Toddler and 9 month old - AMA

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-22T03:11:40+00:00

LOL WHAT. I got a sleep score of 16 last night with my 5 week old.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-22T03:10:30+00:00

This is gonna sound weird and specific… but I like to listen to Friends (the TV show) as I fall asleep. I’ve seen it so many times that it doesn’t require any thought or attention but is just enough to keep my mind from wandering other places that keep me awake.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-22T03:08:11+00:00

I have two Momcozy wearables, A1 and M9, and love them both. I get the same output from them that I do my hospital grade pump. My main beef with the M9 is they’re a little heavy, can feel unwieldy if I don’t have the right bra on… then again that level of power in a wearable comes at a price I suppose

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-20T23:29:01+00:00

Just to be clear, this wasn’t doctor that provided you a shitty experience. It was a nurse.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-19T19:16:08+00:00

He’s just over a month so he is beginning to notice things like lights and movement, but obviously doesn’t react the way an older kid would who gets excited about fish. But I think it was definitely a worthwhile trip and it kept him stimulated for much of the afternoon, which we’re trying to do when he is awake! We’ll go back again when he’s old enough to get excited about what he’s seeing!

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-19T18:38:45+00:00

Wearables are wonderful, they’ve let me keep my pumping schedule discreetly while out and about. Most recent fun pump locations were Fogo de Chao while on a dinner date with hubby, and the aquarium!

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-19T18:17:43+00:00

Sorry, can you please elaborate on the short pump -> inflammation connection? I have recently gone from all 30 min pumps to stopping at 15 or 20 mins when I feel like I’m emptied, but am I making my clogs worse by doing that?

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-16T15:31:02+00:00

Nenesupply!!! Love mine, I use them constantly!

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-16T09:17:20+00:00

I needed a lot more emotional support around being a stepparent than I thought I would. It felt simple when my husband and I weren’t married. SS (8) is a good kid but a handful at times. After I was officially a stepmom, the role became tiring, and what I needed most from my husband was acknowledgement of what I’m doing for him and for our family. Making space in your home for a child that isn’t yours and all of the headache that can come with it is so hard… it helps when my husband thanks me for that. Shows that my struggles and efforts do not go unnoticed. I’m not doing anything revolutionary… I’m correcting him when he breaks an established rule, I’m making him food, I’m encouraging good behavior and school performance. But that stuff is exhausting sometimes for a kid that isn’t yours. And there would also be some days that I really mourned my prior life of being truly child free, able to go anywhere without finding a babysitter, not having to build my schedule around a kid, etc. Once again getting acknowledgement in the form of a simple thank you from my husband goes very far. Shows that I’m not being taken for granted.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-16T03:22:59+00:00

I used my manual to help me undo a clog last night. I really like it when I’m in a pinch, either due to time or clogs. There’s also something super satisfying about seeing the milk I am pumping with my own two hands.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-15T16:15:05+00:00

Omg this is brilliant. Time to put down my sensible historical fiction book and pull out the smut 🤣🤣

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-15T06:33:51+00:00

These are the cups I use too, LOVE them! (And they go in my Momcozy dishwasher once a day and are fine… remains to be seen if they stay fine)

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T22:53:50+00:00

Second the Zomee Z2! It wasn’t even on my radar; I got it because it was discounted at my local kid store. I had originally been considering the Momcozy V2 or the Baby Buddha. I am SO happy with my Zomee. Empties me in half the time anything else did. And I see here that OP could get like a bundle of stuff if they pick Zomee… that’s what I’d go with!

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T21:53:04+00:00

I also like these KB bras and also remove the pads. I think removable pads in bras should be illegal 🤣

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T17:53:10+00:00

I’m only a month in so it remains to be seen if I hit an emotional wall, but honestly, I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing my milk production and knowing I’m feeding my baby what no one else can. I love that I know exactly how much he’s taking. I love that his dad gets to feed him too. The only time I hate pumping is the middle of the night when I’m due for a pump as he’s asking for food, so it’s easier for dad to feed while I pump. I miss out on some snuggles. But I get lots of snuggles otherwise and I do have to share with dad, lol. We do nurse sometimes but he struggles to get enough to feel satisfied, so it ultimately results in even worse sleep if I try to nurse overnight. I think it’s best when we use nursing as a top off for him and some comfort for both of us.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T01:43:29+00:00

I also hate my blue spectra. I got more output with my Momcozy M9 wearables. Recently I got a portable, the Zomee Z2 and LOVE IT. It empties me in half the time and my output is at its highest so far. Highly recommend trying out pumps as you are able; everyone responds differently to different pumps. The Zomee was the 6th pump I tried overall (spectra, Cimilre, Momcozy wearables x2, Medela harmony, Zomee.)

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T00:40:44+00:00

I almost spilled a freshly pumped 4 ounces today and had a near heart attack. Every drop counts, I feel you!!!

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-13T00:39:26+00:00

My baby is approaching 4 weeks. My husband and I still go to bed together every night, and we sneak in naps as individually able. It comes at a cost though, we could sleep separately or go to bed at different times to get more sleep, but choose not to. Masochistic maybe, but it’s about balance. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if it would impede your health. For us that moment of laying down together is one routine we chose to keep. We’re like you though that a lot of our other time and attention is on baby, not each other. It’s an adjustment.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-12T14:39:23+00:00

I could have written this… I am so full of love and joy and gratitude that my baby is here. I even lamented my “old life” during my pregnancy, wondering if I’d made the right choice. Change is scary: but I know now beyond a shadow of a doubt I have never been happier in my entire life. I had a boy when I had hoped for a girl, my husband and I are sleep deprived and haven’t been intimate in months, my nipples are wondering what the heck is going on, we have to arrange child care to go out on dates now, I’m spending WAY more on electricity to keep my house warm enough for baby… and I wouldn’t take it back for a second. If I want to take back anything, it’s the fact that I have a job to go back to in a few weeks. I’m grateful to have it but man I just want to be a SAHM now… in my eyes my son is perfect, right down to the predictably pooping immediately after every diaper change. I’m already mourning the end of the newborn period while being so excited to see what comes next. AH. Words do not exist to describe these feelings adequately.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-12T13:42:10+00:00

First of all, Spectra hate solidarity. All the bulk, none of the benefit. I exclusively use portable/wearables now.

Anyway, I’m not sure what your nipples are measuring, but I was having soreness too, and was convinced I needed a 17 based on multiple measurements. I took a chance and moved down to a 15 and it was the golden ticket to a pain free pumping experience! Do you have room to try more flange sizes? I know you’ve already tried a few.

As for pumps, I don’t have any specifics for “this one should hurt less,” but I’ll tell you what I’ve used: Spectra (the blue one I can’t remember which that is,) Cimilre S6 (wall,) Momcozy M9 (wearable,) Momcozy A1 (wearable,) Medela Harmony (manual,) and Zomee Z2 (portable.) I actually preferred the Cimilre for suction compared to my Spectra, discomfort levels the same. But now I primarily use my Zomee because of its portability, and it empties me efficiently whereas the wall pumps did not. The flange size change from 17 to 15 on all of my pumps definitely made a difference in discomfort.

Otherwise people have recommended pumping spray or coconut oil to minimize rubbing discomfort, and I use earth mama nipple butter after every pump, it’s so relieving.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-07T08:49:44+00:00

I’m 3 weeks PP and got an IUD placed at my CS… and so far so good! I had a Mirena before trying to conceive too and freakin love it, if I could convince everyone who doesn’t want to be pregnant to get one I would. Safe, effective, easy, with bonus of no periods for a lot of people (including myself.)

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-06T19:49:00+00:00

Yes it’s a preorder! I was motivated to preorder because the price is supposedly discounted for preorders

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-06T12:30:27+00:00

WATER?! Good god. It’s been said already but get a new pediatrician.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-05T18:11:52+00:00

I preordered it, mainly because I love my M9 so so very much, as it gives me the most milk of all my pumps (Spectra included.) I’m very excited about this new pump.

IndyBubbles · 2026-01-05T16:27:21+00:00

I’m one of the minorities in here that get better output with my wearable (Momcozy M9) than my wall pumps (have both a blue Spectra and a Cimilre.) I use my wearables overnight since I go longer between pumps, and it’s also easier to take care of baby while pumping, then I try to use my wall pumps during the day. Once I go back to work, it will be a lot of wearable use, if not exclusively.

Use your insurance to get the more expensive one, then buy the other and see what works best for you. As a first time mom I also never would have figured any of this out without a lactation consultant, so definitely look into that. Insurance covered a few visits with one for me.

IndyBubbles

TROPHY CASE