OT - My Wife is Pregnant with Our First
Just found out this week that my wife is pregnant with our first - about 5 weeks along. We are are both very excited.
Basically we have 9 months until our lives change drastically - I am wondering what kind of advice everyone has to give. Any and all advice on everything is appreciated - I am wondering how to plan on the following:
1. FInancial?
2. Books to read or classes to take?
3. Things we should do together before the baby comes?
4. Etc.
Thanks in advance as I know that there is no better place for parenting advice than MGoBlog. Any wisdom, no matter how large or how small, is appreciated.
Also - there are a few ppl that read this board that know me personally. Please don't tell anyone about this piece of information as we are waiting until next month to break the news to family etc. (thanks)
Also, to make this relevant to your interests, I plan on being a helicopter parent and my child will certainly be a highly ranked QB or RB, if a boy. If a girl then she will be a highly touted academic out of high school and will most likely be a nobel prize winning economist. Either way they will both go to Michigan, guaranteed.
Go Blue!
January 16th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
Get as much sleep as you can now. You will miss it dearly. RABACK IT.
Also, congrats!
January 16th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
it doesn't have to be that way and there really is no reason it should. marriage is for life, and that means the beautiful/fun/great parts too.
January 16th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
Change/feed the baby, sleep, sex - choose two.
January 16th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
i mean, our kids are going to have nap time until they're you know, like 18 or 20....
January 16th, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
with an EUTM!!!
Congrats!!!
January 16th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 7:31 PM ^
January 17th, 2016 at 3:28 AM ^
Having kids is one of the best things in life. It's amazing how much you can love someone you have never meet before but as soon as you see him or her you will love and do anything for them. Once again congratulations and remember that you love her when she wakes you up in the middle of the night wanting Velveeta Shells and cheese with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:05 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 8:05 PM ^
So, that means your kids will getr through sophomore year of undergrad?
I keed, I keed. Well done. Fuck college tuition these days.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
My boy has more fun pulling wipes out of the box and playing with half empty water bottles.
I smiled at the word picture you painted here. That's wonderful.
January 16th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^
Instead of using baby wipes to clean baby's bottom, use a wet Bounty paper towel. Bounty is soft and much cheaper.
Instead of a bassinet, use a laundry basket lined with a soft bath towel on the bottom, covered with a cloth diaper. If baby spits up change the cloth diaper liner. A bath towel is firmer than a mattress so baby is less likely to smother when sleeping on it's stomach. BTW, pediatricians recommend that babies sleep on their stomach to minimize the chance of choking when they spit up.
Lay the laundry basket on the floor and you won't have to worry about it tipping over. If you need to move the baby, you can pick up the laundry basket without waking up the baby.
When baby outgrows the laundry basket, you can use it for it's original intended purpose instead of having a bassinet to store away or dispose of.
Put dirty diapers in grocery store plastic produce bags, squeeze out the air, and tie them in a knot before throwing them in the trash. The plastic bags will keep the odor in the bags.
January 16th, 2016 at 3:39 PM ^
Ahhh yes, the trick baby. We had one as well. Not only does it trick you into Baby #2, but it also tricks you into believing you're the best parent alive!
January 16th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
Enjoy the ride! The milestones are so awesome, the first teeth, the first time they crawl, stand, step, ride a bike....
January 16th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
Agreed, a changing table is a huge help! My father-in-law built a frame to fit a changing table pad and attached it to the top of the dresser we were going to use in the nursery. So it does double duty and we kept diapers and wipes in one of the drawers in the early months when there aren't a ton of clothes to cram in there.
January 16th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
The changing table is a must and the video monitor is awesome. I get a kick out of watching my little guy sleep and seeing all the crazy positions he gets into. It also comes in handy to help gauge if they really need something when they are crying in the middle of the night. If he's still laying down sleeping I let him be, but if he's up and reaching for the door something's up.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
Yes, the blog finds out before our family - can't tell anyone yet it's too early. Supposedly you should wait until 12 weeks or so.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^
back your wife and enjoy the pregnancy. always thought my wife was the most beautiful preggers gal on the planet.
good first two books are: what to expect when you're expecting, followed by, what to expect the first year. they're more for her, but you should read some of it too.
if possible never ask your wife work away from your child(ren). her love and nurture are worth more than any paycheck. bypass debt if at all possible.
nursing is the best for baby, lots of studies show this. added benefit, you don't come equiped with a dairy bar so other than retrieving junior at feeding time, you can go back to sleep.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^
and they work here plenty hard. also, whether its a mom or a dad, as long as they see and learn to model diligence and competence at work, that is what is critical.
January 16th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
Ha, dairy bar! After seeing the plethora of "You won't ever sleep again" comments I figured there must not be a lot of breastfeeding MGoWives out there. My husband definitely gets a pretty regular amount of sleep because we chose to go the breastfeeding route.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^
Enjoy this time together as yes, your life will change forever but in a wonderful way. An excellent book for you both to read is "What to expect when you're expecting ". Also, don't be surprised if your wife is even more amorous then normal, and unless your doctor says otherwise, go for it with an EUTM. Be very nice and pampering to your wife and enjoy this blessed time as yes, sleep will be at a premium in less than 8 months.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
We didn't really take any classes so I don't have any advice there.
I'd say go out to a lot of dinners, movies, etc because you won't be able to do so regularly for a long time.
Lastly, if you decide you want a second child wait at least a year or 2 before you let that happen. My kids are 13 months apart and that's just too damn close. People keep telling me it'll get better soon, but I have yet to experience it.
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
I can give starting out is to give me names, phone numbers and pictures of both of your female relatives. This includes sisters and cousins etc in the age vicinity of 27 to 35. From there we can move forward with ease and understanding. By having this information and possibly taking these women on dates I'll be better able to understand how to help you two out with your childhood planning.
Edit, yeah that's creepy, just buy a nice crib with a 32" and dvd player mounted to it somehow. That should help out quite a bit later on. All I got.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
SLEEP NOW!! These little wonderful creatures are time consuming.
Also:
You can have the perfect birth plan, but in crunch time don't be surprised if the baby has other ideas. We had to have a c-section when my wife was planning on having a natural birth. Thank God we did because the chord was wrapped 3 times around my daughters neck. She was perfectly fine but she wasn't coming vaginally or withoug drugs.
Try not to worry so much, people have been having kids for a long time and an idiot can figure out how to take care of a child (at least the basics).
Also, if you are going to do a 3-d ultrasound to see the baby make sure to ask where the placenta is at the first ultrasound. We paid $120.00 only to find out that the placenta was in the way.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
re: the birth plan. I've seen many couples get so focused on the pristine birth plan, they've lost sight of what is ultimately important. That is, having a healthy baby. They'll spend months and months fixating and stressing about the proper music, chants, water birth, whatever... but when push comes to shove, if the baby has a nuchal cord and needs to come out (or any other alternative plans) they need to come, whether or not the incense has been lit.
January 16th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
January 16th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
Great advice - SLEEP is the #1 piece of advice I have been getting from everyone, not just here!
January 16th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
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January 16th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
Surprisingly getting pregnant isn't as easy as some ppl think - My wife was obsessed with Ovulation kits etc and it took us about 6 months. Not everyone is Antonio Cromartie Good luck - Your wife (and you) will be excited when your blitz finally hits home!
Plus, the whole baby making thing is kind of fun lol.