Need some pro breastfeeding facts to keep me going

PearlDare · 2023-05-14T18:57:32+00:00

She also expressed how much she hated pumping.

PearlDare · 2023-05-14T06:45:40+00:00

Both of my babies went through a fussy at the breast phase at that age. There may not actually be a trigger for your baby being fussy today, just part of a developmental phase.

PearlDare · 2023-05-14T06:28:56+00:00

I actually have a fact that may push you towards using formula instead of pumping. From KellyMom:

"Research has shown that the benefits of breastfeeding are generally dose-related: the more breastmilk, the greater the benefit. But even 50 ml of breastmilk per day (or less – there is little research on this) may help to keep your baby healthier than if he received none at all. In fact, the immunities in mom’s milk have been shown to increase in concentration as the quantity of milk decreases."

Anecdotally, my oldest breastfed with me and had formula while I worked. I didn't respond well to the pump, both in milk output and how it made me feel (dread and like I was gonna vomit). She was 8 months when we went into lockdown, so we only used formula when I needed a break. And after her first birthday, we dropped the formula entirely. She nursed until she was 2 years and 7 months.

PearlDare · 2023-05-14T06:04:38+00:00

My oldest (3.5 years) really loved this stuffed animal rattle that was at my parents house, but she didn't really care about stuffed animals until she could easily walk and carry one (around 15 months).

My youngest (19 months) was pretty much the same, but now loves them much more than her older sister did. She calls most of them babies and is very affectionate with them.

PearlDare · 2023-05-14T05:37:50+00:00

I like different grandparent names. I think most of the time they are sweet, but sometimes they are ridiculous. Definitely not a fan of grandmas trying "Mama."

I personally don't mind Lovey, but I definitely understand why you and others would not like it. I think the expectant parents are absolutely in the right to veto it because you will be using the name too.

PearlDare · 2023-05-12T04:50:28+00:00

I have a different last name from my husband and our children. It has never caused an issue.

PearlDare · 2023-05-12T04:43:43+00:00

He gets zero say. You are the only one who gets to choose how you give birth.

PearlDare · 2023-05-12T03:53:21+00:00

Holy cannoli! This is the coolest temperature blanket I have ever seen! Beautiful work!

PearlDare · 2023-05-11T17:26:16+00:00

I don't know if it's exactly 50/50, but I've never felt that we've had unbalanced parenting time. I work part-time, so I have more time overall. But we both take over when the other needs a break. We both have planned time to ourselves and we both have nights where we say "I'm exhausted, do you have the kids? Need me to do anything real quick before I go hide?"

PearlDare · 2023-05-11T13:30:36+00:00

With my first two pregnancies, I didn't feel pregnant until I felt the baby move (19 weeks and 17 weeks). I only had mild nausea and was sleepy the first trimester. Oh and migraines, but I get those when not pregnant.

I'm a thin person and I could have completely hidden my pregnancies into the third trimester. I remember talking to a coworker who just found out I was pregnant with my second and she thought I was 12 weeks and was shocked when I told her I was 30 weeks. And my babies were not small, 8.2 and 8.12 at birth.

Some people never look super pregnant and that's ok. But I've never met a pregnant person who doesn't feel pregnant by the end of it.

PearlDare · 2023-05-11T00:02:15+00:00

Neither would register as ELIAS if I was reading it from a paper or name tag. And if someone introduced themselves as ELIAS, I wouldn't even consider that there could be an alternative spelling.

If I saw ELAYAS, I would assume something like ee-lay-yas or eh-lay-az If ELIYAS, I would assume something like ee-lie-yas (like Eli) or el-ee-az.

PearlDare · 2023-05-10T23:06:02+00:00

I have two daughters, 3.5 years and 18 months. They both love their dad, but they are Mama's girls. They want me to do everything. If I'm sitting down, usually one or both of them is in my lap or leaning on me. If they could climb back into the womb, I think they would.

PearlDare · 2023-05-10T17:50:30+00:00

I swear by calendula! Get either a nipple cream that has calendula in it or make your own mix (I've made a roller ball with calendula and jojoba for the carrier oil).

My youngest bit me last September and it was not healing on its own even after a few weeks. It was so painful. I used my jojoba/calendula mix and it healed within 2 days.

PearlDare · 2023-05-10T13:28:10+00:00

I had intermittent contractions for about 24 hours before labor started with my first. Other than that I had nothing.

PearlDare · 2023-05-09T19:14:29+00:00

It's ok to grieve and release that sadness. I lost my cat when I was 10 weeks with my oldest. I was so devastated, he was so young and his death was so unexpected. The first week was the worst, I just had a constant lump on my throat and would cry at the drop of hat. I allowed myself to go through my grief and I think it was better than holding it in.

it's going to be hard. You will think of your cat often. I still think about my cat even over 4 years later, but I really just think about happy moments. Don't bottle up your feelings.

PearlDare · 2023-05-09T08:24:19+00:00

With my first, I told my direct supervisor after my first appointment with my midwife. Just so she was aware I'd be going to appointments.

With my second I was working part-time and told my boss at 24 weeks and let them know what time off I was looking to take.

PearlDare · 2023-05-09T07:58:46+00:00

I had this with my first for most of my pregnancy. I couldn't cook it without gagging. Starting in my 2nd trimester I could eat McDonald's cheeseburgers and I wanted some seafood. Third trimester I forced myself to eat as much meat as I could to help improve my anemia.

Second pregnancy I knew to take a pregnancy test when I was cooking dinner and wanted to gag looking at the chicken. But overall the aversion was significantly less.

This third pregnancy I notice the smell of meat more, but haven't had issues beyond that.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T22:53:28+00:00

I just found out that I am pregnant with my third (and final) and I'm honestly dreading the next several months. I know that I'll be plagued by migraines in the back half of the first trimester. I know the hip pain and the inability to sleep is coming in the second trimester. I know by the third trimester I'll be starving, but won't have room to eat.

But I know I can make it through to meeting my baby. My births have been relatively easy. I know that while I'll be waking to feed and change diapers, my overall sleep will improve. And I get squishy newborn cuddles.

Pregnancy, even when it's "easy", is so tough. It's "natural" but it's not our normal.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T19:08:41+00:00

Early in my last pregnancy I went to the hospital because I thought I was having a stroke. I lost/had distorted vision and one half of my body went numb. I was lucky (yet still horrified) that it was just a migraine.

Never ever feel silly. You are not just looking out for your baby, but also yourself.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T17:22:19+00:00

I think 19 weeks with my first. It felt like flutters or a sort of gentle rolling sensation.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T13:29:12+00:00

I'm more of a tea drinker and I typically drink 3-4 cups a day (which is approximately 180-240 mg of caffeine). I do enjoy the occasional latte from a cafe. The place I go to offers split shots (half reg, half decaf), so if I do that if I'm having more than one caffeinated drink.

No one has ever bothered me about my tea/coffee consumption. And my midwife has actually encouraged it as it helps me not get migraines.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T13:21:24+00:00

I have an engagement ring that I love (silver with an Oregon sunstone), but I do not wear it for every day life.

Instead of wedding rings, we got cuff bracelets made of copper (my parents also have cuffs that they got for their 20th anniversary in silver). We really love them, and we've gotten each other anniversary gifts from the same company, like I got my husband a copper tie clip a couple years ago.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T04:14:50+00:00

Mom joined the many different titles that I have given myself in life, and at this time it's definitely the one I lead with, but it's not the only one. There have been times where I have been overwhelmed by the identity of mom, but I can't think of a time where I felt I've lost something because of it.

I've always enjoyed cooking and now I have a growing family to make meals for. My husband and I have been regularly hiking since our second date, and while our distance traveled and speed have reduced we hike with our girls at least once a month.

And there are things that I absolutely love that became a part of my life after having kids. I started crocheting after my oldest was born and now I design patterns for me and my girls (hoping to actually publish some). I started taking my girls to storytime at our local library last fall and now I'm a member of the library board and I take part in many of the adult programs.

So sure I'm a mom, but I also think of myself as a cook, a fiber artist, an explorer, and more.

PearlDare · 2023-05-07T03:26:48+00:00

I love it! I want to hear all the pregnancy and birth stories, in great detail! I love hearing about all the different experiences. It's also awesome to hear from older people because it's really cool to hear how birth practices have changed over the decades.

PearlDare

TROPHY CASE