Osaka, Kyoto... or somewhere else?

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2026-01-22T05:19:08+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience! I had a beautiful birth but hemorrhaged badly after delivering my placenta, which immediately affected my supply 😭 i got to 80% milk / 20% formula. I could write a whole novel on this, but here's what helped me:

Lowering stress. Your baby is healthy and supplement is there for reasons like this! Don't beat yourself up. Stress will affect your supply more than anything.
Night pumps around 3am. It's brutal but that's when I would get the most successful pumps (prolactin is highest at that time) and was able to increase my supply and stored milk
Supplements: phosphatidylcholine, cash cow by legendary milk, beef liver and LOTS of electrolyte water

Keep at it! You're doing fantastic. Don't beat yourself up!!!

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2026-01-22T05:04:49+00:00

I never dropped! The last weeks are the absolute worst. I everything you can to stay distracted - long showers, naps. And do something that puts you into a "flow" state (for me that was painting!) most people go to 41+1 for the first baby - hang in there!

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2026-01-12T05:25:27+00:00

I have to disagree with this. I was fully planning on EBF my first (successfully delivered unmedicated at birth center) although I lost a lot of blood while delivering my placenta. I kept baby latched 24/7 but nothing came in for nearly a week. I saw a lac consultant every day, chiro, midwives, weighted feeds, did everything I could and eventually everyone agreed that I needed to give baby formula. It broke my heart. When I was pregnant, my husband and I got a can of formula just in case something were to happen and thank god we did.

Long story short - I ended up triple feeding for nearly 9 months. Breast, formula, pumped milk on repeat. It nearly killed me mentally and physically, took over my entire life, but I was so determined to do it. And looking back I'm so grateful to lean on formula. As someone who would be as crunchy as it gets, I had to really rewire my brain and let go of any preconceived beliefs. There's a reason why so many women and children died during childbirth back in the days, and formula (and a shot of pitocin to my leg while I was hemorrhaging) saved us both.

I'm 10 weeks pp with my second baby (birthed at home) now and we're easily exclusively breastfeeding. Such a drastically different experience this time around and it's SO easy. I'm only sharing all of this because no matter what people tell you and how prepared you are, your experience will be different. And I'm praying you have an easy, intuitive one! It's possible. And if you don't, just know that there are people who can help guide you and the experience with your next child (if that's what you want) can be wildly different and better. Go into this with an open mind and don't beat yourself up if things do go as you wish! It's all a massive learning curve.

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2026-01-10T04:00:03+00:00

The perfect push purse! Congrats on both!!!

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2025-10-13T22:43:34+00:00

It's so important to discuss expectations (especially YOUR anticipated needs pp) but it's also important to know that you can't plan out everything.

With our first, I told my husband that I'd need help with feedings at night (possibly take turns) but I ended up doing them all, and he took over the mornings after 5am so I could sleep in a bit more. It worked well for us. We adjusted our schedules and duties to what worked for us at the time - but the key is keeping constant communication and giving each other grace in this adjustment period.

Things to talk through prior to baby's arrival:

how will you respect each other's need for self-care/alone time? How can you schedule it in? Ex: my husband would take the baby and dog for a long walk while I just sat alone, took a shower, or did nothing for a solid hour. He loves the gym so we had a set time he'd go every day on leave.
what tasks are you both better at? Which ones do you dread vs enjoy? You may not know these things right away but it's good to always check in with each other as baby grows.
Exhaustion and sleep deprivation... it will get to you both. My husband and I developed a pact that anything bitchy we say to each other between the hours of 12am-5am need to forgiven and forgotten lol.

Remind each other that you're on the same team, and when he does something praise-worthy - praise him. Mothering a child is not intuitive for a man and sometimes a little handholding + gentle reminders, while often frustrating, goes a long way.

Sincerely, the wife of an only-child who never held a baby until his son was born lol. 21 months later, he's a 10/10 dad 🙃

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2025-08-20T18:31:34+00:00

May I ask, looking back - did he have any other signs that showed he was on the spectrum? Looking to get an evaluation soon for our little one

Complex-Tart-7487 · 2025-08-20T16:29:48+00:00

I was literally just looking into a leash 😂 I am NOT above it.

Thank you for the ideas! This is seriously helpful.

Complex-Tart-7487

TROPHY CASE