More questions for mom! (And dads, and anyone with opinions...) Plus, shameless promotion.

[ellenmillion]

It's finally warm! Like, above zero!

I have been hesitant to put the carseat base actually IN the car, because it's made of plastic, and the last thing I want to do is crack it trying to buckle it in at 30 below. (Though really, you do have to hope that it doesn't become brittle at these temperatures - have they actually been tested for such extremes??)

Anyway, I'm actually doing the hospital bag packing now, and eyeing the carseat. Where do you like to put it? Behind you for ease of installing baby? Or behind the passenger seat so you can turn and look at them without going all Exorcist? (I am not daft enough to put her in the front seat, or in the far back. I'm new to this, but not stupid.)

And what sorts of things did you most appreciate having in your hospital bag? Anything you didn't use at all and wish you hadn't brought?

We continue to be dead stumped on a middle name we both like, so if you have suggestions for a name to go with Elsa, I'd like to hear them. Many will be eliminated because our first criteria is that it can't show up in either of our families, I don't want it to be too similar to mine (Marie) because Elsa is already somewhat like Ellen, and I don't want to know anyone with the name. (And I don't have to tell you to be nice, do I? I've been warned that this is a contentious subject, but I'm going to trust you not to be jerks to each other.)

Internet and phone are miraculously back, and I called to cancel the technical support! I suspect something weird was going on in the lines due to the fact that it's warmed up 50 degrees in the last day or so.

A tad more energy today. Dishes now, and maybe some writing. Lots of Torn World administrative schtuff accomplished today, waiting on one response to mail out the contest ballots.

Oh! I've been nominated for some Rose and Bay awards! Torn World and EMG-Zine are contenders in Other Projects, Edward Cammarota is nominated for his support of Torn World, EMG-Zine and Sketch Fest under Patrons, Sketch Fest and my Prompted Abstracts are up in Art, and Torn World is also nominated in Poetry. Lots of awesome creative nominees; I recommend browsing the other entries, too - you can vote for more than one! You may also want to check out Webcomics or Fiction.

Comments

middle name

[edward cammarota (from livejournal.com)]

Rose........Elsa Rose just sounds so cute.

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

Heh! Funny, I came to post a comment, and Rose was on my list too. :D

... though the word occurs in Ellen's post, and maybe that's why.

[edward cammarota (from livejournal.com)]

Rose is my moms name, but I thought it was fate/coincidence that it was listed here also. :-) :-) :-)

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

I think it's a lovely name; it's always been one of my favorites!

[lepi.livejournal.com]

That's very amusing, I came back to post a name that occurred to me last night, and you guessed it....Rose! :)

it just sounds very nice with Elsa :)

[jenny_evergreen]

I was going to offer Rose as well; it's the middle name we would have given the daughter we never had!

Re: middle name

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Rose is just beautiful... this is near the top of my list.

Re: middle name

[edward cammarota (from livejournal.com)]

Woo Hoo

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

Elsa Diane?
Elsa Rose?
Elsa Lynne?
Elsa Kay?
Elsa Renee?
Elsa Dawn?

... I spend ages trying to name mere characters or pets; I'd be so doomed if I had to settle on a name for an actual child. :D

[hailerro.livejournal.com]

Random, but you spelled Lynne with an 'e' at the end (the same way my Mom does!) and I think that's awesome!

[yasha-chan.livejournal.com]

My suggestions for middle names are Adele, Alexis, Irene, Karina, Laura, Sophie/Sophia. I tried to pick things that aren't too over the top but also culturally similar

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the imminent pregnancy, if I understand this right!

Middle names? Um hmm. Elsa Beth? >_>

[pers1stence.livejournal.com]

use your last name as her middle name?

[flutterbychild.livejournal.com]

Elsa Michelle?

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

They sometimes won't let you eat before you deliver and you starve. So I recommend some crackers or other food. Yeah, you might throw it up later, but frankly, it gets tough when you're starving too.

Shampoo and soap are a must. A robe is very nice. If you can't sleep with light, an eye mask. toothbrush, hairbrush and changes of underwear. slippers are nice. I personally don't worry about makeup in those situations. Music to listen to can be nice (so mp3 or ipod or whatever). Sweatpants. A nursing shirt if you're going to nurse if you have one. And something to sleep in that isn't a hospital gown.

That's all that comes to mind right now. It's been almost 8 years since my last one, so . . .

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

The car seat is really best on the passenger side. That's because when you park on a street, you can stand on the sidewalk to get the baby in and out and you don't have to worry about traffic. We tried it on the driver's side and real quick changed it. The middle sucks because it hurts your back to try to reach in and out.

one other thing. If you have long hair, take something to tie it back with in labor. It gets really frustrating to have it down.

And as someone said below, the nipple cream is a good idea. Also, for baby bottoms, Aloe desitin is wonderful. It's creamy and does amazing things when the baby has a rash.

[jenny_evergreen]

On this note, they can be real sticklers about the food thing and you are rarely alone, so I HIGHLY recommend having a nice meal before you go in as well. If your labor goes on for a long time, you'll end up hungry, but at least you are good for a while!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Food! 17 hours on average for labor and they wouldn't let me eat??? That's a recipe for absolute disaster... I get woozy after a few hours without a snack! When I'm NOT doing something strenuous.

Thank you!

[penmage.livejournal.com]

We put the carseat behind the driver's seat for ease of taking baby in and out of the car. For baby viewing purposes, I highly recommend a rearview baby mirror (like this one.)

As for hospital bag, does your hospital have wireless internet? If so, bring your laptop, both for ease of emailing friends and relatives from your hospital bed, and for keeping you awake watching episodes of TV on hulu or netflix while you're nursing in the middle of the night.

I also recommend you pack any toiletries you need to feel human again after birth--deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, facewash, etc.

Bring snacks for your husband to eat while you're laboring, so he doesn't pass out from hunger while he's helping you, but make sure it's nothing too smelly (either gross, so you feel like barfing when you smell his breath, or yummy, so you really want to eat it.) Bring sour lollipops for you during labor--I recommend Yummy Earth variety (these or these.) You'll also want something for you to eat after labor.

Hmmmm, more if/when I think of it!

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

We will have wireless, yes! Netflix streaming will probably be welcome.

Food for Jake... I wouldn't have remembered that! :P Sour lollipops sound delicious.

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

Elsa Beatrix
Elsa Jacqueline
Elsa Jane
Elsa Valerie
Elsa Louise
Elsa Juno
Elsa Calliope (but that's because I started jonesing for "Calliope" if we ever have a second girl... but we need a first girl to be our Katherine Beatrix)
Elsa Juniper
Elsa Elsa?

We had BoyZilla's car seat in the middle of our sedan. When we took somebody else's car, if there was room, he'd go on the Passenger side, because then he could be tucked into place from the sidewalk with relative ease. Never the driver's side, because that means bringing the carseat into traffic... never a good idea.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I never even considered on-curb parking... I can't remember the last time I had to do that! Heh!

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Our car, a 1998 Honda Civic, had exactly one position possible: Middle of the rear seat, secured with the lap belt (no lap belts in the other two seats). If you have the freedom of choice, I would suggest positioning it behind the passenger seat. Nothing like a sudden scream right behind your ear to cause you to jerk the steering wheel at the wrong moment.



I also would recommend against the baby mirror linked above: They may come loose in case of a collision, and strike the baby.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Heh. Sudden screams are no fun at all.... (says experience with sudden giant dog barks...)

[uneide.livejournal.com]

NIPPLE CREAM.
Oh my god, the nightmare that was trying to breastfeed without really knowing how, with chapped nipples. My mother asked one of the nurses about where to get nipple cream, and that... person... said they might have that in 3rd world nations, but there was nothing like that in Canada.

GRRR.

Cue to they trying to teach me to breastfeed and pump -- only to have them bleed. And then the other, nice nurse, asking me why I wasn't using the nipple cream to help prevent that!!

>.< So yeah, honestly, out of all of the stuff I wish I'd had there, that ( and chapstick + throat lozenges -- ended up with a bad sore throat) are things I'd recommend.

Lansinoh is great, but really any that may be available to you... <3 http://www.mamagoddess.ca/products/lansinoh-nipple-cream

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I hope I get more competent nurses than your first one! O.o

(Fortunately, I've heard excellent things about them!)

[puffbird.livejournal.com]

Elsa Jane?

And for your hospital bag:
If you're going to breastfeed, take a nursing bra, nursing pads and lanolin (for sore nipples -- the hospital might have samples).
A nighttime bra -- something comfortable that will give good support at night.
Night clothes -- though you might want to take something you don't mind bleeding on, because you'll bleed a lot at first.
I took one of my own pillows, just because.
Your Boppy. (Those are AWESOME! I loved mine to death. It was a lifesaver, since I ended up having c-sections.)
Toiletries -- though I wouldn't worry about makeup.
MP3 player, maybe.
I took a book of sudoku puzzles and a pencil. That was nice to have.
Laptop? I don't know. (More on that below.)
Some clothes from when you were four or five months pregnant, for going home in.
Clothes for the baby to come home in.

(I'm trying to remember anything else...)


What NOT to bring:
I took my sketchbook and a ton of reading materials (because, you know, I'd have ALL THIS TIME BY MYSELF and all...) and discovered that when I wasn't taking care of the baby, I was SLEEPING. And when I tried to read, I ended up reading sentences three or four times without understanding them because my mind was so fuzzy from lack of sleep, pain, and just recovering. If I'd had my laptop, I would have played computer games on it, and that's about it.

And yet, I was able to finish five or six sudoku puzzles just fine. I don't know.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Huh - couldn't read (and I've heard this same thing from others), but could do sudoku! I'll have my ipad, so that (and solitaire, etc) will be good options.

Thanks! Good list!

[selinafenech.livejournal.com]

We ended up giving up on a middle name. Persephone Devjak is enough of a mouthful already, we figured. We almost gave her middle names to spell PWNED for her initials but couldn't agree on an N name. I think that was for the best.
Carseats- In Aus they recommend behind passenger seat or centre seat due to safety reasons. They're simply safer than drivers side. And middle seat is a pain to get in and out of so we went passenger seat. You can buy neat little mirrors which install on headrests or windscreens to keep an eye on your baby with while they are still rear facing, and even when they are turned around you put it on the front windscreen to keep an eye on them without turning around.
Hospital bag packing- I packed all the stuff they recommend, food, stuff to do, massage stuff, blah. The only thing I really wished I had was MORE CLEAN CLOTHES. I was there for 36 hours and only really brought two changes of clothes plus a night gown, and ended up feeling like I had no clean clothes very quickly. I also had no toiletries cos I wasn't fully packed when we did a quick run to hospital at 2 in the morning. And no, you can't expect husband to know what to get you if they have a chance to go home for supplies. Even with detailed descriptions.
So yeah, toiletries, clean clothes, anything to help you feel clean and human. As Dr Spaceman explained on 30 Rock- BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS DISGUSTING ;)

[selinafenech.livejournal.com]

Oh, and seriously, like a million packs of maternity pads. Next time I'll probably pack an entire second bag just for them.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Husbands are useful creatures for many things... but recognizing basic supplies is not one of those things.


*adds things to list*

[curvature.livejournal.com]

Elsa Maia
Elsa Helene
Elsa Wren
Elsa Paulina
Elsa Rae

[ryokomusouka.livejournal.com]

You may or may not be able to take a real shower while you're there. So, in addition to the above, a box of baby wipes for YOU will come in handy.

LIP. BALM.

Some light perfume to make yourself feel better. Y'know, aromatherapy and all that.

Totally agree about the overpacking entertainment stuff - you're not going to be able to focus well enough to do anything more than stare at TV or listen to music for the first bit. People are going to be visiting and bothering you and the baby's going to be there and the doctors and nurses and maternity trainers...it's nearly impossible to sleep in a hospital, even in a maternity ward (though it's better in recent years with private rooms and all).

Definitely take your own pillow, with a brightly-colored case so the nurses don't mistake it for one of theirs.

Slippers or shoes you don't have to bend over to put on.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

My lips feel all dry just thinking about being without balm... Good thought!

Am I horrible for not wanting people to visit me? I don't want a bunch of germy people manhandling my new baby! Grrr!

[allykat.livejournal.com]

I don't have any great ideas, but I really liked the following suggestions:

* Elsa Rose
* Elsa Wren
* Else Beatrix

I don't think that last one was actually suggested but the name was mentioned and I love that one. It's suffered in awesomeness because of Beatrix Lestrange, but for me it comes from (Helen) Beatric Potter who is pretty much my hero. Heck of a namesake. It was going to be my middle name for a girl or it topped the list anyway.

All that said, I didn't pick my middle name until I was in the hospital. He was going to be Sebastian Oliver right up until he came out and Richard had pen in hand for the documents and I declared "No! He is Sebastian Jack!"

As for hospital bags, I second MORE CLOTHES. Especially bottoms (I'm a pajama wearing person even after birth. I am not comfortable in just a nightie.) I seriously could have used 6-8 pairs of comfy stretchy pants in the first two days. You're constantly "flowing" and feeling icky and a change of everything down below is so refreshing. Imagine changing your pants/underwear/everything every time you change your pad. That's about right. I had to make my husband go out and buy me more pajama bottoms.

Oh, and those pad things. Like puppy widdle pads but for people? I only know the word for them in German. I had my mother-in-law bring me some of those. The hospital should have them but I consistently wanted to change mine way more often than the nurses seemed to provide for. Even with the enormous maternity pads there will be mishaps.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a rather messy process... extra clothing will be on the list for sure. :)

Beatric/Beatrix is lovely! So many choices now...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I think the hardest part of having her on the passenger side will be not staring at her while I'm driving. :P

Thanks!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Many congratulations on the nomination.
And best wishes.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

We put our carseat in the middle of the backseat because Studies Said that was the safest place to put it (getting smashed while in the middle of an intersection puts cars at your doors, after all, and with or without backseat airbags it's a dangerous place). It was a bit of a pain to put her in and out before she could climb in herself, but such is life. I tried to think of it as free arm exercise.

Like a lot of people mentioned already, I used one of those mirrors you install in the back of your car to keep an eye on her when the carseat was still rear-facing. Like this one. It had the nice side effect of entertaining her too, she used to stare at herself and babble. :)

[ceosanna.livejournal.com]

Ironically, I immediately thought of Marie until I kept reading. Hee!

Some ideas:

* Aibhlinn ("ave leen" - means wished-for or longed-for child). Change the spelling slightly to Aileen and the meaning changes to noble.
* Eve
* Noelle
* Siobhan

I liked a few others (like Elsa Elizabeth) until I realized that they're based off the same name, and it would be like giving Elsa the same first and middle name.

What kind of heritages do you and your hubby have? Have you looked at any traditional names from that direction?

[of-airandfire.livejournal.com]

I like Elsa Layne
(and all of the suggestions really. They're all pretty).

[jenny_evergreen]

I HOPE they've been tested for that, but you might want to contact the manufacturer to be safe. I vote for passenger side, for ease of reach (this is the biggie) and looking over your shoulder at stop lights and such. (You WILL need the baby mirror while driving!)

I agree with the mentions of toiletries; especially anything you are a little picky about (in my case, lotion), but also know what the hospital will provide you with; I was fine with their soap and shampoo. (You'll need your own toothbrush and paste!) Bring something that opens in front for nursing in...and expect to wear it all day because it's just easier. The MOST important thing in my bag was the CD player (with plug AND batteries!) and MUSIC. I listened to the same song on repeat during actual labor (Beautiful Boy for Will and Carole King's Child of Mine for Finn) and had about six carefully chosen CDs to listen to during the rest of the time. I don't know how into music you are, but, really, it's difficult to read or do much else than chat and you run out of things to say eventually. (Even me!) So music was really important. (Audio books might be another option if labor is long and slow and you are medicated or for after she's born.) Don't forget baby clothes to bring her home in and a blanket for her. Don't forget the CAMERA! It's better to overpack than underpack; it's Jake's job to dig around in the mess and get what you need, btw! Still, you (I assume) will only be there two days, so you don't need that much; don't forget your going home clothes, including underwear. Get extra long, heavy duty pads; the hospital ones suck.
Bring some pads and breast cream, but I didn't use it because my nipples weren't chapped and it didn't do a thing for the general soreness; I just had to live with that!
And, as mentioned, bring a stash of snacks with you, for both of you! And bring a change of clothes for Jake, too! Oh, also bring your initial pacifier stash, unless you are afraid she'll quit breastfeeding if she likes the pacifier (opinions on this are hot and conflicted; I personally think that giving a bottle too soon can really screw you, but the pacifier is a Different Thing). The thing people tend to pack and not need is entertainment stuff, books and games and so on; it's rarely that mellow or that slow and once she's born, you'll be busy with her and sleeping!
OH! Which reminds me, bring at LEAST one pillow; two isn't a bad idea. It can be hard to be comfortable in the hospital bed and even the chair, and they can be sloooow about bringing pillows and such. And, as someone else said, bring the boppy! I loved my boppy SO MUCH, and that applies both with my bottle-fed and my breastfed kid! *starts scanning the other comments for stuff I missed* Yes, your hairbrush...and teach Jake to brush your hair, because that might come in handy and be nice. (Memo to Jake: You live to serve! Don't screw it up!) Baby wipes, yes. Easy on/off shoes, yes. Keep in mind your personal preferences and cater to them as much as you can, basically.

Yay for internet back and yay for nominations! I voted for you in a bunch of 'em. :)

I like Elsa Rose, as mentioned. I also like Elsa Joy and Elsa Jane and Elsa Rae. Elsa Noelle isn't bad, either. I'd avoid names that end in "a" because Elsa does and I always think that sounds weird.

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the nominations!

[raventhourne.livejournal.com]

The seats have been tested. I used my in 115°F outside temps (way warmer in the car) and they have to test for the lower extremes as well. Please put the base in and the carseat in now. I did it about a month before so I got used to seeing it in the car. We put the first base in our Honda Fit on the passenger side since we had to move the seat slightly forward to allow good fit of the seat. Moving the seat would not have worked on our driver's side and still allow my husband to drive. In the truck we installed it on the driver's side so we could put the back seat down for trips etc like normal.

I had not expected to be in the hospital, I got rushed to there from my birth center as a just in case (we were both fine but a little petocin made birth finish out). So, I did not have enough changes of clothes, robe, phone charger! or my boppy.

List of people and numbers to be called in order of precedence when the baby is born. Helpful if you have friends there who can make the calls for you so you can bond with baby or so you don't forget someone in your exhausted haze.

Food: Protein shakes, shaker cup etc. I drank a lot of them after delivery and lots of good snacks and food for the DH since the hospital doesn't feed them which I think is lame. Also, cash to use at the hospital cafeteria etc for the DH as well is good. Snacks are just good cause I was hungry when we weren't getting fed...I ordered two breakfasts with extra protein both days we were there.

You do not need diapers if you are at a hospital, they provide so I would skip those.

Your own water cup with lid and straw. The hospital cups suck where I was at and I kept having to have them refilled since I was used to drinking gallons of water per day (I live in the desert btw).

Have a cot and personal pillow and blankets for the DH stashed in the car just in case the bed/couch thingy was not comfy for them. My husband slept poorly cause he wasn't comfy.

For your hair, I put my bangs up in a hair tie and then braided my hair and had a head band just to keep things out of my face. It worked really well for me.

Also, even if exhausted...get a shower as quick as you can after labor...you will feel so much better and I had to wait almost 24 hours due to timing and DH having to go into work to handle things and then baby pictures and..and...yeah. Even if it a quick one its just better.

Also, change of clothes and toiletry kit for your DH. Have him pack his own bag.

I also had a towel to put on the car seat in case my water broke before we headed in...you leak and it can be icky...save your seats.

[shellstar-art.livejournal.com]

Car seat is on the passenger side, currently making for interesting neck soreness because I look around and pull faces when stopped at the lights (so much so that Willow pointed at the lights and said 'green' while I was looking at her). I imagine getting her in and out on the other side in traffic would be horrible.

Hospital bag... hmm... lots of big loose t-shirts (I had one of Jamie's), underpants, maternity pads, lip balm, water and sports drinks.... for some reason I packed a pair of leggings, which were impossible to get on post-birth (especially as I needed an episiotomy and stitches, made some movements very tender), so that would be something I would not do again. I probably would have been happy in big tshirts or tshirt style nighties and underpants, rather than trying to put on leggings or tracksuit pants (my other option). We also made up some CDs as I knew there would be a CD player available and didn't want to listen to the radio (I went to one labour as student where the radio was on.... and at one point a commercial for viagra came on, which just seemed innappropriate lol).

Baby bag: lots of newborn nappies, several outfits... and don't put a fav one on for the first 48hrs, as the first bowel motion is pretty messy and destructive lol. Wraps/swaddles....

Middle names:
Elsa May
Elsa Jules
Elsa Rhianne

Willow has just woken up, so my internet time is at an end :)

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

In the middle of labor your system tends to shut down and you may not want much if any food.
Warm socks! You go into slight shock from losing all that blood. Not sure if you'll be at FMH or not, but they have warmed blankets that they cover you with that feel HEAVENLY. If you're elsewhere, I would hope they do as well. For delivery itself though wear socks you don't mind losing as they stand a good chance of getting bloody.

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

Elsa Katarina?

We placed the infant car seat in the middle because it was the only place it fit. :)

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

I read that many women get over heated in labor, and my experience with hospitals is that they are quite warm, so I expected to be hot, and brought a very brief tie-dyed top to wear so I wouldn't embarrass anyone, but instead I was exhausted and cold during labor. Have a selection of comfortable clothes in different weights so you can stay warm or cool, as the case may be.

Really, every experience is different. Be willing to ask for what you need, and remember we're all rooting for you.