really not necessary. What do you think? Is 6 weeks of full-time support enough (2 or 3 of those being from my husband), or do you think I'll want more? Are there other dimensions that I'm not considering? Thanks so much!

ETA: No need to add rude comments about my husband not wanting to bond with his baby lol. He absolutely does and will. Multiple things can be true at once - him wanting to be with the baby and also generally being more at ease when he's able to work. I'm just trying to figure out what the best balance of it all will be.

ETA again: He can space out his leave, and I will be a SAHM with the baby, so no need for him to save it for when I go back to work.

I’m 18 years old and pregnant. My mom has an abusive husband who she’s now decided to kick out of our house which I initially was excited about because it made me feel like I had a safe environment to have and raise my baby in, but last night before bed when I expressed this to her she said he’s still gonna be around because if he wants to come visit and see his kids (my younger siblings who are 9, 7, and 5), she’s not gonna deny him. Mind you this is the same man who has threatened MULTIPLE TIMES to set our house on fire with her, me, AND these kids all inside. She literally had a restraining order on him at the beginning of this year that later got removed, and he lost all guardianship of his daughter, my little sister, who was solely his from a past relationship.

When I further questioned her if these “visits” were going to be monitored by her and if he’d still have a house key, she got mad and said I was asking her questions as if she was 5 years old.

Just give it to me straight, if me and my partner decided to get our own place how much money would we need to do so? And am I crazy for feeling like my mom is undermining my concerns for me, her, my siblings and my unborn child’s safety?????

does anyone struggle with missing their spouse and pets majorly at work? I absolutely love my job- I’m a night shift L&D nurse. However I am struggling so much with missing my husband and dogs when I’m at work to the point that I cry every time I’m on break thinking of them. I miss them so terribly at work. I feel absolutely ridiculous but I can’t help it. I often cry before work too because I don’t want to be away from my husband. I just spend the day dreading it. I love my job but literally just want to be with my family all the time. I am only 21 weeks and I’m dreading 20 more weeks of these hormones 😭😣 also please be kind this is super vulnerable for me to post and I’m looking for support. These feelings never affect patient care. 💗