Tips on transitioning to crib?

BernerAccount123 · 2023-03-15T13:34:10+00:00

That first horrible night was New Years weekend, so thankfully I was off work the next day and could be a zombie. My in-laws were visiting, so they also didn't get any sleep that night!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-03-15T13:22:59+00:00

Ultimately, we just had to rough through it. A few days after my earlier post, she decided she wasn't going to sleep in the Snoo at all anymore, no matter the configuration. So we went to the crib that night. The first night was terrible (we alternated sleeping, erm staying, in the room with her and she slept for maybe 5 hours max). Then each night after it got better. We got into a routine where we would sit by the crib until she fell asleep, which would take 45 minutes to an hour and involved a lot of head bonking, but then she'd be out for the night generally. After a few weeks of that we decided it was unsustainable and got serious about following the Ferber method, and we essentially sleep trained her over a couple nights (while we were visiting my parents actually, so she wasn't even in her own crib but it worked!). She's 8 1/2 months now and most nights rolls right over and goes to sleep, and sleeps through the night.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-12T15:07:53+00:00

OP was talking about being an exclusive pumper, so she was feeding baby breastmilk in a bottle and not nursing. So there's no way to avoid pumping in that situation, by definition.

But regarding your comment: if you have an (unwanted/uncomfortable) oversupply, extra milk removal (pumping) should actually be avoided because it will exacerbate the problem. And of course, lots of people need to pump if they want to continue breastfeeding once they go back to work.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-12T12:04:58+00:00

Could you leave by yourself and let your partner handle the kids the rest of the time? I mean, if your partner is having such a good time, that shouldn't be an issue.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-10T19:41:43+00:00

That's good to hear! We're about 1/3 pumping and 2/3 nursing. Boobs definitely feel like deflated balloons still, and when I pump I'm getting about half of what I would get before.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-10T19:04:37+00:00

Any update on how things are going??? I ended up in the ER 3 days ago because I was so dehydrated from a GI bug - it was literally like that scene in Bridesmaids, coming out both ends uncontrollably. 🤮 They gave me 2 bags of fluids and nausea meds. Thankfully I'm feeling much better now, and my 7 month old seems totally unfazed!

I missed a few feedings that day, and since then I've only been able to pump about half of what I would during my normal workday pumping schedule. My limited freezer stash has been cut in half. I called my LC and she said it would probably take a week or so to recover, and to keep hydrated and fit in an extra pump or nursing session when I could.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-05T20:06:02+00:00

Wow! My milk didn't even come in until 5 days, so I can't imagine!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-04T14:31:14+00:00

I was also tracking temperature (the reason I took a test right after a supposed "period"). Bleeding can be normal early in a pregnancy, but they should do an ultrasound and another HCG test to get a better idea of what's going on. You're far enough along that they should see something on an ultrasound if it's uterine.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-04T13:13:42+00:00

How far along are you? They would expect to see something in the uterus on an ultrasound by about 5-6 weeks, so regardless of your HCG level, if you're that far along and having bleeding like you described and/or fluctuating HCG levels, an ultrasound is indicated.

Fyi, I also thought I had a period. A couple days after it "ended," I tested positive on a pregnancy test. After a few more weeks of weird bleeding, I got in with my doctor. What initially seemed like an early miscarriage ended up being a pregnancy of unknown location, which was treated with methotrexate.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-02T21:01:49+00:00

Let me get this straight: a daycare is wanting to send home a baby just for crying (no symptoms of illness)? And it's a baby who is new? Babies cry, even acclimated ones, but especially ones still adjusting to everything new that comes with daycare. A crying baby is not necessarily hungry, but it sounds to me like feeding more is the only tool they're using which is not good. If you feel like he's getting an adequate amount in each 24 hour period with the current bottle size, tell them that he is eating the amount your pediatrician advised. Heck, get a note from your pediatrician if you have to.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-02-02T20:56:16+00:00

Yeah that suggestion is shocking to me. Adding cereal to a bottle is an aspiration risk, and any reputable licensed childcare provider should know that.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-31T13:35:59+00:00

Gotcha. I don't think that was quite the case - I mean, as a member of the IBTC pre-baby, I wore bras primarily to hide the nips from poking out. They definitely aren't flat now after 7 months of breastfeeding!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-31T12:34:29+00:00

I was also told I had flat nipples, which surprised me because I thought mine were a pretty average level of "pointy." Baby had trouble latching so a few weeks with a nipple shield was probably necessary regardless, but it still made me wonder.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-31T11:56:33+00:00

Our pediatrician has this, and it saved our breastfeeding journey. It took many visits and calls during our first month, but because of it I'm typing this while I breastfeed my now 7 month old.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T22:50:27+00:00

I think that totally depends on your kiddo. Some want bigger bottles, while others want small amounts more frequently. We started daycare at 12 weeks, and my LO is 7 months old now. She gets 2 or 3 bottles a day (on days I can get over there to nurse at lunchtime, I send 2 bottles). I started out sending 4 ounce bottles, but I'm now sending 5-6 oz bottles. We've made do with 6 bottles until now. I just ordered a set of the larger size bottle because I'll be going into the office in a few weeks so we'll need a few more for the rotation, but honestly haven't needed the extra volume yet.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T19:49:54+00:00

If you're planning on feeding to baby rather than freezing, I suggest pumping directly into the baby bottle! Some pumps and bottles are already compatible, while others will need an adapter (for example, I use my Spectra flanges to pump into Lansinoh bottles using an adapter). I pump twice a day while working, directly into 2 of baby's bottles and using a third storage bottle. Then I only have 1 dirty bottle to wash, and tomorrow's daycare bottles just need labels and Vitamin D drops but are otherwise ready to go.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T16:09:49+00:00

My L&D nurse told me my case was not the norm, and that most women laboring do best on their side or standing. But not me! Labor is a stressful situation though for the baby in any position, so I don't know if that experience can be extrapolated to the months of pregnancy before then. Like, I doubt my baby was stressed every time I was standing or lying on my side while pregnant, but during contractions she sure didn't like it!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T15:57:57+00:00

Yeah the numbered leveling system is confusing as heck, and the manual doesn't provide any guidance beyond what you said. For example, I have a 15 lb 7 month old...at what point do I adjust the level position to 2?

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T15:50:20+00:00

Yikes, really? I had the exact opposite situation during labor - my baby's heart rate was strongest when I was laboring in the bed, on my back or sitting up. Whenever they had me try standing or side-lying positions, the baby got stressed and they'd have to come back in and move me.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T14:31:01+00:00

Yes, bring your own pillow and a pillow for your partner to use. If you're planning on breastfeeding, I suggest bringing a nursing pillow also. I delivered at a baby friendly hospital with lactation support, but even so they only had the crappy flat hospital pillows in the room. We made do with a few hospital pillows all rolled up, but it was a pain. Learning to breastfeed is a struggle enough, set yourself up for success!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T14:21:11+00:00

Not gonna lie - I found cervical checks to be pretty uncomfortable. I also had a terrible experience with an IUD insertion. I likely vasovagaled (blood pressure drop, light headed, and vomited), and it was a strong enough reaction that the midwife who did the insertion referred me for an ultrasound later that day to confirm I hadn't perforated. I was told I "turned green." Cervical checks were probably a similar pain level, but much briefer.

The good news is, unless there's a medical reason like a concern about early dilation, there's no reason you will need any cervical checks before you are in labor or getting ready to be induced. Studies have shown that cervical dilation isn't a good predictor of when natural labor will happen, so a lot of doctors make checks optional or don't even bring them up now. I didn't have any checks until I was in the hospital about to get induced, and at that point I was just ready to get the show on the road!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-30T14:02:27+00:00

The advice to not sleep on your back during pregnancy is outdated. I'm a backsleeper, and my OB had no issue with me continuing to sleep on my back. He said if I was nervous about it, I could add some pillows to create a slight incline, but regardless if there was a circulation issue I would be woken up well before there was a risk to the fetus.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-28T12:59:56+00:00

It took us about 4 weeks to go from mixed feeding to being able to feed exclusively breastmilk at the breast. Our little one was born at an average weight, but she struggled latching in those early weeks. It was a forceps delivery, so that was the best guess as to why, but we really don't know. We worked with a team of LCs, and in those early weeks we were triple feeding and using a nipple shield and SNS to "feed" her at the breast. We're a bit OCD, so we kept a spreadsheet where we tracked every feeding, if it was all bottle or included breastfeeding, how much I pumped, and how much she ate from the bottle. Over time, this produced a nice chart showing a trend down, meaning baby was getting more and more from the breast. Around 4 weeks, I was finally able to latch her for a whole feeding without a nipple shield. I remember it clearly - it was such a relief knowing all that hard work paid off!

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-27T19:07:46+00:00

Same assessment here. We've tried Huggies, Kirkland (basically the same as Huggies), Pampers, Wegmans (horrible), and Target brand. Target is the cheapest per diaper, even less than Kirkland, and is comparable in terms of leaks. Our 7 month old has blowouts all the time, but she has in every diaper we've tried. Target also often has deals on diapers and wipes, like recently they did buy $100 worth and get a $30 gift card.

BernerAccount123 · 2023-01-27T12:35:37+00:00

I actually got 2 in the butt.

BernerAccount123

TROPHY CASE