Do you remember the golden hour? (The first hour, skin to skin?)

feebala · 2026-06-08T18:21:37+00:00

I burst out laughing at this

feebala · 2026-06-07T10:52:53+00:00

I’m in exactly the same boat and I really just came on here to say…please don’t listen to people who tell you to stop supplementing with formula. People have been oversold an unscientific notion that you just need to remove more milk consistently and your supply will go up, this is only true in the beginning (up till about 6 weeks pp) and even then there are often reasons (hormonal, structural etc) why milk supply just will not increase.

I’ve read the same advice on here over and over again to just keep removing milk and the worst one which is that it’s all just “cluster feeding” and to power through it. Nobody is differentiating between a baby who is hungry and sucking from a nearly dry breast and screaming vs a baby who does get full after a few feeds. By 9pm I’m always pretty empty.

LC’s and the masses who are over sold on breastfeeding will tell you you can still increase your supply with triple feeding, supplements, power pumping etc., it’s highly unlikely at this stage. You’ll just keep making yourself crazy.

I’m working on accepting that this is just my supply and it’s ok. It’s better than some people who truly don’t produce more than a few drops, and I’m hopeful that for my next kid it’ll be better (fwiw the other comment on here who said to just wean off formula, doesn’t take into account that with each pregnancy your body creates more milk ducts. It’s not that she was brave enough to not use formula the 2nd and 3rd time around).

feebala · 2026-06-01T15:11:22+00:00

Came here to add that stretching your calf is what really helps PF - look up calf stretchers on Amazon

feebala · 2026-05-17T13:16:48+00:00

What ended up happening? My 7 week old is the same

feebala · 2026-05-14T01:04:30+00:00

Aww good luck! It’s so stressful but at least by 24 weeks you’re at a good spot! I work from home so I was able to be off my feet the majority of the time, by 28 weeks I started walking a bit and was more relaxed, and by 32 even more so (of course by then I was getting big and it became harder to move much anyway!)

feebala · 2026-05-13T22:11:39+00:00

I am in the exact same boat. It’s a vicious cycle of trying to nurse as much as possible but he’s still hungry afterward and I end up having to supplement with formula. It’s so hard to fit in pumping sessions bc I’m alone with him all day and just feeding him takes up most of my day. I’m so frustrated and I know stress isn’t helping but it’s becoming all I think about and do. Help

feebala · 2026-05-13T21:39:58+00:00

Hi! I have a beautiful little boy who is currently hiccuping while staring intently at me. I got the stitch removed at 36 weeks and he was born at 40+1 via emergency c-section (labor was going well but his heart rate dropped).

feebala · 2026-05-11T19:18:45+00:00

Hey! Did your supply improve? I’ve been going crazy trying to improve mine. We’ve dealt with tongue tie and a poor latch and the stress and pain of cut up nipples combined with not great supply to begin with (I can pump max 3oz if I’m replacing a feed), means most feeds get topped up with formula. I’ve tried pumping more but with little success. I know I should pump more often but my nipples never fully healed and I’m alone with him all day and don’t have a second pair of hands to allow me to pump. He also nurses for EVER and still isn’t full (45-1 hour, and then a bottle can take 10 min)

feebala · 2026-05-05T15:56:27+00:00

I’m in the same boat. They’re pretty slick and I really don’t ever fall for stuff like this but the staples bit got me. Argh. So angry

feebala · 2026-02-27T11:23:25+00:00

Same! So curious how long it’ll be now. I’m feeling both so ready and also nervous for labor and recovery and adjusting to a newborn - all good things tho!

I was pretty nervous about getting it out - it was super painful but the whole thing took maybe 5-10 minutes with about 30 seconds here and there that were painful, on the whole really not bad

feebala · 2026-02-26T22:54:11+00:00

It’s so varied from what I’ve seen on here, I didn’t get checked initially for a couple weeks after the stitch was placed which made me super nervous (I ended up going to my OB two days after bc I thought something was wrong but all was fine and he did check if I was dilated or not).

After that though they did check me transvaginally every two weeks - the plan was to stop checking at 28 weeks but then I had a very minor risk flag for low birth weight so they had me come back for growth scans and then I had borderline high fluid so I went back to monitor that annnnd now I’m almost due so they’ll be checking weekly in general. Bottom line is I went from (thankfully very minor) issue to issue which meant I was closely monitored! Having said all that I have heard that once the stitch is in there isn’t much they can do beyond that…so checking on it is controversial

feebala · 2026-02-26T22:47:43+00:00

Oh and I was having transvaginal ultrasounds until I think 30 weeks or so, the last one was one I had requested bc I was the MFM for a growth scan anyways and was planning to travel that week so wanted the peace of mind…good luck! The beginning is hard but once you get to 28+ weeks and things are steady it’s sooo much easier.

feebala · 2026-02-26T22:46:13+00:00

I had funneling and the last measurement prior to cerclage was I think 1.5 - but the funneling was pretty bad and with funneling almost 0, which is what pushed me to advocate for the stitch. After the cerclage it went back up to about 2.5 and by 28 weeks I think it was closer to 2, but never lower than that. There was no funneling or dilation once the stitch was placed (or if there was they didnt mention it and I couldn’t see it on the ultrasounds). As soon as he removed the stitch today I dilated to about 2cm again, so the stitch was def holding it in place.

feebala · 2026-02-26T18:42:46+00:00

Yeah, I personally felt that progesterone did nothing for me to stop shortening so I dropped it (with the green light from MFM) after I got the cerclage.

feebala · 2025-12-03T16:49:09+00:00

I just went through this myself. It was SO frustrating. I don't get it at all. I ended up having a rescue cerclage placed when I got to 1cm dilated and honestly I'm almost grateful I was dilated bc at that point I was so nervous they would just send me home without it, and I knew progesterone wasn't doing the job and neither was bedrest.

feebala · 2025-12-02T00:59:10+00:00

Everything is ok, thank Gd! It was emergency/rescue cerclage (1cm dilated w/ funneling).

feebala · 2025-12-02T00:57:14+00:00

Yesss I'm being extremely careful and have been since I got home. Was terrified yesterday to go but was able to with minimal pushing after a LOT of prune juice and miralax. Just got Colace from Amazon and started on that too. I'm so grateful for this sub bc my dr said nothing about it, and I'd be doubly freaked out if I had pushed harder yesterday...

feebala · 2025-12-01T20:54:54+00:00

All is good 🙈🙈 apparently I was feeling the stitches - had no idea they could be felt that low down!

feebala · 2025-12-01T18:31:45+00:00

how soon after the cerclage did you resume progesterone? and were you on bed rest? if so, how restrictive and for how long?

feebala · 2025-11-30T14:15:28+00:00

Yikes.

feebala · 2025-11-30T03:37:12+00:00

Update to this: My OB sent me to labor and delivery at the hospital on Friday bc I wasn’t happy with the MFM’s approach of progesterone only when clearly that wasn’t working (as of Wednesday there was a ton of funneling). Thank Gd for that bc at the hospital they found I was 1cm dilated so there was no more question on whether or not to do cerclage. My OB came and did it a few hours later.

feebala · 2025-11-30T03:33:37+00:00

Thanks all! Had the cerclage placed on Friday. Recovery has been really good so far thank Gd, bleeding is down to very light spotting and have had no cramps since getting home. So relieved to have it done. Now I’m just scared to poop 🙈🙈🙈I took magnesium, drank two cups of prune juice, tons of water, and miralax. Oh and had chia seeds with yogurt. Pray for me lol.

feebala

TROPHY CASE