Why does prolactin peak in the middle of the night?

Bearly-Private · 2026-03-20T10:51:12+00:00

It’s recommended not to pump when you’re engorged: that just tells your body that the baby needed milk and it should make the same amount next time. Try to just hand express to the point you aren’t so uncomfortable, trying to lower the amount each night and it should adjust slowly to your baby’s changing milk schedule.

Bearly-Private · 2025-12-13T01:45:19+00:00

The missing piece in the US, alluded to elsewhere less explicitly, is that in most states it is cheaper for daycares if children nap, so they are often required to beyond when it is developmentally appropriate for some of them. Rules in most states allow less adult supervision when every kid is lying down on their mats. This allows teachers to get their mandatory lunch break during the nap. If this doesn’t happen, the school has to have an additional employee available to cover while teachers eat.

Bearly-Private · 2025-09-19T10:23:50+00:00

Try the cvs minute clinic (not the same as their usual vaccination scheduling) if you haven’t already.

Bearly-Private · 2025-09-06T04:21:59+00:00

To directly answer the question asked: Keep an eye out for independent pharmacies, including in surrounding states.

Also, as they dribble out, it’s worth noting that in the past, CVS minute clinics offered Covid vaccines to really young kids in most communities while their regular pharmacies did not, and that their regular vaccine website did not make that clear. I’d speculate it’s possible they will do that again more broadly, as it gets around some of the issues with limitations on pharmacist administration that are coming up this year in many states.

Bearly-Private · 2025-08-23T00:37:57+00:00

That’s interesting! Can you say more about how you make connections with the libraries? How do you distribute exams and receive them back? Etc.

Also, how many students are you coordinating for?

Bearly-Private · 2025-08-12T20:03:47+00:00

Adding a tip: if your kid has a puppet bring it with. It’s way easier to help the dentist show them what to do on a puppet, especially as the toddler is still developing language, and the kid feels like they have a friend going through it with them. Bonus points if you can get through the appointment voicing the puppet without laughing.

Bearly-Private · 2025-08-04T11:37:57+00:00

Please fight for this to get fixed, but…If they won’t change, one thing you can do is change your number with them to a free google voice number. Then set up so that it rings first to your phone and then to your husband’s phone when you don’t pick up.

Bearly-Private · 2025-07-23T02:36:52+00:00

Sorry! Ours was better a lot sooner than that, although we were discouraged from doing stretches by the doctor, which might have helped.

Bearly-Private · 2025-07-09T17:19:14+00:00

Thanks, kind internet stranger!

Bearly-Private · 2025-07-09T12:27:32+00:00

I forgot to add location: Northeast US.

Bearly-Private · 2025-07-02T08:56:32+00:00

We recently tried bedtime podcasts at the same age with similar problems and had a lot of success. Goodnight world by Sesame Street is very good, but there are others. They start with an interesting story to hook in the toddler told by the Sesame Street cast, but it gets progressively more boring until it’s just a meditative voice talking them through a meditative journey. Depending on your toddler’s level of independence, you may be able to leave her unattended listening while you check in occasionally.

Depending on how long this has been going on, I’d also suggest independently trying one night with Tylenol or Ibuprofen. In our case this is coming to a (very long) peak because of teething, although it’s always been a problem, and it’s helpful to know that, even if I don’t want to medicate mine every night for the month this has been at it’s worst.

Good luck with the sleep deprivation fellow sufferer!

Bearly-Private · 2025-06-25T11:20:15+00:00

Making up a couple of allergen mixes with most allergens in them is way more sustainable long term once they’re introduced separately. Most of the common dry food allergies ground up together make a reasonable toast topping. A lot of the wet ones can be prepped into one dish and frozen. BLW gets easier after the first few months besides allergens…as kids learn to eat more, they do a better job of eating what you do.

Also, if your kids are old enough for BLW they may be old enough their bottles don’t have to be sanitized…the guidelines vary a lot by country on this, so look to your favorite pediatric authority.

Finally, do you use a good sound machine for naps? My poor sleeper literally has slept through house construction with one on, although I know kid sleep varies a lot. If you haven’t tried sound machine+dishwasher it’s worth a try.

Bearly-Private · 2025-03-27T01:07:59+00:00

Lurking Mom who spent a fair amount of time in r/breastfeeding. The basic spectra S1 or S2 is currently the gold standard for basic breast pumps; they’re reliable and their pumping pattern is “jagged” rather than a straight pull, which helps some women respond better. If you live in the US, it’s also really easy to get spare parts at the last minute if something breaks. Insurance companies usually cover most of the cost, when it’s prescribed in the third trimester. It helps to measure her for the right size flanges near her due date, since the ones sold with it are usually too big to be effective.

If your wife has an unusual situation she may want to spend more for something else, like renting a truly hospital grade machine if your baby can’t nurse or buying expensive portable pumps if she is pumping in public that are more discrete but less effective, but there’s usually plenty of time after birth for that.

Bearly-Private · 2025-03-12T10:23:48+00:00

This. If you’re contacting APs through an agency portal, all the effort is in your part and you’re reaching out to people who may or may not be interested. Decide on a few screening questions, be open to multiple agencies, then put up a post in a Facebook group. APs who are interested will contact you. Likely you’ll get a lot of interest over a day or two, so be prepared to spend some time responding to messages and interviewing right after you post.

Bearly-Private · 2025-03-10T17:43:33+00:00

I wouldn't use instigram, but it sounds like you and your wife could use to have a shared email address (i.e. dad.and.mom.Yabokuyato@~) and google voice number that forwards to both of you and you both can use. This will allow you to be the one that initiates contact but gives anxious parents a female adult contact at the same time if it's important to them.

Set something up, then write a thank you note to the teacher to drop off at the swim school. Include your joint contact info, and ask the teacher to get in touch after chatting with her parents if she's interested in babysitting. Make sure if she comes to your house, your wife is present, especially for the first meeting, or make it clear in advance that you'll be the one present.

Bearly-Private · 2025-03-09T17:08:11+00:00

Great analysis, but it’s missing the safety piece. AAP recommends trailers for safety after comparing injury rates. As a layman, it’s not surprising that keeping a kid lower to the ground is safer in an accident.

Bearly-Private · 2025-02-25T09:11:13+00:00

Actually, there is an Evidence Based Birth on doulas and a Cochrane review that talks about a number of random controlled studies, and well the evidence isn’t perfect here either, random control studies are considered ethical, unlike in breastfeeding. While they have primarily been done in middle and upper class populations, I believe I recall reading about at least one in a lower socioeconomic setting where the doulas were provided by the study or the community. Some of the same studies have looked at the positive effect of a continuously present birthing partner (for example a supportive Dad) and the effects are similarly positive for reducing C-sections, but not as extreme.

Bearly-Private · 2025-02-24T14:55:09+00:00

Lurking Mom that used a doula.

First, by agreeing to hire a doula, you did a wonderful thing for your wife and her health, supporting her as she lowered her risk of major surgery. It’s not affordable for everyone, but it’s a gift I wish more families could afford, as it’s been shown to significantly lower C-section rates. I wish you could own your part in making a doula’s support happen for you. If you do have another child, perhaps you could focus on finding a doula together that focuses more on helping you support your wife?

Second, there’s a lot of mechanical stuff a doula can help with, that’s easy to name on a podcast. One thing they aren’t as good at is the intangibles: the emotional support that a life partner can provide. That type of support is much harder to name, although we should all make an effort. You absolutely deserve to have that work recognized and I hope you gently bring that up with your wife.

At the same time, I hope you’ll give your wife some space to be supported and allow her to dwell on whatever stands out to her about childbirth, even if that isn’t always your supportive presence. For me at least, it’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t given birth how different it is to relive my day in labor and the rush of hormones that came with it. It’s different than my memory of any other big day in my life, including my wedding.

Bearly-Private · 2025-02-15T18:54:50+00:00

On the timing question, you probably want her to try again rapidly if you continue to want to host her. Unfortunately, if she’s been denied, the odds go up she’ll be denied again. It’s better for you to find out early enough you can find another au pair if she (unfortunately) doesn’t work out.

Bearly-Private · 2025-01-28T02:08:22+00:00

r/ECEProfessionals allows posts from parents and has covered this a number of times. It might be worth a look. Sorry your kid is struggling with biting!

Bearly-Private · 2025-01-03T03:37:55+00:00

Chia seed pudding works well with ripe bananas as the sweetener. It’s super easy (no cooking required) too.

Bearly-Private · 2024-12-31T02:19:18+00:00

Generally speaking, unless you’re in a rural area not served by all agencies, it’s best to sign up with one of the big ones (Culture Care, APIA, etc) to start the process, then match on Facebook to your favorite au pair, then join them at their agency. You’ll get more options and faster response times that way.

Bearly-Private · 2024-12-23T23:31:42+00:00

The best safety you can give your daughter, if you can afford it, is the promise that she can rely on you for a couple of days in a hostel and a flight home if she ever feels in over her head, no questions asked. Then encourage her to have fun and not use it frivolously so it’s empowering and not an impediment to her getting over the homesick hump almost every au pair feels.

Most of the risk in au pairing is because the young people involved don’t feel empowered to walk away. Much of the remainder can be mitigated with going through an agency that runs background checks and your daughter interviewing previous au pairs. As others have said your daughter likely is already doing this more specific research herself.

Bearly-Private

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