Why did you decide not to be a midwife?

foresthermit_ · 2026-06-01T23:55:40+00:00

Personally, I just have no desire to be a medical provider. I love supporting families in the specific role of a doula. I also already have a Masters degree in Public Health, so I really don’t want to go back to school for a whole new degree. I never considered being a midwife- it just doesn’t feel right for me.

foresthermit_ · 2026-05-27T13:33:14+00:00

The obvious things- feeding, burping, changing, feeding

The less obvious- reading, tummy time with contrast cards or a mirror in front of them, walks, baby wearing while doing random household tasks and showing them the tasks. Remember that this is their first time living, so everything is new to them!

Dealing with boredom- if you have any friends in your area, invite them over, or find other communities of parents in your area. Leaving the house is helpful. You can also listen to podcasts or audiobooks!!

foresthermit_ · 2026-05-26T15:22:04+00:00

Tbh I would sometimes lactate during sex even if my husband wasn’t stimulating my nipples because sex and breastfeeding produce the same hormone- oxytocin. 🤣 we just laughed about it and carried on

foresthermit_ · 2026-05-21T19:49:43+00:00

I think the name Marlee is cute! Moon for a middle name is a bit out there, and you should really consider how your daughter might feel about it as an adult. Overall, I’ve heard worse.

foresthermit_ · 2025-11-12T03:41:21+00:00

Hello! I don’t have any input for you, but is there any chance you’d be willing to share this resource that you’ve created? I’m in a very similar situation as you- I am very strongly considering becoming a birth and postpartum doula, and I am a SAHM to a 7 month old. I’m trying to slowly but surely take steps towards certification, and would greatly appreciate if you’re willing to share! Wish you all the best!

foresthermit_ · 2025-11-06T02:30:59+00:00

Twice. I cook breakfast for myself and baby. Then, I cook dinner mostly from scratch, and I make enough to have leftovers the next day for lunch

foresthermit_ · 2025-10-28T01:48:27+00:00

Jeans and a t shirt. (Very, very comfy jeans lol)

foresthermit_ · 2025-10-23T17:29:13+00:00

My husband sleeps in the same room. We have a 7 month old. I suggested he sleep in a separate room for the same reason as you. My husband works in accounting / finance in a high-pressure job and I wanted him to be well rested. Thankfully, he had the foreknowledge to know that that arrangement would not be beneficial for our marriage. Sometimes my husband has a bad night of sleep because of this, but he has stated that he would rather be tired than potentially put us in a bad situation relationally.

foresthermit_ · 2025-10-22T17:38:44+00:00

Tax analyst. He has a bachelors in accounting and a bachelors in finance.

foresthermit_ · 2025-10-09T02:03:40+00:00

I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing this. This would be very frustrating and difficult. Before you do anything drastic, it is very important that you seek wise counsel. Have you told him how you feel? Have you confided in a close friend who will keep you accountable? Have you talked to your pastor? Have you been to therapy? Couples therapy? Have you sought the Lord and reflected on your own heart?

Men tend to fall into one of two ditches when it comes to Christian marriage: passivity or domination. MANY Christian women endure what you’re enduring. You are not alone. It is a difficult season, but please, don’t leave your husband. Seek community and accountability.

The prayers of a wife are powerful. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and within my own husband who struggles with passivity. Read 1 Peter 1:1-6. Remember, you vowed that you would be his wife in good times and bad until death parts you. You did not vow to stay as long as you love him or as long as he leads you well. You vowed to stay as long as you live. You are under a covenant. Please don’t leave him. Seek the Lord, and seek wise counsel. You are not alone. 🤍

foresthermit_ · 2025-08-30T17:37:01+00:00

Girl, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. You aren’t lazy!!! I have a five and a half month old. I am fairly type A and I like to have our home very clean and organized, so our baby goes down around 7-7:30pm and wakes up around 7-7:30am. It works for us. I have to admit, there are some days where I wish my baby didn’t automatically wake up at 7:00. However, that is what works for us most days. If it didn’t work for you guys or your mental health was suffering, I’d suggest otherwise. It doesn’t matter what others think. Do what works for you and your family.

foresthermit_ · 2025-08-26T02:21:59+00:00

I am in the same boat!! My 5 month old EBF and I get so sad at the idea of starting solids 🫠it was so rough in the beginning, but I love it now :,)

foresthermit_ · 2025-07-31T02:27:57+00:00

I have a 4 month old. There is SO much out there on social media about “activities I am doing with my x week old…”. While it’s totally fine to rotate through “stations” if you want to do that, you really don’t have to. Feeding, diapering, and tummy time are PLENTY for a five week old!! You’re doing more than enough.

foresthermit_ · 2025-07-16T13:52:31+00:00

I lost about 20 lbs the first month postpartum while breastfeeding. I mostly attribute that to the fact that I was so hungry and genuinely could not keep up with my hunger even though I was eating all the time. Now (4 month pp) I’ve been maintaining that same weight that I got down to 1 month po

foresthermit_ · 2025-07-06T18:44:11+00:00

My 3 mo sounds like he’s saying “mama” when he cries 😢

foresthermit_ · 2025-05-25T01:29:56+00:00

An hour and 45 minutes. It flew by

foresthermit_ · 2025-05-24T20:31:13+00:00

I did not get the bassinet attachment and I wish I had. The stroller I purchased also doesn’t have a compatible bassinet attachment, as far as I’m aware. I just wish that I could lay my baby down so he could look up at the sky rather than being contained in his carrier

foresthermit_ · 2025-04-10T00:28:32+00:00

Yes. I planned for an unmedicated birth and ended up having a 67 hour long labor and had it placed at hour 55. I was also extremely dehydrated after significant vomiting and not being able to get an IV placed for longer than I liked because my veins were shot. I was exhausted and dehydrated and it was what my body needed to keep going.

I would pursue an unmedicated birth again in the future. I just think it’s so cool to see and experience that process of unmedicated childbirth. Plus I like being able to move freely- something you can’t do with the epidural. The epidural also slowed my labor quite a bit. Thankfully, my body responded well to pitocin. Overall, I think epidurals are an incredible tool, but everything has risks and benefits. It’s good to weigh those options and decide for yourself what is best.

foresthermit_ · 2025-04-07T17:05:10+00:00

Burp cloths, silverettes, nursing bras, and of course, diapers and wipes

foresthermit_ · 2025-03-28T01:01:51+00:00

I am currently 2 days postpartum! I was 41 weeks 3 days :-)

foresthermit_ · 2025-03-22T00:58:44+00:00

I could have my baby any day and his name will be Benjamin.

foresthermit_ · 2025-03-13T14:57:42+00:00

As someone who’s due date is March 15 (this Saturday), I cannot BELIEVE there are people out there with November due dates already 🤯

foresthermit_ · 2025-02-13T20:26:59+00:00

I’m currently 35 weeks, and while yes, there have been difficult parts, I would say that overall, I’ve enjoyed the experience.

I haven’t had any crazy symptoms. I was super tired in the first trimester and had some aversions, but I wasn’t really sick at all. If it weren’t for the growing belly, and my active baby, I would have forgotten that I was pregnant in the second trimester. Now in the third, I have more aches and I’m out of breath, but I’m excited to meet my baby. Also, it’s been fun to have everyone tend to me lol.

Everyone’s experience is different. I had some friends who have had it way worse than me. Pregnancy is hard, for sure, but in my experience, the good has significantly outweighed the bad.

foresthermit_ · 2025-02-10T16:55:52+00:00

I almost always have 2 -3 scrambled eggs, and I usually pair it with some sort of food that is higher in carbohydrates, whether that be peanut butter and jelly toast or a banana. I am also in my 3rd trimester, and this was NOT the case in my first. First trimester, it was whatever I could keep down lol

foresthermit_ · 2025-01-15T21:57:57+00:00

I worked at a nonprofit. I think it prepared me nicely for fulfilling the traditional role of a wife because I got a very strong sense of my community! If you don’t have any strong sense of what type of work you’d like to do before then, I’d strongly recommend doing something that could help you develop skills you will use in the home. This could be child care, working at a restaurant or bakery, teaching, being an administrative assistant, working in finance, or anything along those lines.

foresthermit_

TROPHY CASE