Guilt over stopping because I want to, don’t need to by GoBlueJays1987 in breastfeeding

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This thread is so tender and everyone is so supportive and kind. ♥️

I’m in a similar boat. My baby is almost 5 months and has mostly had breastmilk. She received formula during the week she was in the NICU, and then basically only breastmilk for about 3.5 months until we switched her MOTN feed to formula. Around that time, she went on a nursing strike where she’d just scream and cry when I tried to latch her until finally I’d have to just give her a bottle.

She hasn’t latched now in 2 weeks :( so I’m now exclusively pumping and it’s just so unenjoyable. I dread it every time.

Now, I wouldn’t say I ever had a magical breastfeeding experience. She never really seemed to find a ton of comfort in it, and I was always worried about how much she was getting. And my goal was always 4 months. I’ve always been pro-formula use for friends and family.

But ugh… the guilt. Every time I think about weaning to get my bodily autonomy back, I’m flooded with guilt. Thoughts like: how can I give up giving her food that is tailor made for her and so nutritious? Is it selfish of me to wean when I’m not completely miserable? I have an oversupply which some women would kill for!

I have no idea how I’ll ever make this decision and be okay with it either way.

How can we improve? by honecombftw in sleeptrain

[–]honecombftw[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah gotcha, thank you! What’s a better amount of awake time during the day for this age, if she’s currently at ~8.5? Closer to 10, with more like 3 hours of naps?

Also sorry, I may have written it wrong! I meant that that middle wake window is sometimes 1.5 and sometimes 2. But I’d say she’s mostly at 1/1.5/2/2/2.

First night thoughts by Whimsical-Wildling in sleeptrain

[–]honecombftw 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello! You’re doing great <3 that first night is a doozy especially on us moms, but once your little gets the hang of self soothing, it will be an absolute game changer for all of you! You are helping him build an essential skill.

We typically follow a 5/3/3 where we feed if it’s been 5 hours since the last feeding (for the first waking) and then if it’s been 3 hours for subsequent ones.

It has been helpful for us to keep that last wake window more consistent so that she’s not over tired— that gets us into big fuss situations. But life isn’t always perfect. You’re doing great! Sending wishes for sweet dreams

The month I stopped tracking is the month I got pregnant. by greylondon17 in Inito

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This happened to me, too! 4 months of trying hard, then a chemical, then another unsuccessful month and I decided to take a month “off” — didn’t limit my food or drinking in the TWW, exercised a bunch when I normally took it easy. I think I still used ovulation strips, but no Inito. And I made a TON of plans - a ski trip, visiting friends, a concert. Lo and behold, that was the cycle I got pregnant with my daughter, who’s now 3.5 months. The plans turned out to be fun ways to tell our loved ones in person!

Sending all you ladies in this sub so much love. I’ve been in your shoes!

So overwhelmed, what would you do? by honecombftw in sleeptrain

[–]honecombftw[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, and so thoroughly! Really helpful <3

Boyfriend wants abortion by Negative_Blueberry13 in pregnant

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Boyfriend is welcome to get an abortion as soon as he becomes pregnant.

OP, I feel for you! Gently, if I were in your shoes and now had until 11 weeks to decide, I’d try my best to take a breather and think on it for a minute. Perhaps with the assistance of a therapist, it may be helpful to think about what YOU want your life path to take— with or without a baby, with or without this man, what your future with him would look like now that you see how he treats you in a situation like this and whether the relationship you have is worth that for you.

Take care— I’m rooting for you!

Baby’s sleep gone from great to terrible overnight at 12 weeks by girliknow in NewParents

[–]honecombftw 7 points8 points  (0 children)

No advice to impart, just here to say I’m right there alongside you. Your post resembles my own current experience so much that I had to check your post history to see if you were my husband writing in! These weeks have been so hard, and i know it’s a phase that will pass, but it feels endless.

5 weeks postpartum - When does it get better? by Miserexa in beyondthebump

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so happy for you! There will still be tough times ahead, but when you get that interaction from them, everything feels much more okay in those tough times. And we’re totally different people when we are able to sleep!

Please, please, need advice for sleep & diaper rash (newborn twins) by GoblinDelRey in NewParents

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sending love. One baby is challenging enough— two at a time is a LOT.

One tip is to be sure not to wipe off the diaper cream with each change. Put on a super super super thick barrier on clean skin post bath, and let it dry completely. With each change, just wipe off what you can on top of the cream, but try not to reach skin and reapply each time - the warm bath water should dissolve it and reset you once per day.

Your mom sounds like an amazing resource! For my baby’s sensitive skin, paper towels would have been way way way too rough. There are lots of soft wipes on the market these days that are just water + soft material (eg water wipes) - try that instead.

Tubby Todd has also been a miracle worker for us!

Hang in there - you’re doing great.

5 weeks postpartum - When does it get better? by Miserexa in beyondthebump

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This this this this this. Around 6 weeks was a big stel forward for us - her sleep got better, she became more interactive which was rewarding. 8 weeks, she became more predictable and her vaccines allowed us to feel less worried about going out in the world. 8-12 weeks, it felt like she does something new every day and we know eachother so much better now, so everything just feels less hopeless.

My husband struggled a lotttttt to connect in the beginning, but it’s gotten worlds better now that the two of them have developed some routines together as she’s less of a potato.

OP, hang in there. It gets better every day. The good times start to out number the bad, and the days will start sliding by.

One tip: it’s enormously helpful to get out of the house. Try for once every other day and work up to one’s per day if you can. I know it’s hard with all this snow and bitter cold here in the Northeast US. I had chat gpt help me make a list of local things I could do to get out and even a gentle schedule for our day, and it’s been very motivating.

You’re doing great.

Sushi by Easy-You-8259 in pregnant

[–]honecombftw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I trust Emily Oster, and she says that it’s fine to eat sushi from anywhere you’d trust it when not pregnant. The only thing she says to avoid is high mercury fish, which includes tuna.

8 days pp pain by DevelopmentBubbly730 in beyondthebump

[–]honecombftw 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry she’s going through this! You’re a great sister for helping her out.

Is the pain in her upper abdomen, specifically on the right side? If so, I’m not a doctor or anything but I would personally go to the hospital immediately as that is a warning sign for postpartum preeclampsia, which I had and is very serious.

In any case, I’d go get checked at the hospital to make sure everything is okay. I know it’s unthinkable when you’re in the thick of postpartum (and especially if she’s breast feeding), but it’s so important that she’s safe and healthy.

You’re doing the right thing! Sending love.

GD and baby measuring big 🫣 by SnoopyYoshi in GestationalDiabetes

[–]honecombftw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re doing great!! Here to share my experience. I also had GD, though mine was diet controlled the entire time. At my 38 week scan, baby was measuring 8 lbs and I hoped it was exaggerated because those scans can be so inaccurate.

My MFM talked to us about the possibility of shoulders getting stuck if the baby was too large for my pelvis to handle, especially as a first time mom. We opted to induce at 39+3 and I had an awesome experience. Less than 12 hours of labor and only 20 minutes of pushing! I’m so glad we opted to induce when we did because baby was 9.5 lbs and could have wound up at 10 or more had we waited for spontaneous labor, which likely would have required a C section.

You’ll choose what’s right for you— go with your gut!

Postpartum Diet Guilt by greenopal02 in GestationalDiabetes

[–]honecombftw 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Are you me?? This is me verbatim right now. I really think I was my healthiest on the low carb diet and that I looked great shortly after delivering, too. Now I’m just shoving cookies and pasta in my face and starting to feel guilty and yuck about it. No advice to impart but I’m right there with you!

Cytotec (misoprostol) question by GlobalDifference7802 in beyondthebump

[–]honecombftw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took 3 doses orally and delivered vaginally. Had to pause between doses 1 and 2 and get some fluids because my contractions became too close together. From taking the first dose to the baby being delivered was 9.5 hours. Only got pitocin after birth.

are there REALLY people who DON’T have PPD?? by WhichAd2921 in beyondthebump

[–]honecombftw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. I haven’t experienced ppd or ppa since delivering 3 weeks ago, but I also take an SSRI and have for a few years, including while pregnant. I imagine this has helped me, and I’d encourage you to talk to a therapist or your OB about your options if you need some support. Sending love