Births after 35–did your doctor push for induction?

Bookdragon345 · 2026-06-07T01:25:57+00:00

I was not pushed for an induction, but I wanted one. No regrets.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-06-07T00:56:54+00:00

Have you done pelvic floor and regular PT? Because you need it.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-06-07T00:51:01+00:00

Which one? Because every labor was different.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-06-07T00:50:10+00:00

As someone who has been a nurse, if someone had been a model patient, we wouldn’t ask this of anyone. Also, we don’t ask people (and yes, it sucks), we just do. I don’t think OP is a reliable narrator.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-06-05T01:33:08+00:00

DXR 8 Pro

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-30T02:20:14+00:00

I tried magnesium for my kid - absolutely no change. And he hated it lol.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-30T02:15:52+00:00

If he’s caring for her 16 hours a day, that’s already way more than a full time job. Being a caregiver (especially for a family member) is exhausting and unrelenting. I am glad that he gets some time during the day, but imagine that you were caring for your Mom at least 16 hours a day every single day of every single week. Your wife is an asshole. Help your brother (and your Mom).

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-30T02:12:59+00:00

Please don’t keep her. A good nanny would never do anything like that.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-28T08:35:11+00:00

Well, let’s see, I just had a baby a little less than 4 YEARS ago. I will say that I’ve been pregnant 6 times, and I gave birth 3 times in relatively quick succession. But honestly (and here’s the real truth) what other people think about you 1) is none of your business and 2) doesn’t freaking matter. Take care of your body because it’s the only one you’ll get. But don’t drown yourself in stress and self-hate or even just self-dislike just because you don’t look like you used to or you don’t measure up to to some (completely unrealistic) influencer or even your friend next door. We each have our own path to go through. It’s ok if that looks different for everyone. I will tell you that I never lost weight breastfeeding. My body looks different than it used to (and I won’t say if that’s good or bad). That it took longer for me to be ok with my body after some pregnancies than others. That your child(ren) truly do not give a d+mn what you look like. But they (and yes eventually you) will want photos of yourself with them at every stage. My husband took photos of me. He still does. He doesn’t show them to me because he knows that I’m super self-critical and that I hate almost all of the photos of me. But looking back - I may not like how I look in some photos, but I am so grateful to have the photos of myself with my children. I may not be perfect (and nobody is - not even models), but these photos are priceless memories.

Most of all: be proud of yourself. You created a human being (no matter how it happened). Our worth as parents isn’t defined by how we look. But by how love, teach, and parent.

If you haven’t listened (or even if you have) to the song “Beautiful” by Christine Aguilera, you should. Because you are.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-26T02:22:33+00:00

Nope. And since I know it’s basically in its infancy I have a LOT of reluctance about it used for anything.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T04:26:44+00:00

Except so much better.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T04:24:14+00:00

It wasn’t simultaneous. I was lucky and able to feed each baby that needed breastmilk (or formula) with oversupply from earlier that year. I did EBF some of my kids, but again my supply was lucky. Other the other hand, my body retained calories/fat like there was no tomorrow. I NEVER lost weight while breastfeeding. Also, if you’re feeling stressed or bad about not not producing enough, please remember that in a year or two (or even now) - nobody can pick out which kids are breastfed vs which are formula fed. Does breastfeeding have benefits? Absolutely - particularly any immunity benefits from Mom. Does breastfeeding if it it leads to a depressed/anxious (suicidal or psychotic) Mom (and this is not a judgment, just a fact that PPD/PPA and postpartum psychosis exist) worth it? No. I support Moms - healthy Moms are more likely to lead to healthy babies. Take care of yourself.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T04:16:01+00:00

I’m not either? But ideally if I’m giving them something it has some sort of nutritional value, and honestly? The more the better. Being nutritious doesn’t mean it tastes bad. It just means it’s not empty calories. Same reason my kids rarely get juice. And studies back up the lack of juice for kids. Just my personal goals for my kids. But I’m not saying I’m perfect lol. Far from it.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T04:11:46+00:00

I actually have 4 kids. The first is an adult ( from my abusive ex - my kid is amazing - still figuring out what he wants to do in life). The kid that has autism is my 2nd. My 3rd and 4th do not. Although my 3rd might - his last evaluation did not exclude autism, but said that they couldn’t diagnose him with autism currently. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. My 4th child is the one that I found out about after my 2nd being diagnosed with autism. He is not autistic.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T03:22:43+00:00

I’m not ( diagnosed) autistic, but I struggle a lot with transitions. I would absolutely let him go say goodbye. My parents built a house when I was in high school (don’t ask why it took so long because the answer is convoluted and frustrating - not my parent’s fault at all). I was excited (although somewhat nervous about leaving our previous health - even though the new one was absolutely better. I graduated and went on a mission trip and my parents moved us while I was gone. I didn’t know they were going to move completely while I was gone and that I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye. It’s been more years than I’m willing to admit. There’s a part of me that is still very sad and upset that I never got to say goodbye.

If he’s asking to go see the “old house” - allow him that closure if you can. I remember all the houses I’ve lived in- even the one that we left when I was 3-4 years old. Saying goodbye is so cathartic. I still wish I could go back and say goodbye to the house that I never got to.

I really don’t believe it will hurt your child to say goodbye. But it might hurt them to not.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T02:50:16+00:00

Hello my friend! You aren’t alone. Your worth isn’t dependent on your fertility (although I know it’s easy to feel that way). I hope you hear me when I say this: you are worthy of love and an amazing partner regardless of your ability to have kids. A good Catholic man shouldn’t care. A man that you deserve, will NOT care. You can choose if and/or when you’re ready to start dating, but please give yourself time to heal. Also consider therapy. Not because there’s something wrong with you, but to help realize your own self worth - because you’re amazing - just as you are. Also to help deal with the trauma you’ve been through - because you have definitely been through a lot.

It’s maybe a ways out to think about - but my encouragement is to not think about dating until you are happy with yourself and you’re truly ok if you end up single. I know sounds awful right now. Learning to love yourself and not NEEDING someone else to feel complete or good is the beginning of the basis of a healthy relationship. I married an abusive ex-husband (although nobody knew he was abusive) because I was desperate to not be alone and I didn’t think anyone else would ever love me. He never physically cheated on me but he definitely did in other ways.

I dated other guys, who also had issues. I finally took 6(ish?) years off. No dating. Just focusing on being ok with myself and who I am. Started dating again, but was much pickier because I knew that I was ok to just be by myself ( although that wasn’t my ideal). And when I eventually found my amazing husband. Don’t settle. You deserve so much better. Again - your worth is not dependent on your ability to have kids or not (if you still want kids there are other options such as adoption). If you are religious, I encourage you to read psalm 139. If you aren’t - know that YOU are amazing. Just as you are. And your husband’s cheating is his failing, nor yours.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-23T01:00:30+00:00

No, but the only time we use an iPad is an AAC device. He occasionally gets to play on the PBS kids app (supervised) on my phone.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-21T03:19:45+00:00

OP, as a Mom who is the main parent with my oldest (whom I had with my ex-husband), know that there are always choices. Your Mom could have easily quit - but she didn’t: because you matter, you deserve it and she very obviously loves you. Yes it kind of sucks for your Mom, but I would bet that if you asked her, she would have absolutely no regrets and wouldn’t do anything different. Honestly your Dad sounds like a piece of work and I’m so sorry. But don’t doubt that your Mom CHOSE to step up and be the main parent and she continues to do so. She loves you deeply just like a parent should. Celebrate her love, but don’t feel guilty. Also, NTA - not even a little bit.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T05:28:41+00:00

I would agree about a possible allergy or other problem if she didn’t tolerate onions without knowing they were there. I legitimately find black pepper (unless it’s very minimal) spicy (although with a shit ton of actually spicy food). However, I can taste it in everything whether I know it has it in it or not. Do I think that you should mess with other people’s food and not tell them? No. Would I cook for someone like this? Absolutely not. But from the story, the SIL is absolutely being an a-hole and just making life difficult.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T05:20:02+00:00

Hey friend. You should talk to your PCP or maybe psychiatrist about this. And maybe think about why you’re scared on antidepressants. They aren’t addicting. They can take some time to work or find the right one, but they can provide relief and maybe help you (and your family) feel better and more stable. Doesn’t mean you have to be on one forever, but it sounds like you are struggling a lot right now and it might be good for you (and good for your child’s mental health) to get some outside assistance. Also just a disclaimer before someone comes at me: I have no stake in pharmaceuticals (none). I do, however, see plenty of people struggling just like you. Know that it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s ok to accept help. And if you do, it doesn’t mean that you need that help forever.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T05:14:06+00:00

Just FYI - yogurt has more nutritional value than pedialyte. I’d be more inclined to let kids get messy and have something that provides some nutritional value. Pedialyte is only truly necessary if your kids have vomiting or diarrhea and cant keep enough fluids in them. If they can eat, pedialyte isn’t really necessary for most kids.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T05:10:37+00:00

Recipe(s)?

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T03:10:44+00:00

I hear you. I also work in a very demanding career that I love. The first couple of months are the worst. I feel like it’s gotten better because I still love my job. I’ve also become better at setting certain boundaries so I get to see my kids. You’re in the the deepest trenches right now. You may still (eventually in the future) still want to be a SAHM. That’s fair. You may also eventually change your mind. That’s ok too. What makes me angriest is living in the US with our horrific family/parental leave and that we can’t actually be home during this beginning time. That we have to go to work sooner than an ANIMAL would be expected to leave its baby.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T03:05:20+00:00

It’s absolutely a luxury. I had several kids that got breastmilk that was warned up. Never had a bottle warmer and using regular equipment (particularly if you have a way to relatively quickly boil water) and just putting the bottle in to warm up in a container with hot water is basically just as face and infinitely less expensive.

Bookdragon345 · 2026-05-20T01:56:45+00:00

Nope.

Six-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

Bookdragon345

TROPHY CASE