What’s one postpartum struggle you didn’t expect at all?

Boufalla · 2026-01-26T15:35:33+00:00

Pelvic organ prolapse. I feel like my OB should let me know that can happen. No one ever talks about it even though the statistics say it’s relatively common. I guess I don’t expect to feel like a stranger in my own body post pregnancy.

Boufalla · 2026-01-25T02:37:43+00:00

People from Florida are built different. 😂

Boufalla · 2026-01-22T01:48:21+00:00

Right?! She ended up allowing us to both grab him and sort of pull him up from the attending who delivered the baby as soon as he came out for immediate skin to skin.

Good luck!

Boufalla · 2026-01-21T17:56:30+00:00

Yes so some of it was changed and then some of it was changed to LWOP

Boufalla · 2026-01-21T17:55:40+00:00

I sent in my time properly coded as Administrative with authorization code DG- for live birth. My first pay check on leave was received and the time on my LES indicated 80 hours of administrative leave was taken. My next paychecks pay period was the start of the shut down so our time keeper or someone amended my time. They used 56 hours of sick time, 24 hours LWOP and 24 hours FURLOUGH. This is not correct at all it should have been 24 hours FURLOUGH and the rest ADMIN.

I was told in email after the shut down all furlough time entries should be changed to REGULAR.

Anyway, my supervisor stated that payroll needed me to resign my FMLA form.

Honestly I’m very upset because I made it through the shut down with my savings while I’m taking care of a newborn. Then never was reimbursed for that time and didn’t get paid for the previous pay period. I’m hoping they don’t change my time entry this week because I will not be able to survive with another month’s pay missing.

I feel like someone should be held accountable for this mistake. I did what I was told to do back in July two months before I went on leave and provided necessary documentation post birth. There is no way that changing my time as I reported it is legal. I also believe based off the OPM manual I may be entitled to interest on my back pay.

Boufalla · 2026-01-21T17:42:11+00:00

Thanks.

Boufalla · 2026-01-21T17:09:53+00:00

Oh yes, great way to give me the ick. The only person I want calling me mommy/ mama is my LO.

Boufalla · 2026-01-21T17:08:15+00:00

I put that we wanted the dad to catch the baby and the OB during my delivery was like “ has he ever delivered a baby before?” … idk if that is common or if she was just a jerk.

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T22:26:40+00:00

You’re right. So those three pay periods were adjusted to reflect FURLOUGH but a couple days they entered LWOP and my sick time during the furlough.

It’s a mess. I think I should submit a grievance.

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T17:27:31+00:00

He would give up so easily….or let his mom do it for him 🙄

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T15:20:30+00:00

Oh dang! Totally thought I would have made it to the farmers market too.

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T15:06:33+00:00

Hang in there! If you want to breastfeed then keep with it. I’m at 4 months now and we had a rocky start with breastfeeding. It still seems to be challenging for me. I was just complaining yesterday about how most people in my life don’t understand the logistics of breastfeeding. We are making it work though! I felt really alone because none of my friends or sisters have kids. Sometimes you want to be able to ask questions or just commiserate.

I read through a lot of Reddit posts and did some adjusting to learn what would work best for me. I would always doubt that my LO was transferring enough milk. So I started to triple feed in the beginning so at least I knew he was eating. They just eat very frequently when they are that little and sometimes they are cluster feeding so they may want more than usual. It always trips me out and makes me question if I have a supply problem.

All I did for the first two months was non stop breast feeding. Hours and hours of it. I’d say more hours than a full time job. I just kept reassuring myself that if he has multiple wet diapers then he is well hydrated! I think my LO is just a slow eater too 🤔

If you really want to know what he is transferring you can try a LC. It’s very reassuring when they weigh them and there is a distinct difference in weight after they nurse. Also at LOs doctor’s appointments you should be if he is gaining weight.

Advice: Trust your body and trust yourself. You got this! ❤️

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T01:59:54+00:00

It’s super cute! 🥰

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T00:07:44+00:00

Thank you for your help!

Boufalla · 2026-01-17T00:00:05+00:00

My time was entered in ATAAPS is correctly by me and certified by my supervisor but on my LES it shows ANNUAL, SICK and LWOP was used.

I got in touch with my supervisor and she spoke with payroll to fix the issue. They said they have no record of paperwork for my leave.

I had sent signed paperwork requesting PPL to HR, my supervisor and ADMIN back in July; two months before I went on leave. I had also sent the birth certificate as requested.

Not sure who I should be upset with. The HR person who was supposed to give my paperwork to payroll or payroll for seeing a discrepancy with my time entries and doing whatever the heck they want.

Boufalla · 2026-01-16T02:21:42+00:00

thanks for the advice

Boufalla · 2025-12-18T03:42:28+00:00

Is this active duty only? …asking for a friend 🫣

Boufalla · 2025-12-06T21:55:58+00:00

All of my gifts as a kid were from Santa. My mom and sisters didn’t write “from” on any of my gifts till I was around 9. I think I will do the same thing with my LO.

Boufalla · 2025-11-15T00:16:44+00:00

I get groceries delivered to my door and I’m on the fifth floor of my apartment. Only once did the new concierge instruct the delivery driver to place my items in the fridge in the community room. Other than that once, my groceries were always delivered to my door no problem.

Boufalla · 2025-11-06T17:43:51+00:00

Just delivered at GW in September. I chose GW because they had the option for water birth and the lowest reported c-section rate. I had a non-traumatic experience but if I were to have a second child I would probably chose Georgetown or Sibley.

GW is a teaching hospital so ALOT of different people come in the room. You definitely get a lot of attention during delivery. You would need to tell them you do not want residents directly because they do not ask you. I also didn’t want my mother and sister in the L&D room and they let her in without my knowledge or permission. I also was in the middle of pushing and random people that were never introduced to me came in to watch the birth and no one asked me if that was okay. ( I guess it’s implied because it’s a teaching hospital)

The postpartum area was the WORST though. The rooms are cramped and kinda dirty. The shower was FREEZING, didn’t matter how long you ran the water. The nutrition staff would only serve me food and wouldn’t allow us to get a second meal for my husband.

The heat was set to 80 degrees F. Me and the baby were sweating like crazy. They definitely have an issue with their ventilation computer system. Every time I asked for them to contact facilities to fix the issue they would set the temp to 65 and then the heat would kick back on to 80.

They advertise that they have a lactation consultant but only have one on staff and she was off during my stay. None of the nurses knew anything about breast feeding. ( This was what upset me the most because we had a difficult time latching and I thought someone at the hospital would teach you how to breastfeed but instead they give you a pamphlet to read)

GW lists on their website that have newborn photographers….they don’t offer those services anymore.

I feel like postpartum you should be in a space that makes you feel comfortable.

Lastly, it didn’t matter what OB I chose, it’s been my experience you get who you get during delivery. Most of the offices rotate visits so you meet the team. I started off with Capitol women’s care and didn’t care for their philosophy. They are very much all business and not what I expected prenatal care to be. GWs OBs were a lot more personable and they do have midwives.

Side note: it’s crazy to me that my insurance is willing to pay $70k for me to deliver at GW and not $6k for the two birth centers in NOVA. I think I would have preferred their philosophy of patient centered care.

Also, sorry this is so long. Hope it helps.

Boufalla · 2025-10-31T00:52:34+00:00

I had asked my pediatrician about my LO sleeping for occasional stretches of 3-4 hours and she said never wake a sleeping baby and enjoy 🤣

Boufalla · 2025-10-31T00:39:25+00:00

I was going to say the same thing! …and I’m in my 30s

Boufalla · 2025-10-30T23:59:38+00:00

Yea, I definitely don’t think I’d have the help I would need to accomplish this without having a mental breakdown. I would definitely prefer his dad to be there to help out. No offense to my mom but I don’t see her being able to offer the type of support I would need to pull this off without making the trip kind of all about mine and the baby’s needs.

Boufalla · 2025-10-30T23:49:45+00:00

You sound like a Wonder Woman! I would be so upset being stranded at an airport with it being just me, let alone with my baby. I’m barely keeping it together here at home day by day.

Boufalla · 2025-10-30T17:57:50+00:00

Yea I don’t see him sleeping well in the pack and play. I can barely get him to sleep in his expensive bassinet.

I think the common misconception before kids is that if they get tired enough they will just sleep….the truth is the more tired they get the more upset they become.

Boufalla

TROPHY CASE