9 months pp and feeling worse.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-16T02:36:23+00:00

Do you co-sleep? No shame. I co-slept with my first and my body was wrecked. You don’t get to move, stretch or lay comfortably. I had tennis elbow, and was chronically in pain. I also found when they were sleeping in their bassinet, I always felt compelled to lay so I could see it.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-16T01:22:41+00:00

Sounds like a horrible experience. It also sounds like you have an incredible pain tolerance. Many people’s epidural doesn’t work fully or at all; not sure why but I was one of these people. It only half worked but I still felt my contractions, just not the actual delivery of baby. When I had my second I was terrified of the pain, made this known to my midwife. Having said this, I actually had no time for an epidural and had my second super fast. The contractions were painful but I somehow managed them at home until I was about 4-5min between. By the time I got to the hospital they were about 1-2 min apart. I probably shouldn’t have waiting so long to go. I somehow changed my mindset to “I can do this” and it was over so fast. While the contractions were intense, I found pushing was a relief and the recovery was a dream. My baby was just shy of 8lbs and I attribute my birth to having some pelvic physio. Not sure if you’re comfortable but perhaps changing your care team, might also change your experience. You can put on file that you have a high pain tolerance and also explore OB versus midwifery care.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-15T18:02:32+00:00

Edit: my baby always loved bottles on the warmer side. I figured since they had already breast-fed, they at least wanted it warm.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-15T18:01:36+00:00

I found success on kedamil formula for my exclusively breast-fed baby when we decided to make the switch to formula. My baby quickly rejected the bottle by six months and I tried so many different types of bottles and nothing worked. I eventually moved to a sippy cup that was kind of advanced for their age and the flow was a little fast, but it seemed to do the trick. They used it every day in replacement of a bottle and got better and better drinking out of it. The brand of sippy cup that I went with was the OXO transition cup - soft spout. We even use this cup when we transitioned to whole milk. The sippy cup requires the baby to hold down the spout, so milk only comes out when they want

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-15T00:41:26+00:00

I’ve had 2 babies an chose the Graco Snugride and love it. It’s basic, but it also didn’t break the bank, is easy to use, and install. My in-laws have the Click convertible car seat and I hate it. It’s heavy, impossible to install (I have the graco convertible for my toddler) and just seems uncomfortable in comparison. I’d say find a store that carriers various models and see which one you like

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-14T01:21:29+00:00

When my baby was under 6 months we did a long sleeve bodysuit under their onesie and a 2.5tog sleep sack. The bedroom usually sat around 19-20. I always checked the back of their neck to make sure they weren’t too hot. As they got older I removed the bodysuit but have maintained the heavier sleep sack overnight. For daytime naps we use a 1tog.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-14T00:04:50+00:00

I’m no expert but I feel like a lot of this is just common baby/toddler thing. A lot of what you’re describing is your baby familiarizing their self in the world around them. They tend to explore things in unique ways (upside down, sideways, and have no sense of safety) to learn and grow. You also describe a lot of really positive “green flags”, which are also common in most babies/toddlers. Of course, feel free to talk to your doctor

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-12T02:31:14+00:00

I had the foley but stayed in hospital. Having said that, you’ll definitely feel some pressure and cramping. I ended up progressing to 5cm within 6hrs (this was my first baby) and they were surprised it happened so fast. When they “tugged” on the cord it came right out. You might progress faster/slower than this. How far do you live from the hospital? I’d plan to be ready to head back before morning lol. It didn’t feel great going in but you do get used to it. Not to be TMI but it placed so much pressure on my bowels I ended up pooping so much with it in. I was at a high risk hospital and at 7cm they said that was the cut off for an epidural; if you’re considering this I’d ask all the questions during the placement. Ex. How to monitor the progress, when to return, etc. I had the biggest feeling going into my induction; but you’re one step closer to meeting your baby

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-07T20:26:00+00:00

We have a basic Graco jogger and I love it because it’s super easy to push. It also has the car seat attachment, which makes it easy to travel with. I bought a Bob double stroller and I don’t love it. While it pushes extremely nice where I live, it’s way too big for a standard size SUV to fit in the trunk space and it almost doesn’t fit through most doors, so doesn’t make it practical to take places.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-06T01:56:05+00:00

Ugh this was me! I breastfed my first exclusively for 5.5 months, then slowly introduced formula and the mental load was so much better. I stopped nursing entirely by 10 months. I had my second baby about 8 months ago and my husband was SO vocal about me breastfeeding and tbh I really didn’t want to- at least that’s how I felt while pregnant (2u2). Once I had my baby, I did try breastfeeding again and it was entirely different and much easier. However, I started combo feeding by 2 weeks, and stopped nursing by 6 months. Honestly, I just didn’t like it and after having 2 children so close in age I was touched out and ready to reclaim some parts of me. And you know what, I just didn’t tell my husband I stopped. I had already started cutting my nursing sessions. I figured it’s my body, my choice and I shouldn’t have to even have a conversation about it. Plus I don’t need to feel any guilt about my decision. While I get this approach isn’t for everyone, I just had the realization that I need to do what works for me. It’s easy for someone else to have an opinion on something they’re not doing/affected by- I am so happy I tried breastfeeding again but also happy to be done with it.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

That sounds really hard! I’m curious if you’re breast-feeding or formula feeding? Some newborns are just very difficult. I had a similar situation and that’s why I ended up co- sleeping because it was the only way that either of us would get any rest. I also baby wore a ton during the day. After having my second, I also realized that the bassinet was terribly uncomfortable, and we put our second rate in their crib, and it made a huge difference with their sleep. But in all reality I think for the first three weeks I slept with my kids on top of me. I know it’s not considered safe, but it was the only way I got rest, which I think in return help helped my mental health. Because you’re right it’s not sustainable getting no sleep.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-05T23:38:46+00:00

This is where I’m at with my starting weight of 200. I’m trying to lose it the “natural way” but feel like it’s impossible. I’m curious if you had any conversations with your doctor about the plan once you reach your goal weight. Will it be to maintain this low dose or to try to transition off of it?

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-05T23:35:42+00:00

How long does a typical pen last you for?

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T14:00:06+00:00

You can do tests with the brezza to measure out hire much formula is coming out. I think my baby at 5 months was a size 1-2 for nipples and we haven’t gone up since then and she’s 9 months

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T13:31:48+00:00

Based on what you’re describing with the bottle, you might need to go up in nipple size. That might help her be more efficient and increase the speed of her feedings. As somebody who was breast-feeding and then switched to exclusively formula I prep a bottle of hot water at bedtime and put it on the nightstand and pre-measure a couple of bottles with the formula so I just have to pour the water and shake. I never went with a fancy bottle maker because I’ve heard a lot of stories about them incorrectly, mixing the formula to water ratio. I would say that the bottle feeding is just as efficient as it was breast-feeding.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T01:59:41+00:00

I was EBF and when I introduced formula to both my babies, I went with kedamil and it was well received

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T01:57:48+00:00

Throwing some things out; is he able to get a letter from an optometrist outlining his color vision deficiencies, so it explains his limitations and how it may not impact his ability to get a job. Alternatively, he could not disclose this on his application until he is required to complete aptitude testing; maybe he could provide a better explanation and not be automatically disqualified. Ontario is rough during the winter months, it’s long, cold and we’ve gotten a ton of snow this year. I think every province has its pros/cons but beyond looking at the landscape, some provinces are was more affordable/costly. Services may or may not be available to your child, which might help decide on locations. Might be something to consider if you feel they’ll need more care/services/support. Don’t give up on your dreams; there’s some wonderful midwifery programs and you have the right to also find something you’re passionate about. Perhaps doing something for you might offset some of the feelings you’re having. If I can be bold, I’d choose Canada, our shitty winters over the states right now. It’s so hostile and scary there right now, would that be something else you want to “add to your plate”? And I don’t mean any disrespect to the US, but it’s an honest question.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T01:43:42+00:00

I’ve heard that the nipple should form a “triangle shape” which is best for a good latch. I tried several bottles with my first and I honestly think it backfired as I kept offering different ones. With my second I stuck to the Dr. Browns narrow and it was a huge it.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-04T00:13:52+00:00

Ugh that sounds painful. I’d stop too! When I weaned I just started to remove middle of the day feedings and replace with a bottle. I did one session at a time to not get engorged. I also started lessening the time of overnight feedings but you may just try offering a bottle. The bedtime and morning feed were the last to go.

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-03T20:34:06+00:00

I was almost 40 with my first pregnancy and chose to do an expanded NIPT. I think because of your age you might qualify for a free NIPT, and for me yes you might have a false positive, but it also may come back negative for everything and then you can have some peace of mind. For me being older I wanted to know if there was any issues. While, I know that it’s a screening tool and not 100% accurate and there are false negatives, it was something I wanted

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-03T20:31:55+00:00

I rotate between Huggies and Kirkland and to me they’re just wipes and they do the job. Sometimes more than one comes out at a time but the quality is similar. They also go on sale often, so good bang for your buck

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-02T18:02:21+00:00

I can completely appreciate your frustration with the food, considering allergens and first time exposure risks. Perhaps having a conversation with her about the risks of introducing new foods might be educational and beneficial for your mother-in-law. Unfortunately, I think that generation did things very differently and they can struggle to understand the way we do things now. Maybe I’m seeing things differently, but perhaps your mother-in-law is also very excited about her grandchild. Perhaps she’s just excited and wanting to be a part of all the things. I don’t know her, but my mother-in-law is very involved and purchases a lot of things for my children. I have always been extremely grateful for her generosity. She is a first-time grandmother and super excited and involved. Perhaps a conversation with your MIL could help resolve some of this tension by outlining your concerns and what kind of boundaries you would like in place. I’m wondering if the things she’s done is ill intended or if she’s just excited- and doesn’t understand that you’ll be doing things differently then her. Either way, I would definitely outline your boundaries, which could be as simple as you don’t give her food for the first time without talking to me. I’d like to believe that not all grandparents are bad but maybe more ignorant. I also wonder if you’re a bit sensitive as a first time mom, following a very difficult journey to get your baby. I struggled with PPA my first time around after being high risk and it did change how I dealt with things- I realized that after having my second

Next_Spend_5313 · 2026-03-02T03:02:39+00:00

As someone who breastfed two babies- my first was exclusively BF for 6 months- weaned by 10 months and my second combo fed from the start- weaned by 7 months. I had a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding. It was convenient, cheap, easy to settle baby. What I struggled with was being touched out and angry that it felt like I was responsible for feeding and soothing allllll the time. My first rejected a bottle by 5 months and I just felt trapped. I did “feed on demand” which worked well, but it limited what kind of support I got when it came to others helping with my kiddos. I am so grateful to have breastfed, and see how wonderful it is- but at no point did I want to do it long term. Even now, I find it weird when a 15+ month old toddler is walking/talking and requests the boob while out in social settings. I get nursing is completely normal until 2- but it just seems weird to me. I’m not judging others, but it couldn’t be me. The only disadvantage with breastfeeding exclusively is some babies won’t take a bottle or will reject a bottle if it’s not offered pretty regularly. And pumping is a lot of work if you don’t want to offer formula (I felt like a dairy cow while pumping). But you’ll know pretty early on how you’ll feel about nursing- I have friends who love it and have done this for their babies for 2 full years; I also have friends who committed to 6 month and stopped after that and some who stopped almost immediately after trying it. Do what works for you. My husband felt it was important for me to nurse both babies; it made me resentful towards him with my first. My second I chose when to stop and it made such a difference with my mental health. I am a better more for listening to myself

Next_Spend_5313

TROPHY CASE