MamaBookworm

How can a midwife or doctor detect if the baby is acynclic (head's in a bad position for birthing)? Could this be discovered by palpating the mother's belly? Would an ultrasound machine be able to detect this in labor? What are ways to help the baby out of this position, other than cesarean section?

My husband and I are considering traveling around July 4 weekend from our home in Baltimore County, Maryland to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cost is a big factor, but so is time (driving/vacation time) and comfort (I will be about 5 1/2 months pregnant and we have a toddler). Would it be better to fly and get a rental (cost), drive (motel/gas/drive time), or take a train and get a rental (time, cost)? Any and all positive advice is welcome. Thanks!

We need to replace our 2000 Dodge Caravan minivan. It'd be nice to find something that is more fuel efficient. I need something that will be inexpensive to buy (under $10,000, preferably lower) and maintain (low insurance, repairs, etc.) We currently have a toddler but we'd like to have more children eventually. I don't know much about hatchbacks, wagons, and sedans, nor SUVs. Need advice ASAP. Thanks!

My husband and I are in the market for a used car, preferably a sedan (we've done the mini-van thing and we want a gas sipper this time). We were considering a Toyota Camry or Prius, but now with the recalls, we are not sure what to get. What about the Honda Accord? What are makes and models that have good mileage, good cost of ownership (i.e., it won't cost us an arm and a leg to maintain), and excellent safety? We need a car that is safe and affordable, preferably under $10,000 as we are on a tight budget.

Our lease is up end of April and we are considering moving to a bigger apartment closer to my parents (and my work). We have a toddler at home and really want a place with a W/D in unit, as our current place doesn't have that. We don't know if we should try to get a 2BR or just get a bigger 1BR with a den (or at least more space) and a W/D in unit. I called one place today and they said we'd have to wait a year to upgrade to a bigger apt. Would it save enough much money to have a W/D in unit instead of using the laundromat to make it worth it to just move to a bigger 1BR with W/D?

My husband and I are considering moving to a larger apartment. We'd really like a 2BR or 3BR with a washer/dryer in the apartment. We want a 2BR or 3BR because we have a toddler and would like more space and for her to have her own room and/or me to have an office (in case my employer ever lets us telework). Our current 1BR apartment is maybe 660 sq.ft., it doesn't have a washer/dryer, and the on-site laundry is poorly priced and insufficient. I'd also like to move closer to my job and my parents. My parents are willing to help with the cost, but we are not sure if the timing is good. Should we stick it out where we are now or get a new apartment? Thanks for your suggestions.

My husband is a stay-at-home dad to our toddler and I work full time. We live in a $750/mo. 1BR apartment. It's not that close to my work, and we've looked at another apartment complex with 3BR townhouses closer to my job. But, we are also thinking about buying a house (townhouse/condo/single family home - not sure which kind). We don't have much money saved up (still recovering from the maternity leave from August 2008 - two extra weeks at only 60% of my pay after c-section). My dad says first-time home buyers can get mortgages that help with that. If I were to get pregnant again, would it be better if we were renting or owned our own home?

1. Which bulb do I need to get?

2. How do I replace it?

Thanks!

I am trying to think of pros and cons of the multi-generational household, i.e., grandparents, parents, children all living under one roof. What are some good reasons you can say for moving back in in a tight economy, besides finances?

At a little over nine-months-old, my daughter is 21-22 lbs. and 27 inches. The car seat limit for weight is 22 lbs. and length limit is 29 inches, so we are in the process of shopping for a convertible car seat for her, but we are not sure if we should get one that has a 40-50 lb.-limit or if we should try for one that has a bigger limit. Advice, please? Thanks!

My husband took our Dodge Caravan to get the front driver's side strut tower checked - it has rust - the mechanic said he could put caps on for $500-800 ($300-400 if we provided the kit). Best source for the cap? Dealer or online?

The mechanic who did the alignment said I needed to get the left front strut replaced on my 2000 Dodge Caravan because the cover is rusty and the strut is starting to corrode. The auto body shop the mechanic recommended wants to charge $1,452.08 for the whole job. We're getting a second opinion from a AAA-approved shop. How much should this reasonably cost and how could we fix it ourselves - what would that cost/require?

Should I get my tires balanced and rotated first or aligned first? Does it matter?

How can I find an affordable apartment that offers floors instead of wall-to-wall carpeting in the Baltimore area? I am concerned about the potential allergens and toxins that could be trapped in the carpeting - not to mention the difficulty with spills.

Do I or don't I own my own medical records? You'd think that, since the information is about me, I should own it, but for some reason whenever I want to change doctors they want to charge me a copying fee. I don't get it, and it seem so unethical.

I am trying to decide what to do about getting a doula for my birth in August. We don't have a lot of money, and we are considering using the DONA-trained doulas who are Johns Hopkins School of Nursing students taking this as an elective through the Birth Companions program (and so the cost is free). However, I am also considering two acquaintances of mine (friends from my growing up years, recommended by another friend) who have some training. One is apprentice to a home birth midwife and the other has ALSACE certification. Could I have some opinions on the difference between ALSACE and DONA doulas, and on how much certification really matters? Thanks.

I am trying to decide whether or not it's worth getting the cost to get bodywork done on my used Dodge Caravan before I try to trade it in or sell it. There's a small dent on the side door (doesn't affect using the door). My speedometer stopped working, too, on the same day the van stalled out on me on my way home. Would Pep Boys (or something like that) be a good place to get the speedometer fixed? I'm also trying to decide if it's even worth trying to sell or trade in the van, with the cost of gas and a baby (our first) on the way. Thanks for your input.

My husband and I are having our first baby in August, and we are trying to decide if we want to use a doula. We don't have much money to spare, even though we're using Special Beginnings birth center in Arnold, MD. The midwives there told us about the Hopkins Birth Companions Program, a free service of the JHU School of Nursing, described in http://www.son.jhmi.edu/JHNmagazine/archive/fall20... Could anyone tell me if you've used a doula from this program? Or can anyone advise an alternative? Thank you for your help.

Should we stick with our current apt. or consider moving? We're expecting our first child in late August. After thinking about costs - including my reduced income for at least two weeks during maternity leave - and looking in our area (NW Baltimore County) a bit, hubby and I decided to renew our lease on our 1BR aprt. (rent going up from $725 to $747, incl. free gas) instead of trying to find a larger 2BR apt., and save for a security deposit for a larger apt. or a down payment for a condo/house (depending on the housing market) for next year. I feel really sad, though, since I would really like more space (especially storage space) so that I can set up a home office to work from home part time instead of having to commute downtown by Metro and leave the baby. We looked recently in Owings Mills at a lovely 2BR (except kitchen was smaller than ours) for $871, no utilities included. I don't think we can afford more than $850. Any good, inexpensive apt.s near Light Rail or Metro? Thanks.

I know that if my husband and I stay with my obstetrician's office, we won't be billed for the second visit etc. until after our baby's born, but if we change from my OB's practice to using a midwife or a birth center, will we be billed for everything by the OB's office when we switch? We're concerned because our money is really tight right now and during the last two visits, with two different doctors (6 in the practice and I'd have to see them all), we had an ultrasound and a Doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat and I learned last week that ultrasounds aren't cheap (I don't know about the Doppler). We do have insurance, but I'm not sure how much they'll cover for this. Anyone who can advise from experience or professional knowledge, please do. Thank you!