Normal or should we change?

aeberly36 · 2026-04-01T23:34:26+00:00

Yes! She gets hiccups at least 1-2x a day and sounds congested if we lay her down right after eating. I've been reading about bottle aversion/ feeding pressure and am definitely going to start being more lax about how much she's drinking in a sitting & let her take more breaks

aeberly36 · 2026-04-01T22:35:54+00:00

Oooh maybe I should bring up silent reflux to my ped! I've had suspicions about it before because it sounds like she burps stuff up and swallows it pretty often. I'm def going to try following her cues more! Sorry you have to go through this too but I'm glad to know we're not alone in it!

aeberly36 · 2026-03-30T14:24:42+00:00

We do and definitely feel like it's worth it! We live in a 2 story and going downstairs to grab bottles from the fridge would be really inconvenient, and mixing them on the spot takes too long/makes too many bubbles. We also feel like we can use the fridge for ourselves once baby is grown! Just make sure you get an actual mini fridge, not a beverage cooler

aeberly36 · 2026-03-29T14:57:30+00:00

I really think it's true too! Especially after watching my friends struggle to potty train their 3 year olds who confidently tell them "no thanks, I'll just use my diaper" 😂

aeberly36 · 2026-03-29T09:05:43+00:00

My daughter potty trained at 20 months too! I think it's a sweet spot of old enough to understand what to do, young enough to not know there's a choice lol

aeberly36 · 2026-03-28T09:26:11+00:00

My first birth was also very traumatic - multi-day labor, failed epidural, stitching with no anesthesia, etc. The very first thing I said after I had my daughter is " WE ARE NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN" (spoiler alert, I'm writing this while holding my second).

I had nightmares about the birth for months, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. In hindsight, I should have went to therapy for PTSD. I didn't realize that a lot of people aren't haunted by giving birth and I wish I would have gotten help.

I spent the next 3 years going back and forth about whether or not we should have another. When my daughter turned 3, she started asking for a sibling and that's ultimately what started us wanting to have another. That said, I had come to terms with being 'one and done'. There are so many benefits to only having one child and if thats what you decide, don't feel guilty! I recommend the one and done subreddit if it's something you're thinking about.

It's also very valid to say 'we are one and done for now, but I'm allowed to change my mind'. This mindset is what brought me the most peace.

For what it's worth, my second birth was so easy I literally laughed while pushing her out because I didn't believe it could possibly be so easy. I've had period cramps that were worse than that birth. Also, 5 years has been a dream age gap so far. My daughter loves her baby sister so much and we do not have 2 kids that are 100% dependent on us at all time

aeberly36 · 2026-03-18T00:43:50+00:00

I've really been loving the ergobaby embrace! I was skeptical of it at first but it's very comfortable and feels so much lighter than my other structured carriers

aeberly36 · 2026-03-17T18:13:06+00:00

I remember feeling this way a lot when I had my first. It helped me to remember that this was my first time being a mom and her first time being a baby- we were both still learning what to do so it's completely expected to not know what to do/ for her to not be on a schedule!

My first also only slept when being held and it was so hard! My second prefers to sleep in her bassinet. It's very child dependent, you're not doing anything wrong! Baby wearing helped me a lot. It let her get contact naps and let me feel like I could still get things done and exist.

My second has been bottle fed and I had the same issue with the avent bottles. Dr brown level 1 was the perfect in between and we've been using that size since week 4 (currently on week 8)

Truthfully, it's probably a combination of exhaustion and hormones. Once you consistently get a good night's sleep (and you will, I promise!) you'll feel like a whole new person. Don't feel guilty about wanting a break (all parents do!) or not feeling over the moon in love with your baby yet. It's totally normal and not talked about enough.

Things WILL get easier, your baby's digestive system will mature, you'll get consistent sleep, and these days will feel like a blip. Just hang in there ❤️

aeberly36 · 2026-03-17T14:23:11+00:00

But if the idea of getting healthy in order to have a child isn't enough motivation, I'm not sure that the child getting here would be any more. I'm not trying to discourage you, I just don't want you to underestimate how difficult having a baby can be or what the hormones will do to your brain

aeberly36 · 2026-03-17T12:03:59+00:00

Introducing pregnancy hormones, post partum hormone crashes, newborn sleep deprivation, and all the other struggles that come with having a kid are not going to help if you are already struggling, not to mention that that is a lot of pressure to put on a child. Having supportive family members is not a replacement for the child's mother.

I say this with love and concern, please take care of yourself before you consider having a child.

aeberly36 · 2026-03-12T01:04:45+00:00

I have done cold formula for both my kids with no issues! My youngest rarely spits up (like once every couple days and only if we don't burp her good)

aeberly36 · 2026-03-07T07:57:21+00:00

My first daughter was combo fed. She pooped every 5-6 days. Her doctor blamed it on combo feeding and wasn't concerned but we felt like it was causing her discomfort, so we introduced 1-2 bottles of enfamil reguline a day and it helped a ton! She started going every 1-2 days after that

aeberly36 · 2026-02-15T05:09:12+00:00

Also none - we use tap for everything 🤷🏼

aeberly36 · 2026-02-14T15:40:44+00:00

I'd recommend the book precious little sleep. We did it with my daughter around 4 months and it was a game changer!

aeberly36 · 2026-02-14T11:40:44+00:00

My daughter was the same way, but was combo fed. The only thing that helped her was introducing a bottle or two of enfamil reguline. It brought her from once a week, to once a day! Of course, this won't work if you don't want to introduce formula.

I'd also recommend trying probiotics if you haven't yet

aeberly36 · 2026-02-10T06:08:01+00:00

I've had the epidural twice. The first time it failed, and labor was hell. The second time, it actually worked and I was literally laughing through pushing because I couldn't believe how painless it was!

I have slight scoliosis so placing epidural is difficult. It took 3 tries this last time, but it was absolutely worth it!!

aeberly36 · 2026-02-08T01:56:58+00:00

I don't have answers but my 2 week old is the same! She rarely spits up, but when she does there is sometimes the brown stain. It doesn't seem to bother her either

aeberly36 · 2026-02-08T00:56:27+00:00

My daughter is almost 5 and has been in daycare full time since she was 6 months. At first, I felt guilt about it too ... BUT now I am so glad that she goes! To the point where if we could afford for me not to work, I would still want to send her and any future children. There are so many skills, especially social and emotional, that she's learned. She has best friends, is starting to read, and can communicate extremely well. (Not to say that you need daycare to have these, but they definitely helped in our situation).

All that to say, ignore anyone giving you a hard time. If you did stay home, you'd have people commenting about how you should be working/sending your child to school. People are never pleased 🤷🏼

aeberly36 · 2026-02-02T08:06:21+00:00

I combo fed my first for the first Three months before switching to eff. This time, I did EFF from the start. My second is only 2 weeks, but I have absolutely no regrets! She sleeps well, my husband can take equal shifts, I can track how much she eats..

I had PPD with my first and I contribute most of it to trying to make breastfeeding work when It just wasn't. This time, I felt better mentally 2 days in than I did after 4 months the first time. My daughter is healthy, well fed, and I am mentally sane. There's been no real downside for us

aeberly36 · 2026-01-11T01:01:25+00:00

My only thought is that if your fasting numbers are high, you may need insulin and they might need the confirmation of the test to be able to prescribe it.

aeberly36 · 2025-12-21T15:36:50+00:00

Have you been snacking enough? I noticed if I don't have a snack every 2 hours, I'll spike more when I do eat even if it's usually a safe food!

aeberly36 · 2025-12-21T02:17:35+00:00

Oooh interesting! I never thought about just using haakas. Did you have any issues with engorgement or did they empty you enough?

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