littlebit0863

My 18 month old (vaccinated) was diagnosed with chicken pox today. I have a 4 year old who received the 12 month vaccination, but not the 4 year old vaccination. (he just turned 4.) I left the doctor without asking, and now they are closed. How likely it is that he ill contract chicken pox? He is not sick at all, but I'm not sure if I should pull him from daycare or his weekend activities (risk of infecting other kids.) I know they are contagious a few days before the spots appear. Thanks!

My son was born at 31 weeks and came home at 6 weeks old. I had time to recuperate at home after my c-section because the baby was in NICU and I didn't do any of the typical first time mom things. (All first dr. visits, vaccinations, etc. were done in hospital.) I never gave him a bath until he was about 3 or 4 weeks old and could maintain his temperature, and all baby care was done under the watchful eye of a nurse. I never even saw his umbilical cord because he was always so snugly wrapped up the first few weeks.

Now I am having another c-section and freaking out, feeling that I have no idea how to care for a newborn. I feel like a first time mom, only I have a toddler as well to slow me down.

Did any other moms of preemies feel this way?

Here is a little backstory: My husband recently lost his job and got a new one. He works in the refinery field and at this time of year not many people are hiring. He asked his boss for a few days off while I have a c-section, and his boss told him one day and one day only. This is non-negotiable and he works in a field where people have and will been fired for less.

We have struggled for money the last year and I have no insurance. I have no official doctor, I just go to the county hospital OB clinic, where they have generous payment plans but no real doctor/patient relationships. I just see whoever is available. I had arranged to have my baby on a Friday via c-section, hubby would take off that day, be off work on Sat/Sun, and then the following week on Monday & Tues my mom & mother in law would take turns off work to help me out with myself, the new baby, and our 2 1/2 year old.

Well at my last dr. appt the doctor told me the OR was overbooked on the Friday that I scheduled and they moved me to the following Monday. The hospital will not reschedule my appointment. I talked to several people and they all basically told me the same thing. Show up to the appointment, or wait until I'm in labor and show up then and hope there is an OR available. Keep in mind this is a busy county hospital where it is not unheard of for ladies to have babies in hallways because of overcrowding.

Having a baby on this particular Monday ruins everything as far as helping out with me and with my 2 year old son. Those extra 2 vital days that my husband could have been off work (weekend) are gone, and with really no one to fill in. So I am considering now just waiting until I'm in labor and just showing up at my more local hospital and doing a vbac. My local hospital will not perform a non-emergency c-section if you don't have insurance, but for what they charge for a vaginal birth is about what I was preparing to pay for a c-section at the county hospital.

Like I said, I don't have a doctor, so I have no one to discuss the benefits or risks with, only what I have learned on google. I am just so frustrated and am not sure what to do.

Oh, and I realize that of course I could go into labor at any time, including on a Monday, but if I was in my own time and had less of a recovery period I was thinking maybe it would be easier. I remember with my first c-section I had the baby on Monday, got out on Thurs, but was in no fit condition to do anything until at least Sunday. I just don't have a week's worth of help right now.

Sorry so long, thanks for any advice!

I'm ashamed to say it, but I have spoiled the heck out of my 2 year old son, and now he runs all over me. He is afraid of his grandma, who he listens to intently, but me, he will throw tantrums like there's no tomorrow. Time out works, but I feel like sometimes he is in time out all day. I am having another baby in November, and I know things are bound to get worse. Does anyone have any advice to turn me into a lean, mean, discipline machine and not a softy marshmallow mom? Thanks in advance!

Trying to narrow down the list a little. :-) The middle name for these would be Ann, that is set in stone. Please vote for however many you like.

Abigail

Allison

Audrey

Bree

Callie

Camille

Chloe

Erin

Kaley

Laci

Phoebe

Rachel

Zoe

Thanks so much!!

My baby just had his first birthday, and we recently switched from formula to whole milk. The problem is, he wakes up several times a night now. He seems hungry, because he sucks down his whole milk bottle and then fusses for more. I don't want to actually feed him in the middle of the night, and he goes to bed pretty early, around 8 pm. Will he just get used to this? I don't want to give him more than 8 oz. of milk at a time, because then he gets gas. Help! Even if I am being completely stupid about something, I'd like to know because I am a first time mom and I am not sure what to do here!

Not literally of course, lol. My baby was 9 weeks premature and is now 10 1/2 mos. old. He weighs about 20 lbs, but is on the short side and still wears size 6-9 mos. clothes. The dr. at the last check up told me he is small, but not too small for a normal baby his size, which is the first time I've ever been told that, so yay!

I can't figure out where he is developmentally, and the dr. wasn't much help. He just told me all babies are different. Mine eats anything you put in front of him (regular adult food), no interest in baby food, and has interest in feeding himself with a spoon, although not very well. He has NO interest in using a sippy cup or drinking liquids other than formula or a little water. When he is very sleepy I have a lot of trouble getting him to hold his own bottle.

He crawls, and can stand holding onto things, but doesn't pull himself up yet. He plays with toys, but can't seem to grasp spacial concepts. (has a lot of trouble putting things into containers.) He also doesn't hold onto any toys that you sit on or ride.

He says Mama and Dada and knows that is who we are, but no other words or pointing.

Does he sound like a 10 month old to you guys? I have been adjusting his age 2 mos. back for so long, and I will be so excited if he can just be his real age now!

My baby is nearly 6 mos. old now and is sick for the first time in his life. He was a preemie, so is 4 mos. adjusted. When they are in NICU, RSV warning signs are drilled in to you as the worst thing that could possibly happen. So on Thursday night, my baby's congestion was bad, fever spiked to 103 under the arm, he was crying, fussing, and batting at his ears. I thought he had an ear infection at best, RSV at worst. The dr. told me to bring him in the office in the morning, but I thought I knew better. I gave him some baby Tylenol, squeegeed his nose until it was as empty as empty can be, and then drove him 30 miles to the children's hospital in Houston. (No, a local hospital just wouldn't do.)

When we got there, I was half hysterical, and all things had changed. He was smiling, breathing better, and blowing spit bubbles, with no fever. Of course I waited forever to be seen for all of 5 min. and told he has a cold.

I was so embarrassed. Of course the nurses and dr. told me that this happens with first time moms a lot.

Who else has a dumb mommy freak out story?

My baby is 5 mos. old, 3 mos adjusted. He is nowhere near sleeping through the night. He wakes about 2 or 3 times to take a bottle. All in all, I'd say he eats about every 3 hours. Everyone I know who has a 3 month old says they are starting to sleep through the night, wondering if mine ever will?!

On the pedi's instructions, I have started giving him a small bowl of rice cereal at night, but it doesn't help him sleep any longer.

He also absolutely will not take more than 4 oz. at a time.

I remember when my handsome boy was in the hospital, of course I felt so frustrated. Eating, not eating, apnea, no apnea. Going home, nevermind, he's staying... etc. I thought he would never come home. Well now he's been home 2 1/2 months, and he is my world, but the newness, has worn off, we're in a routine, and I'm frustrated again. I know he is 2 months behind other babies, I told myself he would be from the beginning, but... ugh! My sister's baby is 5 weeks older than him and crawling, beginning to pull herself up, and eating so many solids. Mine doesn't even hold things yet. He barely sits up on my lap. The dr. assures me he's right on track w/two month old babies in size and developement milestones, but he's nearly 5 months old, and I have a hard time dealing with it! Besides, when I study websites I never know whether to put his true age or adjusted. I feel like there's not that many resources for preemie moms, or I just can't find them.

I guess this is yahoo vent today, I love my baby, but wanted to know if anyone has dealt with this particular situation?

My coworker just had a full term baby that is 7lbs 14 inches tall. My 31 week preemie was 15 inches! This seems extremely short for a baby! Has anyone had a baby that short? I don't mean to sound rude or stupid, but it just seems so short! The mother is somewhere around 5'3, the father somewhere around 5'8. Thanks!

Mine is only 3 mos. old, so I have a little while to go, but I have lots of friends w/babies ranging from newborn to 6 mos. and we all started talking about birthday parties. I have zero interest in having him a first birthday party, and they looked at me like I was the devil himself.

I think little kid birthdays are so boring, and I've heard more than one person say they have to go that way ppl will go to theirs, and that's how you get presents.

I would rather have a fun family outing, buy my little guy a cupcake, and buy him presents myself. What does a one year old baby care about the clothes he'll get?

Did anyone else not throw their kid a first birthday party?

Now who knows, in 7 mos. you may see me toddling around in a clown costume or something, but for right now it's a no.

I recently got an IJ line put in my neck. When they took it out, it left a scar and a small lump of scar tissue. This was two months ago. Yesterday I woke up and it was very itchy and very red. No open cuts or wounds at all on it. It is not swollen, just red and itchy. I have no insurance, so I don't really want a $75 dr. visit if it's nothing. Has anyone had anything like this before? I put peroxide on it and it didn't bubble, but the itching is driving me nuts!

Last Sunday, my 2 month old stayed at his nana's house, and came home with an upset tummy. Sunday night and all day Monday, and then Monday night he had diarrhea pretty bad, no vomiting. After giving him pedialyte on dr's orders, he was fine, but he got a very sore bottom. I've been using Boudreaux's butt cream since last Monday, and it's healed a little, but there are still two very raw spots. Needless to say, every toot, poop, and diaper change is a screaming match. Is there something that works better? When I clean him I just sort of gently wipe him and then pat dry, same with baths.

My son is nearly 2 mos old, born at 31 weeks in May. This Saturday would have been my due date. Today I got my first post-baby period. I've been taking BC for 3 weeks, so it was expected. As soon as I got it, though, I felt this huge wave of disappointment. I just kind of thought, "It's over." It's like all of a sudden I missed my pregnancy. And then I looked at my co-worker who is 8 mos. pregnant and got super jealous that I never got to be 8 mos or 9 mos pregnant. I was barely showing when I had my son. I never got to waddle or have people make obnoxious comments. I dreaded those things, but now I miss them!

So does any of that make sense? I tried explaining it to my husband but he says I have lost my mind.

My little boy is 7 weeks old. I took exactly one week off after my c-section and then went back to work. The standard time allowed to take off is 5 weeks, but I wanted to save it for when my son came home. I work for a very small company, only 4 employees. When my son came home from the hospital after 6 weeks (preemie) my boss told me I can have 2 weeks off and then come back. His reasoning is the 5 weeks is for physical recovery, and I chose to do my physical recovery at work. I'm pretty angry about that, despite liking my job in general. Since my co. has under 50 employees, I am not protected under FMLA guidelines. And even if I were, Texas law states that an employer doesn't have to tell an employee why they are fired. Basically, if I don't go back to work this Monday, I'm fired.

I just haven't had enough time with my son! My boss acts like he's been a saint all along, letting me have half days off here and there to meet with doctors, so I know more time off is out of the question! I'm seriously considering quitting and just being a stay at home mom for a while, but my husband is totally against it.

He thinks we'll never make it on his income, which I know that we will, bc my dad makes less than he does and still has 3 kids living at home, 2 in college! They are also paying for a house and 4 vehicles and they make it! I told my husband that we will have to cut back a bit, but we'll make it. He is upset, because he just got hired from a temp to a permanent positition with his company, with insurance, and we recently put a down payment with builders, and should close on a new home by November. He feels that all these good things are happening, our lives are finally in order, and now I am wanting to risk it all.

When I got pregnant, we both agreed that I would continue working, and he says it's not fair for me to change my mind. Also, he works 12 hour days in the sun, and he thinks it's unfair that he should have to do that with me not working at all.

When I go back to work, we will luckily have free child care. His mom and my mom have both refused any money and are dying to watch our son on alternating weeks, so I can't use childcare costs as an issue. Also, his mom babysits other children, and my mom babysits my niece, so our son will be well socialized and cared for at their homes. Also, our son has no special needs despite being a preemie, so those are not excuses either.

One thing that's not helping my case, is it just hit me today that I've got 2 days left of "freedom" before heading back to work. The past two weeks have been a blur of night feedings, exhaustion, playing with my Cooper, enjoying my time with him, and basically getting in the groove of things. I have not really straightened the house up or cooked a decent meal since the baby's been home. Sad to say, the baby's naptimes have been with me on Yahoo! Answers looking up questions about newborns! So I haven't exactly acted the model housewife...

Any suggestions on getting hubby to come around? Or am I just being completely selfish? I just love my baby and don't want to leave him! I would be working 42 hours a week, and cutting my hours at this particular job is out of the question. I could start looking for a part time job, but I would have to quit my job to look, as our lunch breaks are restricted to an hour, and that rule is pretty strict.

Thanks for any advice!

I love it when I make my baby stop crying. Of course I don't make him cry or let him cry for long periods of time, but if he wakes up in the night crying and I go get him out of his bassinette, cuddle him close, and wipe his tears, and he snuggles up to me and quiets down, it's the best feeling in the world! I have only had him home a week after 6 weeks in the hospital, but I look forward to the nighttime feedings so I can comfort him!

I hope I'm not a mascochist (sp?) to my child or something weird like that, I just like the fact that all he wants in the world is me.

My son is going to get his 2 month shots next week, and I saw the list of the vaccines. All of them seem like things I definitely want done, except the flu vaccine. That, I am on the fence about. My baby only weighs less than 7 lbs. right now (preemie) and the thought of him getting the flu from the vaccine scares me. I've spent time scouring the internet for pro and con advice, and I'd like to hear from real moms as well.

My 6 week old preemie is coming home from the hospital this evening! I'm excited, but very nervous! I just realized in a panic that I don't have nursery water and ran out to get some. Last night I woke up crying because I don't have a rocking chair and there is one in the NICU. I had a terrible fear that he would be unable to sleep without a rocking chair. Then I had a terrible fear that he would be very scared in a new place and have an apnea episode out of fear. (He hasn't had an episode in 8 days and they are all self-resolved so he won't be on a monitor.) As you can see, I'm a nervous wreck! I *think* I have everything I need. Any last minute things I should buy or advice? Thanks!

My baby has been in NICU and then level 2 nursery since he was born 6 weeks ago. He is now about to be released on Tuesday. Obviously, I will ask the doctor and nurses for specific discharge info, but it's late at night and I'm curious about what his eating schedule will be like at home.

He was born 3 lbs. 4 oz. At the moment he is 6 lbs 2 oz. He eats Similac Advance w/iron (it says for conditions such as prematurity on the can), 2 oz. every 3 hours. I know most 6 week old babies probably eat a few more ounces, but most 6 week olds aren't 6 pounds.

I know I'll keep him on a 3 hour schedule for a while, but how will I know when he is ready to drink more ounces? The whole feed on demand thing doesn't work right now with him. We already have to wake him up for most of his feedings. Rather than cry when he's hungry, he'll conserve energy and just lose weight. He also constantly tries to reject bottles, he's pretty new to the whole eating thing.

Did any preemie moms worry about this? How did you resolve your fears, and know that your baby is being fed enough and ready to move up? Will he just snap to it and start telling me he's still hungry?

He's a very quiet baby, RARELY cries (I've only heard it once in 6 weeks), and so that makes me even more worried!

Thanks!