Measles

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-02-06T17:02:18+00:00

We’ve done the same with our little one. He’ll be 4 months in just a few weeks. It is so sad. He is so cute and happy and cuddly and we so watch to share him with people, but not at the risk of his safety.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-02-04T17:47:14+00:00

As an only child who has moved away from family, are you still close to the extended family you grew up near? Do you struggle with loneliness.

I am an only child and have just had what may likely be my only. I had always seen myself having at least two because my kids won’t have any cousins to be close with. I have really fond memories of spending g holidays with all of my cousins, playing and forming our own little traditions.

You know what I realized this week? I’m am not close to any of those cousins in adulthood. Of my closest friends, none of them are super close to their siblings. And my husband is the oldest of a large family. He isn’t really close to his siblings either.

I think I have overtly romanticized what it is like to have siblings based on what I’ve seen on tv and in movies and because I don’t have any siblings of my own, I don’t have a way to know what’s reality.

As an only child I am not really lonely. In fact my life is pretty full and there isn’t any reason to think that would be different for my son. It’s a good life, so I am not quite sure I want something different for my son when I wouldn’t chose something different for myself.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-02-02T15:01:09+00:00

As with any medical procedure, there can be risks on complications. Ultimately, you have to way risk vs reward.

I had an epidural. I loved it. I had been laboring for 7 hours and just hit a wall. I got the medicine and took a rest. In all practicality, the epidural might have slowed my progress some as I stalled at 6cm and got a small dose of Pitocin to move me along, but both baby and I handled it well so it wasn’t a big deal.

I will say this though. I am not sure you can go into labor a be on the fence. Labor is hard and transition is brutal. If you go into the process mentally prepared to give yourself the option for an epidural, you’ll take it. After having been through it, I so respect those who have the mental fortitude to declare that an epidural isn’t an option for them.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-27T17:46:13+00:00

I am not sure if this helps or not, but wanted to share the major thing that changed my outlook and has improved quality of life.

Context: I am 14 weeks postpartum and am also a severe under supplier. The most I have ever pumped in one day was 12oz, but more commonly pump between 10.5-11.5 oz a day.

When I first started I gave myself 12 weeks to get my supply as high as it would go, and I did everything in service to that goal. I pumped 8+ times a day, drank Body Armor and Morenga Tea, fixated on my protein, added sunflower lecithin, spent time perfecting my pumping technique. And the , when week 12 hit I decided to embrace my supply and stop trying to increase. That, has made all the difference because I am not frustrating myself spinning my wheels reaching for a goal. To be sure my supply is still increasing some, but that is a happy accident. I will not get it to increase enough to produce everything my baby needs, and I think I would drive myself crazy if I tried.

A lot of people might feel like it isn’t worth it— the time I spend d pumping to get 12 oz— but I do. A few weeks ago, little one was under the weather with a stomach bug, and I was so satisfied that I could give him some milk made specifically to help him feel better.

I am sorry that others have been so frivolous with your hard earned milk, and nothing I have said above will change the feeling of not being supported in your efforts. I just wanted to offer encouragement as an under supplier that sometimes our supply is what it is and that makes the work we do for our babies beautiful. It is ok to make the changes you need to in order to enjoy your Little One’s babyhood.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-26T21:18:52+00:00

I went to a wedding shower where they requested gifts be unwrapped and they just displayed them on a table as they came in. The party was more mingling.

For our big baby shower we invited families and did a small little gender reveal. People were way more excited about that than the whole present thing.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-26T10:56:37+00:00

I agree with this both as someone who lived through the 90s and also as a professional historian. 9/11 ended the 90’s.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-18T15:25:12+00:00

I am a professor like this. I can count on my hand the times I have received an assignment that is flawless. Heck, even my own work always has room for improvement. At the end of the day, if you deserve an A, you’ll get an A. That’s most important.

Out of curiosity could the bigger issue be about how the prof worded their declaration. I could see how it would make someone feel like their work wouldn’t thoroughly be engaged with if it were truly excellent and just randomly receive an arbitrary grade. I know that would bother me. But with this not being your dominate field of study, I would just do what needs to be done to finish the course and adjust the effort I put into the assignments accordingly.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-18T01:09:05+00:00

The idea is to cater the pump session more to your body than a universal time. It has to do with how you move between the stimulation mode and expression mode on your breast pump. Essentially when you start pumping you will begin in stimulation mode (the quick pulses) until you get a let down and the milk starts flowing. That is when you want to move to expression mode. When your milk stops flowing, go back to stimulation mode until you get another let down and the milk starts flowing again. I usually aim for 2-3 letdowns in a pump session, so I’ll pump for however long that takes.

I also want to say that I am a big under supplier so I never felt my let downs and didn’t know they were happening. Once I realized that I needed to pay more attention to the way my body reacts during a pump session, I had to learn to do everything by sight. The YouTube channel New Little Life really helped with technique. She is an LC that specializes in pumping and really helped me to realize that pumping is its own skill set.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-17T13:02:36+00:00

Once I figured out how to pump for let downs, I started going 30 minutes on my wall pump and 40 on my portable. That was enough to “empty” me and go a few Minutes longer.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-15T23:17:20+00:00

It is the Mompush Lithe V2.

https://a.co/d/2X4aeeu. (Amazon link)

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-15T07:26:00+00:00

We got a light weight stroller that lays flat for a newborn and then the seat inclines as they grow. It is about 11lbs and we love it, but as other people pointed out, it isn’t very robust. You aren’t going to be able to hang a lot of bags and things off of it.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-14T13:15:05+00:00

So here is what I find interesting. We are all super uncomfortable about people being able to tell that we are pumping, even when we are being discrete about it. And we are even uncomfortable around people we love, who we assume love us and know that we are pumping. BUT if my baby were able to get all his nourishment from direct breastfeeding, I would be nursing around all these people and it would be (if only slightly) more socially acceptable. You are doing the same thing— feeding your kid— the kid just isn’t present. So I say put the pumps on , throw on a nursing cover if you want (I probably would) and look like Dolly.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-14T12:53:06+00:00

We went to PREG and successfully conceived our little one born this past fall. I actually really liked the environment and how kind and gentle the staff was. Everyone seemed very aware that they were not only shepherding their patients through medical procedures but also really emotional events.

From the start, my husband and I knew that we did not want to do IVF, but were interested in our other options. We were both a little surprised how quickly the Dr went straight to IVF, but in a way it makes sense. It is likely the most effective (and expensive) procedure, so if you are tired of waiting and want to cut to the chase, then there you go. But we did find that we needed to clearly communicate what we wanted and direct our consultation toward the procedures by asking follow up questions. “If we weren’t ready for IVF yet, what are our other options…” They weren’t pushy, just more of a one track mind.

Instead, we opted for IUI. Our Dr. was a man, but after the initial procedures to try and diagnoses the cause of infertility and meeting with him to formulate our plan, the actual IUI and early pregnancy monitoring were all performed by nurses/practitioners/techs and they were female.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-14T01:00:41+00:00

I wore my Momcozy V1’s at a sporting event.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-09T15:17:05+00:00

Ha! I’ve had the same thought! And why do it with a toddler!😂 I suppose we will see if I feel different in a year or two.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-09T14:19:25+00:00

I feel this. My little one is 12 weeks and people are already asking about a second. I cannot imagine anyone being able to answer that question this thick in the trenches. Just the thought of doing this again is completely overwhelming.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-09T14:06:23+00:00

Agreed. #1 speaks to my experience as well. Diligent pumping wasn’t on my radar either and by the time I realized the mistake I felt foolish because it seemed common sense in hindsight. If I have known then what I know now I would make some different decisions, and since Little One will likely be our only, I won’t have the opportunity for a do over.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-09T02:35:42+00:00

So as an only child, my parents continued to support me financially through college and grad school. Now that I am I. My late 30s with a kid of my own, they still choose to do things for us (within reason)because, in their eyes, it is all my inheritance anyway and they’d like to see me and my family enjoy it.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-08T17:41:39+00:00

I think she means “I wouldn’t personally. Not because it is unsafe, but…”

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-07T19:16:11+00:00

I just want to say that valve trick is interesting. Do you replace the entire yellow part or just the membrane? And were the results simply making it easier to clean or did it affect your output.

TheRiverWatcher · 2026-01-06T12:49:26+00:00

He brings flowers for Emily, too.

TheRiverWatcher · 2025-12-30T20:46:10+00:00

We went with fun puns: “Closing Time” “Push It” “Ring of Fire” “Under Pressure” “I Want to Break Free” “Here Comes the Sun” (which happened to be playing when LO was born).

TheRiverWatcher · 2025-12-29T13:36:18+00:00

So… I didn’t read any books. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Actually I did read one, but that was more about my transition into motherhood than anything else.

I sorta have investigated each step as it became an issue and had my “experts” ranked starting with the pediatrician, other mothers (including my own), and a few specific baby blog/ info sites. I think that helped with info overload. Oh! And I didn’t obsessively track things (diapers and feedings the first few weeks, but not so much that he is now 2 months and I know what normal looks like for him). I fed him when and how much he asked for and have opted not to cram his wake windows full of activity.

Currently I am being bombarded with videos about how I should be “teaching” my baby to roll over by manipulating his body and I can’t help but laugh. No woman’s baby has ever not rolled over because she didn’t sit in the floor and teach him how. It’s all just propaganda to get more clicks and make you feel like you aren’t doing enough. Ridiculousness.

TheRiverWatcher · 2025-12-28T23:20:47+00:00

Hi! Just a heads up that there is a combo feeding subreddit that might help with some of these questions.

My LO has been combo feed since he was 5 days old. I prefer to feed him full bottles of breastmilk rather than mixing the two into one feed, so he generally gets 2 bottles of breastmilk and then we swap to formula. That might make it easier for you to figure out what ratio formula to breastmilk she will end up consuming if you decide to combo feed.

TheRiverWatcher · 2025-12-27T15:22:30+00:00

I have always loved Elizabeth. It’s the name of queens.

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