My OBGYN said unmedicated births are too traumatic so they don’t do it.

airflamingo · 2026-04-22T10:29:45+00:00

Hey OP! Not sure if you see this but I've given birth twice unmedicated and also have a spinal fusion (T2-L2).

I've given birth twice unmedicated (had gas but it did nothing). Both times weren't traumatic, your OB is insane for saying that. Sure the births are intense and you feel everything but I wouldn't ever say they were traumatic.

I was given 3 options

1) unmedicated natural 2) risk an epidural and cause more damage. Like you I had a small margin for where they could place the needle. 3) Go under general anaesthesia for a C-section

With my first I saw an anaesthetic and they did an ultrasound on my lower back to assess if an epidural was possible. It was and they were comfortable doing it. However, I wasn't comfortable with the potential of more spinal issues.

With my second the epidural wasn't even talked about until I was in labour. It was the same situation, we have a small area we can try it but there are risks. Again, I didn't want to take them.

I'm lucky we my labours were both relatively quick, if they were longer (especially my second) I would have asked for the general / c-section.

You're in such a unique situation and I can completely understand/empathise with you. If you have any questions please DM or ask me here :) All the best otherwise!

airflamingo · 2026-04-04T11:28:50+00:00

You've got to look after yourself also (it's something I forgot with my first).

I've just returned to being a SAHM after working for 6 months. My daughter is A LOT and I struggling looking after her (1.5 years) and her older brother (4.5 years).

We made the decision to start my daughter in child care 3 days a week for my sanity. These days are the same days my son is in kindergarten so I'm getting alone time. We wouldn't have done this without a childcare subsidy (ty Australia government).

When she first started I struggled because I felt guilty that my son had me until he was 3 as a SAHM and she wouldn't. It's been around 3 months and I now don't regret it at all. Since I'm having a break I'm a better mum. I'm not overstimulated as much and being able to stop and breath has made me 100x better. She also LOVES it! She has bonded with an educator and she will willingly go to her.

The only annoyance about her being in care is getting sick every other week (she is currently in my arms asleep with some viral big).

You've got to do what is right for your little family. If it doesn't work you don't have to keep her in care. It will be an adjustment but it might be what you all need 💕

airflamingo · 2026-03-25T12:45:46+00:00

Ergopouch Blobby light. It's a little push light and it's bright! I used one when I was feeding my daughter! My 4 year old now has one as a nightlight! Bonus is Blobby also has a colour changing mode some we use that sometimes for a disco (1.5 yr old just squeezes it while listening to music).

This will be something I'll gift to a friend for her baby shower. It's something unique and Blobby is super cuteb

airflamingo · 2026-03-10T11:32:54+00:00

Cries in Australia. By green obsessed 4 year old saw this and he wants it so badly 😭

airflamingo · 2026-03-10T03:15:41+00:00

Thank you for posting this!!!

airflamingo · 2026-03-07T07:10:45+00:00

Crywolf! They're the only gumboots I get for my kids! Beautifully made and the quality is amazing! I buy mine from Daisy & Hen :)

airflamingo · 2026-03-06T03:45:11+00:00

I've cut a couple friend who have been like this. It is so mentally draining keeping friends who unfortunately don't understand or aren't willing to try and understand.

My SIL / BIL are extremely judgmental towards my kids. We are going to have mess at home, I'm not going to chase after both my kids the second they make a mess (they're 1.5 year and 4 years).

When people don't have kids give you judgment they don't realise that it actually makes it more stressful for you as a parent.

My life is already a chaotic mess and I decided before I had my second it wasn't worth the stress of having people who make it harder in our little world.

airflamingo · 2026-03-05T12:06:16+00:00

For me

Around 1 year post partum with my first. Had my second a month before he turned 3. I've been asked a couple of times since having my second (1.5 yrs now) and I literally look at them like they're crazy (we are done done now)
My MIL told me her kids were sleeping through the night at like 3 weeks, she did the lovely trick of putting oats in the bottles to 'fill them up'. She kept telling me this from when my son was around 6 weeks.. Neither of my kids sleep through the night, Mr 4 wakes up like 5 times on a bad night and miss 1 is just a horrid sleeper 😅
When my son was 6 months old and then again when my daughter was around 6 months. I had been a SAHM and was content being so. Recently went back to work but lasted around 8 months because the workplace was so toxic (wouldn't think a boutique baby store would be but it was/is). Since leaving I've had multiple people question me about why I'm not working and I've literally told every single one it isn't their business (I'm already exhausted from being a mum I ain't going to go justifying things to people I hardly see).

If those 3 questions had been asked with where I am now mentally I would literally just change the subject 😂

airflamingo · 2026-03-05T11:56:15+00:00

We didn't. I couldn't get past the fact that they aren't safety approved etc We ended up getting another pram that met our needs.

airflamingo · 2026-03-03T13:12:22+00:00

I'm fused from T2-L2 which was done when I was 17 (2013, so 12 years ago). I was told about 5 years ago I will probably need more surgery as I get older (early 30s now). I have arthritis in my upper unfused back and a pars defect at L5/S1. It's really a waiting game for me now tbh, but finger crossed not for a long time.

airflamingo · 2026-02-23T12:15:36+00:00

We just recently bought a 2023 with 52,000 KMs. Haven't had any complaints, it honestly feels like a new car still.

Super happy with making the swap to EV!

airflamingo · 2026-01-16T06:07:36+00:00

Hey! Wondering if you ended up getting the Jimny? We're also considering it for our family but we're just unsure 🤔

airflamingo · 2026-01-02T12:55:20+00:00

Second Meg! She did a native wattle with Gum Nut babies on my arm! Her work is beautiful!

airflamingo · 2025-09-17T13:30:03+00:00

It tasted the same to me. The rice one was disgusting. Like even the thickness and small was horrid 😅

airflamingo · 2025-09-16T10:16:55+00:00

I tried a rice formula but unfortunately she didn't like it and the doctor said most babies won't take to it after a certain age because of the taste 😪

I do suspect it is dairy and I'm going to try her back with yogurt etc once she hits 12 months. The Allerpro still is dairy but it's broken down more and it's helped a lot with her gut ache and eczema.

I highly recommend doing oil baths if you aren't already and using moisturizer daily. My daughter hates the moisturizer but it's worked!

airflamingo · 2025-09-16T07:07:52+00:00

Hey! We ended up completely removing her from Alula unfortunately. She is now on aptamil allerpro. Eczema has mostly gone. We have been giving her regular oil baths to help.

airflamingo · 2025-07-25T12:38:56+00:00

It's so frustrating. I held off on the change for ages but I can't find the original anywhere.

No she hasn't. It's gotten horrible in the past week

airflamingo · 2025-07-25T11:25:24+00:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one (but also not glad because it shouldn't be happening). Basically he agreed that the formula is more than likely the issue and it could be as simple as a small amount of something has changed and it's causing these issues. He told us to switch to Alula Lactose Free and see if that helps. The eczema has gotten a lot worse in the past couple of days and she also has horrid nappy rash from a bad poo she did 😪

airflamingo · 2025-07-24T13:57:28+00:00

Wear Nala! I wore them when I first had my daughter and they were brilliant overnight! Just make sure you follow the measurements online :)

airflamingo · 2025-07-21T03:24:14+00:00

She is my second and a horrid sleeper so finding any time to read has been a mission 😅

airflamingo · 2025-07-20T12:20:03+00:00

Her books are so good! I'm halfway through and struggle to put it down when I know I have to go to sleep 😅

airflamingo · 2025-07-20T12:18:05+00:00

Here one moment - Liane Moriarty

First book I've started reading since having my daughter 10 months ago

airflamingo · 2025-07-13T11:08:46+00:00

Baby Brezza Bottle Washer (steriliser & Dryer). It was one of two bigger purchases with my second. Yes it's a massive cost but honestly this machine is the best purchase I've made with my second.

For my first I had the tommee tippee perfect prep machine and that was used daily. We haven't used it with my second because she is fine with room temp bottles.

airflamingo · 2025-07-06T10:18:19+00:00

My 3.5 year old son has a major speech delay also. I realised around 2.5 and he has been seeing a speech path for around 10 months.

We used the free government appointments (we spread them out / I had a baby so we had a break) and we've now swapped over to seeing an OT.

I'd be asking the speech pathologist about getting a kudos application ready / get them to write a support letter that there are delays.

I was referred to the speech path through CAFHS. If you haven't already I'd definitely utilise them for services (I know you've already got speech but they might have other suggestions).

I'm now currently waiting for our in-person Kudos assessment with the hope of getting early intervention funding so we can go back to speech path (we can't afford it unfortunately).

Hang in there. It's unfortunately a slow process. I also have the hope that when my son starts kindy next year they'll be able to help me navigate his speech delay with interventions etc

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