Baltimore Babies

Recommend your carriers

Katiebride2b — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:36:25 GMT

Hi! I had a Bjorn when DD was an infant but now that she is a one year old she doesn't fit! I am looking for a carrier that can do front/side/back carries for a toddler. DD is about 23 lbs now. We are going on a few trips this year where it would be helpful. Please recommend your favorites.

Thanks

Severna Park moms

Bmore721 — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:05:12 GMT

DH and I plan to move to Severna Park from Federal Hill before the baby makes her appearance in July. Any recommendations for pediatricians or infant day care providers? None of our friends in the area have kids yet, and I don't know where to start looking. Thanks in advance!

DayCare Prices in MD

Toni79 — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:14:34 GMT

Hello! I don't normally post here, but I thought you ladies could help me out.

I work in Baltimore County, and DH works in Howard County. However right now we live 1+ hours away (in PA). We are looking to relocate to Howard County area, posisbly Anne Arundel or Carroll County. But I think we'd really like to be in Howard County so we are close to both of our jobs!

I know the cost of child care varies by location and by center. I hate that centers don't post their rates online! I know daycare is going to be alot more in MD then what we are currently spending in PA.

What center do you use and how much do they charge?

DD is 9 months old now, and will likely be a year when we move.

The "fancy" center by me charges less than $200/week ($800/month) for infants (and that includes diapers and meals - not inclusding formula or breast milk).

I currently pay a family member $150/week ($600/month) and I provide everything.

A friend of mine sends her DS to Goddard and she told me (per month) :

Up until the age of 2, the cost was $1488

Once he turned 2 it dropped to $1075

Then once he turns (or is fully potty trained) it drops to $945

So that is twice as much as I am paying now! Yikes! Although I know Goddard is the more expensive center.

Also, do you know of any centers that do part time?

DH currently has off Mondays, so I'd only need a center 4 days a week. I know centers usually charge you the full week even if you only use 3-4 days.

TIA for any info you can provide!

Hospitals/Ob

JackieJH — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:35:10 GMT

What do you think of St. Agnes hospital and the Ob/gyn there?

Is GBMC, Mercy, or Johns Hopkins better?

Booster car seat recommendations

kbarnes719 — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:37 GMT

I want to move my 3 year old into a booster seat with a 5 point harness...any suggestions?? I have the LATCH system in my car. Thanks!

Any Mom's to be over 35?

YogaLadyBug — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:20:02 GMT

Greerings,

New to the group :) I am 36 years old and expecting our first! We are 4 weeks pregnant and I was wondering if there were other Moms in the DMV area who are older than 35 and expecting.

Thank you! and be well!

Question for moms who delivered at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

Ellaer11 — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:23:46 GMT

If you didn't have any complications did you have continuous fetal monitoring or intermittent monitoring ?

Evelyn's coming home!

MereMM7 — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:58:51 GMT

I know I have been the worst updater probably to history, and just want you all to know how much i appreciate your support and well wishes. I had plans to update along the way, but some days just came and went without me even knowing it seems. Our nicu journey is coming to the end thankfully, its been 46 days so far and it is looking like Saturday will be the day we get to take our little girl home, granted she behaves and doesn't have any episodes!

We have had our shares of ups and downs, with the CMV exposure, a very mild grade I IVH and now most recently an abnormal brain MRI. I guess this was to be expected with the CMV, it just is upsetting that we don't know what the future holds for Evelyn. They are unable to give us any true prognosis as "every case is different" and we will just have to "wait and see" as they keep saying. The only thing i do know is that she has captured our hearts completely. She is a good eater, sleeps on her schedule and is gaining weight! 4 lbs 5 oz now. She has big beautiful eyes and a head full of hair, and soon will be home with us. Thursday is the hearing test, a big day for us as almost 60% of babies with congenital CMV have some sort of hearing loss either partial or complete. The test they do in the NICU is more advanced than the normal newborn exam and we will know immediately if she has hearing loss. So fingers crossed for some good news! I am trying to attach pics, Jen I may need your help with this if they don't load :)

Infant Medicine Dosage

lacey321 — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:07:45 GMT

Hi ladies,

Does anyone have the dosage amounts handy from Pediatric Partners (Towson)? We recently moved and the majority of our things are still in storage, including this. Our 2 month old is running a slight fever...

Also, we never really ran into this with our oldest...but at what point do you call the doctor for a fever when they are this young?

TIA!

Any "younger" moms?

ttag0511 — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:59:30 GMT

Nothing against "older" mom's of course:)

But I'm only 22 and I have a 8 month old son. I'd love to meet a few moms around my age to meet up and have playdates, etc. If anyone is interested feel free to PM or email me. Thanks!

Kaybee44

Cali1012 — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:50:43 GMT

Hello!

I sent you a PM!

Facebook

sconklin1982 — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:19:10 GMT

I was just wondering if there is a facebook page for the Baltimore Moms. I have one for my BMB and it is a lot easier to get on there then on here sometimes. If not, it might be fun to create one!

Dr. Rojas Recommendation? Alternatives?

ball1erina — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:08:26 GMT

Hi all,

I'm new to the boards, and searched but didn't find any information on Dr. Francisco Rojas (ob/gyn). He was recommended by my pediatrician, and I wondered if any of you have experience with him? If not, do you recommend another practice?

Background: I have one DS, 14 months old, who was born at 33w6d due to PPROM and pre-ecclampsia. I had planned a home birth with a midwife, but obviously that couldn't happen. I ended up delivering at Mercy (we lived downtown and it was the closest hospital with the best NICU that our midwife recommended) with the midwives and 2 doctors + the NICU team (it was a crowded delivery room, to say the least).

I'm looking for an ob/gyn to see now that we're thinking about TTC our 2nd. I am considered high risk now due to the complications in my first pregnancy and my age (I'm 35). I want minimal intervention if the pregnancy proceeds normally, and I don't want to be bullied into an induction or into testing that isn't necessary. I went to Signature OB/GYN at first with my first pregnancy, but they were HORRID to me and I left the appt in tears. I won't go back. I've also heard bad things about L&D at HoCo General, so I'd prefer not to deliver there (we'd like to deliver at St Agnes, I think - we live in Columbia now, so Mercy is a hike with traffic if we have another NICU baby).

Happy Mother's Day

Amie678 — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:34:36 GMT

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms to be!! Have a great day.

Benjamin has arrived!

Mella&T — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:58:04 GMT

Those of you on Facebook know, but I figured I'd announce here, too. Our son, Benjamin Cooper was born last Tuesday morning. He was 7lbs, 9oz, 20.9" and is pretty darn adorable ;) Big sister loves him and his first week has been great!

His birth story is a little crazy. I wrote out a long version but I'll spare you that and give you the (somewhat) abridged version:

I woke up at 12:30am to a contraction and they began coming regularly in 10 minute intervals. After an hour or so, they picked up slightly so we called my ILs to get them to our place to watch Bailey and my doctor said to come in since I wanted an epidural. Once I got to my feet, it seemed like my contractions were weakening and I was worried it was a false alarm. I even sat on the couch and contemplated waiting for a while but instead we just headed to the hospital to see what was going on. I had three intense contractions on the ride there, one in the parking lot and the waddled in pain to L&D. Once I got to triage, (where everyone was taking their sweet time despite my obvious pain with each contraction) I was hooked up to the monitors and she asked me a million questions. Finally, after a particularly painful and long contraction, the nurse called for the OB resident. Once she got there, she checked me and I thought she was having trouble determining if I was even dilated because it was taking her so long. Then she said, "Uh, yeah, she's at an 8...100% effaced". At first I was excited that I had made so much progress but then I was immediately worried I wouldn't have time for an epidural which was the closest thing to a "birth plan" I had. The nurse nodded and I'm fairly certain they're told to tell all women "yes" no matter the truth to avoid a major freak out. They wheeled me to the delivery room and I was terrified. Once in the room, they asked me to switch beds and the second I hit the delivery room bed, I felt intense pressure. I explained what I was feeling but everyone told me to relax and one nurse was trying to prep my arm for the IV. I, however, knew exactly what I was feeling and immediately started crying, freaking out and saying over and over how scared I was. They kept trying to reassure me that I was fine, until I screamed that I had to push. They checked me and judging by their reactions and what I was feeling, I knew an epidural wasn't possible. I lost it and was freaking out about having to deliver naturally. Everyone tried to calm me down but I was totally "that" woman who was screaming and crying. I wish I could say I was the kind of person to keep my composure in that moment, but nope. Finally after a minute or two, something in my brain clicked and I knew I just had to do it. I focused on pushing instead of my fears and he was out a minute later. So, only five minutes after I got into the delivery room, my son was on my chest, wailing and screaming and it was the most amazing moment. I just stared at him, crying in awe of his arrival and just how he had arrived! In hindsight, a med-free birth wasn't that bad and the fear of doing it against my wishes was worse than actually delivering. I'm kind of grateful it happened so that I can say I experienced it, but fairly certain I'd never voluntarily do it! I'm just so glad I didn't wait at home any longer or else he'd probably have been delivered in the car on the side of 83!

Hopkins affiliated OB recs?

lvnbraves — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:09:11 GMT

I'm mostly a lurker here, but need some help. My OB/GYN of nearly 10 years is leaving (which caused me to bawl my eyes out after my last appointment). I'm 4 months pregnant and because I'm high risk and due to complications with my DS, I want to deliver at Hopkins downtown this time too.

Anyone have any OBs that are Hopkins affiliated that they love? I don't like the other doc in my current practice and the only other option there is a midwife, but because of the risk level, I'm not comfortable with that.

Would LOVE some ideas.

Thank you!

UMD, St Joes, or GBMC?? New to Baltimore

Liz3226 — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 21:38:26 GMT

Hi there,

I am new to Baltimore and 10 weeks along. I am not sure where to deliever at? I have an OB at UMD but curious about Saint Joesphs or GBMC. I want an at home/ cushy birthing environment but not doing a natural birth (will be doing an epidural). Basically want a nice room that my husband and I will feel comfortable in. UMD seems very hospital like but also haven't toured the labor and delivery. I guess there is also Mercy. It's really hard to find info on the internet and don't know anyone who has delivered in Baltimore. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!!

Nanny going rate?

bg777 — Sat, 04 May 2013 04:26:29 GMT

Any thoughts on the hourly rate for a full time nanny for one infant in baltimore city?

Mommy me exercise classes

Amie678 — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:40:28 GMT

I'm looking for some mommy me boot camp/exercise classes I can take my 3 mth old to. I've seen stroller strides but that was all I was able find. Does anyone know of any others in Howard county?

Crib bumper ban

lkobriant — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:20:14 GMT

I'm mostly a lurker here but wanted to post this as an FYI. The MD bumper sale ban starts June 21:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-11-16/health/bs-hs-crib-bumpers-final-20121116_1_crib-bumpers-juvenile-products-manufacturers-association-ban

OB recommendations

mian1745 — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:07:45 GMT

We're moving to Baltimore next month and I need to find an OB. We'll be in the downtown area. Any recommendations for a good OB and what hospital to deliver at? Thanks!

Social Security Card

autumnmichele — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:41:17 GMT

DD2 was born on 4/9 and I have not yet received her Social Security card. I remember receiving DD1's within 2 weeks. I checked the SS website and it states the turn around time for MD is 2 weeks so I am a little concerned. Does anyone have any recent experience with receiving LO's Social Security card? Thanks!

BYBM movie

Amie678 — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:43:03 GMT

I can't find any info on the BYBM bring your baby matinee for the month of May. Does anyone know if it's still going on?

Hospital bag

catchtanya — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:21:41 GMT

Wondering what you didnt take you thought you should have and visa versa? Im trying to finalize my birth bag, and also Tylers NB bag. Im not sure what all to take. i am now having a hospital birth, so I know they supply many things.

Appreciate your help!

June playgroup-evite sent

Cooper81 — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:16:39 GMT

if you didn't get it or want to be added let me know.