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Everyone Thursday: Waterfall Cardigan

Everyone· Maternity· Nursing· Pump-friendly· Recent Recs

Waterfall CardiganI’ve long admired the popular waterfall cardigan at Loft — and they’re having great sales on it. It was a wee bit lower last night, during one of their flash sales — $15 — but if memory serves it was final sale at that price. I like the different colors it’s offered in (black, “dark ash melange,” and a dusky pink, as well as the space dye and tan striped version). It was $49.50, then was marked to $44.99, but with the extra 50% off code it comes down to $22. Waterfall Cardigan

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Sales of Note…

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off kids’ camp styles; extra 50% off select sale
  • Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
  • Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off summer pajamas; up to 50% off all baby styles (semi-annual baby event!)
  • Carter’s – Summer deals from $5; up to 60% off swim
  • Old Navy – 30% off your order; kid/toddler/baby tees $4
  • Target – Kids’ swim from $8; summer accessories from $10

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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!

Comments

  1. EB0220 says

    Pump quasi – emergency: I left my pump parts at home today! I have a full set of spare parts, except the spare part bag has just one flange. My company (is awesome and) sells spare parts, but they are Ameda. Does anyone know if the Ameda flange will work with the Medela tower? It’s the Medela Freestyle, if it matters!

    • JJ says

      I don’t know if the Ameda fits. Worst case, can you just hook up one side of the pump and do one side at a time? I know my Pump In Style had that option.

    • MomAnon says

      Can you run out to a Target or Walmart or similar? Totally OK to keep spare parts in your office (for next time…)

    • EB0220 says

      My worst case plan is to pump one side at a time, but I think I’ll make a Buy Buy Baby run. There is one pretty close to my office. That way I will have a spare set of flanges for the spare parts bag for next time! Thanks, everyone.

      • Meg Murry says

        Or if you don’t have a hand pump and you use the standard size flanges, I’m pretty sure the Medela Harmony hand pump comes with a flange that separates off and is the same size – a little more expensive than just buying flanges, but might be worth it to get the extra parts and hand pump.

        I used the Harmony flanges interchangably with my PIS, so I suspect it will also work on Freestyle.

    • pockets says

      Or if you are in one of the 5 designated zip codes in Manhattan and have Amazon Prime, you can use Amazon Prime Now (app downloadable on your phone) to get it delivered for free.

      I’m amazed that your company sells parts. I thought the fact that the tampon dispenser in my office bathroom usually has tampons was impressive, but you are on a whole other level.

      • EB0220 says

        Nope, I’m in NC so regular 2 day Amazon Prime for me.

        And, yes, my company constantly amazes me with its awesomeness.

      • MomAnon says

        This. I was like, where does she work? Target? Medela? I don’t understand.

        Are you at one of those companies that freezes your eggs and your child is in the certified on-site Montessori childcare program? I bet you had 18 months maternity leave, right?

        • EB0220 says

          Hah…I think you know where I work. In all seriousness, the maternity leave is just your basic leave. All the pump-part-selling and daycare-providing is designed to get us back to work ASAP!

    • Jdubs says

      The flange should work with the freestyle as long as its just the flange… the valves are different – the ameda valve is similar to the PIS not the freestyle. I have had all three of these pumps in some iteration during my pumping time.

  2. JJ says

    Ugh. We had storms at our house all night last night and it’s still pouring. While I was in the shower at 6 am this morning, all the power in our neighborhood went off. So husband and I had to get the kids up, breakfast, ready, and loaded into the cars in the pouring rain in the dark. And when I got out of my car at work, my umbrella immediately flipped inside out in the parking lot.

    I also have my first meeting with our organization’s CEO today, and I had to let my hair air-dry. It looks ok and when it’s dry I can put it in a twist…but not ideal. Today is a day to just go back to bed and try again.

    • Anonyc says

      Ugh, sorry. Hope you have something nice to look forward to at the end of the day. Having a similarly unfun/stressful week (sick babysitter, spouse out of town) and the goalpoint I’m looking towards is sitting down for dinner after the kids are asleep with a beer and The Mindy Project. Serenity now!

      • JJ says

        Thanks! We just got the call that my youngest is running a fever at daycare, so all bets are off for the rest of the day. Husband and I are going to a concert tonight (my mom will be watching the kids), so at least I know there’s alcohol and fun in my future.

    • Tunnel says

      I’m sorry you’re going through a tough day. I recommend watching Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It will make you laugh and feel better.

  3. FVNC says

    Paging Ciao, Pues….

    I didn’t have a chance to respond to your question about early morning wakings yesterday. I found the Baby Sleep Science resource blog moderately helpful in understanding more about why some babies wake up early. In case it is helpful to you, here is the link:
    https://childsleepscience.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/how-do-i-fix-my-babys-early-waking/
    Hope you can sleep in soon! Like some of the other posters, I noticed my 16 month old has started waking a little later now that she’s down to 1 nap most days (like, 5:45-6 am to 6:15-6:30).

  4. Anon says

    Anyone have any good recommendations for books to prepare yourself for labor and delivery? Looking for one that covers topics like physical and mental exercises to prepare yourself for labor, different pushing methods, midwives vs doulas, etc.

    Also, any book recs that cover breastfeeding? First time mom here and I have no idea where to start to make sense of when to start pumping, latching issues, supply issues, etc.

    • MomAnon says

      For breast feeding I ended up checking a few videos out from the library. They were weird, but Husband and I watched them together and they were helpful. We took a class, too – once, 2 hours, something like that.

      For books, actually I just interviewed 3 doulas and they recommended the Penny Simkins books. I just ordered them this morning for me and my birth partner. My husband.

      • Ciao, pues says

        Ditto the rec for Peggy Simkins books. Seems like she is the go-to recommendation from doulas and midwives. I found reading a book more manageable than trying to sift through websites. I had her Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn and found it really useful.

    • JJ says

      The best nursing advice that I received was from the lactation class offered by my hospital. I went before the baby was born because it gave me some familiarity. It was taught by the lactation consultants, so they were very knowledgeable. I also would recommend reading Kellymom.com. It can seem a little overwhelming at first, but it’s a go-to for nursing information.

    • mascot says

      Re: BF, see if your hospital offers a class with a lactation consultant. I read maybe one book, but wished I took a class. That being said,, you won’t know how it’s going to work for you until you are in it. You may not have any problems. Plus, the baby hasn’t read the books and a lot of it depends on the baby. Online, the site kellymom has a ton of good resources.

    • Anonymous says

      Nursing mother, working mother
      Nursing mother’s companion

      Thinking woman’s guide to a better birth

    • Anonyc says

      Spouse and I took the hospital birthing class with no. 1, and I recommend that (or a birthing class generally) in addition to reading/DVDs to friends. From my reading (several books, mostly the Mayo Clinic one) I pretty much “knew” everything they told us (like, most women’s water doesn’t break on its own) and for me, a lot of the benefit was being in the place I would give birth so that the first time I was seeing it wasn’t when I was in labor, seeing some of the equipment (water-breaker-crochet-hook thingy!), and, yes, watching the old school birth videos they showed. For my husband, who did not read the books, everything was a totally new nugget of information. (Seriously: the whole time he was like, “WHOA, that is crazy! I had no idea that ___!!”).

      The final class session was devoted to BFing, the most helpful part of which was contact info for lactation consultants. Husband was convinced we’d need a consultant and I was more of the let’s try it and if we need a consultant, we’ll get one (we didn’t need one)–so I’ll add you may have no issues whatsoever and have no need for help.

      Also: talking to people you know who’ve given birth and are/have done BFing. Everyone’s birth experience is unique to them, and all babies are different, but it helps to get a range, hear how other people solved problems that arose, etc. And ladies are usually more than happy to share, I find, with friends.

    • Newly pregnant says

      My husband and I signed up for a bunch of classes. Your hospital may offer them, or your doctors office may have information on where you can find them. We’re signed up for a birthing class, bfeeding, baby care (like how to give them a bath), and infant CPR. Through the company I’m using for all of this there is also the option of private lactation consultants and support groups, post-birth.

      If you’re thinking of going down the unmedicated L&D route, I’ve heard good things about Bradley Method classes. They’re multiple weeks, so that will be a time commitment. I think you can buy their books independent of going to the classes.

    • POSITA says

      I really liked The Birth Partner. I thought it was a good book to read with my husband. It gave us both a good idea of what to expect and let us make decisions ahead of time about what medicines and interventions we were comfortable with or not. We also made decisions like what would happen if I was unconscious or if the baby needed to be taken somewhere else for treatment–what would my husband do? It brought me a lot of comfort when my baby unexpectedly did have to go to the NICU and my husband followed. I’m glad we had a plan. My husband actually used the book a lot during labor whenever he felt “stuck” about what he should do to help. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to answer questions so he liked having something to turn to.

      The best advice I got was from my L&D class at the hospital. When the doctor suggests a particular path, always ask if there are other options and what the pros/cons of those options are. Don’t let the doctor steamroll you with only one option unless its a true emergency situation. Usually during labor there are a few option and no one option is “best” for everyone. You don’t need to know every option ahead of time and how it works in every situation, you just need to be able to feel comfortable talking about the options so you can decide what feels right based on your labor.

      As far as breastfeeding, my top recommendation is just to know where there are resources available. Know who to call, how long it takes to get an appointment, and how much it costs. That way you are prepared if you do need help. A pre-birth class is a good idea, too. I took one at the hospital to get the gist.

    • Katarina says

      I did not read anything on labor and delivery, although I did go to my hospital’s class. I always planned on an epidural, though. I did read the Mayo Clinic pregnancy book, which was enough information for me.

      I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and really disliked it. It was so strongly pro breastfeeding it made me feel guilty for going back to work before a year, and made it seem like the dad has no role in raising a baby because he cannot breastfeed. I found kellymom useful, especially as a reference, although still guilt inducing. I took a breastfeeding class and a pumping class at the hospital where I delivered, and those were helpful, especially the pumping class. I also saw a lactation consultant in the hospital, which was by far the most useful preparation. My pediatrician has a lactation consultant on staff, too, but I never needed to see her.

    • anonmama says

      I really loved Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (first section is birth stories, second section is info on various interventions that are available in hospitals and risks for each, etc). For breastfeeding, my lifelines were Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding and KellyMom.com.

      As with all things, pick and choose what works for you. KellyMom doesn’t like nipple shields, for example, but that was the only way my child would nurse. So I chose nursing with shield over not nursing at all, and didn’t worry about it.

    • frustrated academic says

      We took a Bradley Method class (27 hours over 6 weeks), that covered L&D, comfort measures, postpartum, nursing etc–the class is for people who hope to have an “intervention free” birth & your partner as coach, but even if you are planning a more medical birth, the information is fabulous. I also had The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding as resource and our doula checked in after a week.

  5. JMDS says

    Really liked Natural Hospital Birth (I was induced and had an epidural, so wasn’t natural by any stretch, but it helped me prepare) and The Birth Partner.

    Ina May’s books scared me.

    We also did the Laugh and Learn series of DVDs at home. After going to a class where they made me sit on the floor for 4 hours, I preferred the DVDs at home.

    • Spirograph says

      +1, I was going to recc Natural Hospital Birth too. Also, depending on your tolerance for new-agey things, yoga studios often offer childbirth workshops, and yoga practice has a lot of transferrable skills like breath control and mental focus. I really enjoyed my prenatal yoga classes, which were the only “prep” I did the second time around.

  6. SC says

    Any suggestions for pillows to support my lower back in an office chair? I’m 22 weeks along, and my back is already killing me, especially at work. I can make some adjustments to my office chair, but it seems to be pushing my shoulders forward instead of providing more lumbar support. Any other suggestions for dealing with back pain are also appreciated – I’m already using a body pillow.

  7. Anon S says

    For the ladies here who are already moms, I’ve been hearing things about massaging your vag to hopefully prevent tearing. Did anyone do this and do you think it worked?

    • Anon A says

      I did. I felt a little goofy about doing it, but I think it worked: I’m a relatively petite person, and I delivered my eight-pound baby with minimal tearing.

    • Spirograph says

      I think it’s hit or miss. I did for my first and had a 2nd degree tear anyway. I didn’t for my second, and had no tearing with a bigger baby (probably the fact that it was the second had something to do with that). Fwiw, both my kids were born really fast. Supposedly slower births are less likely to result in tears because there’s time to stretch en route. Not that you necessarily have control of that, though.

    • Ciao, pues says

      My midwife told me not to bother. I didn’t do it, and had no tearing. For me, I think it had less to do with massaging/not-massaging and more to do with the fact that I had a slow but regular progression of delivery (I pushed for an hour and 45) and was very self-directed (pushing when I felt like it, not when the midwife told me to) and unmedicated (since I could feel everything, I pulled back when it hurt and midwife said that probably helped to avoid tearing).

      I also feel strongly though that if it feels right to you, then it is helpful. I often feel like I’d rather do something than nothing, even if the result is the same because I like to feel like I am in control. Type-A much? :)

    • Katarina says

      I did not. I do want to mention that I had an episiotomy followed by a really easy recovery. So tearing or an episiotomy is not the end of the world.

    • Jen says

      I did, and I had a 2nd degree tear, but my baby was 10lbs and labor was super fast. I ended up with an epidural (total labor from when I woke up at 2am and my water broke to baby-in-arms was 6 hours, i was diliated to a 6 when they first checked me at the hospital, and I got the epi at 2 hours pre birth. I pushed for 10 minutes max.

      Baby wanted OUT and everything went so smoothly (except man, the pain– she came so fast I skipped over all the early stages of labor [or slept through?] and BAM woke up to contractions 1 minute apart and awful pain.) that I’d take that 2nd degree tear any day over a painful 20+ hour labor!

    • NewMomAnon says

      I did not – I had read all this scary stuff about tearing, and my doula just said, it’s not really a big deal. And she was right. I had a long second degree tear with a lot of stitches – after they stitched me up (which sounds bad in theory but after you’ve been through labor, it was no big deal), I honestly kind of forgot about it. Plus, they tell you to take baths for recovery and that was an AWESOME excuse to spend half an hour by myself with a book and some chocolate while husband dealt with an angry newborn.

      But since you mention it – I liked the Earth Mama bottom spray with witch hazel. I didn’t really *need* it (I don’t think I even took ibuprofen once I got home from the hospital), but it was nice to have.

    • Anonyc says

      Did not, had a bad tear with first that took a looooong time to recover from (lesson learned: it’s not the weight of the child, it’s the head size!) after a rapid labor (like Jen, walked into hospital at 5-6cm, got epi, baby arrived after less than 10 minutes of pushing). I doubt anything would have fixed that situation except an episiotomy, and not sure how that would have played given how large of a baby head/quickly baby came. And I totally screamed my head off because oh em gee, that pain was just insane (epi not helping at all when it came to ripping myself apart).

      Given how crummy that experience was, I was determined to have an episiotomy with my next kid(s) and I did–so. much. better. Both were similarly quick when it came to pushing (like, three pushes apiece). Healing was easy-peasy (I’ll take 2 or 3 stitches over many more any day) and I was back to normal with no lingering effects. I know that many are anti-episiotomy these days, but I certainly am not.

    • Anonymous says

      I didn’t with my first and ended up with an awful tear (awful even by 3rd deg tear standards, per my docs). So I definitely tried with my 2nd! I felt goofy doing it, but I hardly tore. Could be coincidence, but my second had a bigger head and presented very awkwardly, so I’m inclined to think that the massaging and stretching is at least partly to thank.

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