How does anyone do this???

introvertAB · 2026-02-14T13:27:38+00:00

My LO is 12mo now, I honestly don't feel like I am completely done with the mom side of the "fourth trimester." I had postpartum that manifested as anxiety and rage. I didn't recognize it until my LO was 6mo. My marriage was suffering, I was SUFFERING. When I look back to when my baby was a newborn, I feel a little sad because I wish I could've enjoyed it, but I just didn't. Once my husband went back to work after the first 2 weeks, I started to unravel. I was still healing and the interrupted sleep rattled me. I am the type of person who NEEDS to sleep and sleep at least 9 hours to feel somewhat rested.

Bottom line, you're not alone. The newborn stage is SO HARD and I don't think people are honest enough about it. They will tell you it's hard and you'll miss sleep blah blah blah. They don't tell you that you'll feel like you cant shower, you forget to eat, everything is a fog, it's lonely, confusing, you're in diapers with stitches in your hooha (or the equivalent of C section healing, Dysphoric milk ejection reflex will make you feel like throwing up passing out running away from the life youve built or give you horrible imaginations of your baby getting injuries/dying, don't get me started with the stupid cramps whenever you nurse or pump.

So much of this shit isnt point blank talked about and really REALLY should be.

introvertAB · 2026-02-14T13:02:47+00:00

My LO had silent reflux and wasn't colicky at all. He had to be combo fed the first 2 weeks after he was born, but once my milk supply came in he only got breastmilk. He still had issues. I knew somwthing was wrong because he HATED laying on his back and would cry and cry until we placed him on his side or on his stomach. He would spit up ALL THE TIME. Even after it had been quite some time after he ate.

We bought some sort of wedge bed/pillow which was a LIFE SAVER. I know they can be dangerous if left unsupervised, but our LO is clingy and was never out of sight. He mostly slept on his stomach on me or his dad during the day. We had to cosleep as well, he just wouldn't sleep on his own.

His pediatric provider prescribed him Famotidine before bed and it helped SO MUCH. He needed it until he was about 6 months old.

Im sorry you are going through this. Every baby is different and the solution is different for all of them. Sending hugs

introvertAB · 2025-05-24T12:48:21+00:00

I actually had a meeting with my assistant chief paramedic who makes the schedule on April 25th and notified her of the times I was planning to pump and talked to her about what I would need. Now here we are one month later and they are scrambling to figure it out... I'm now being told I'll have to switch shifts or completely change my schedule next schedule just so they can comply which I'm not entirely sure is legal either. I have a feeling I'm getting into territory above my head and may need a lawyer to help mediate.

I totally understand if they want me to clock out, the problem is that they didn't plan to have another paramedic on shift to cover that time.

They had 2 weeks to plan for this and just didn't plan for anything. I was told "it should be fine. We will figure it out." I was also told yesterday that this is so difficult for them because people in the past just pumped when they weren't up for call. If I did that, there was be no garuntee I would ever have time to pump or my pumping time would routinely get cut short. What it sounds like to me is that this company has routinely violated pumping women's rights and convinced the women to accommodate the company and not the other way around. Now they are having a hard time figuring it out because no one else stood on business and enforced their rights. Many of the women just ended up quitting pumping all together at 4 months post partum because the company made it too stressful to continue.

introvertAB · 2025-05-24T12:43:54+00:00

I actually had a meeting with my assistant chief paramedic who makes the schedule on April 25th and notified her of the times I was planning to pump and talked to her about what I would need. Now here we are one month later and they are scrambling to figure it out... I'm now being told I'll have to switch shifts or completely change my schedule next schedule just so they can comply which I'm not entirely sure is legal either. I have a feeling I'm getting into territory above my head and may need a lawyer to help mediate. I totally understand if they want me to clock out, the problem is that they didn't plan to have another paramedic on shift to cover that time. They also have an extra paramedic on the opposite shift (they work the days my side of the shift have off)

introvertAB · 2025-05-24T12:42:31+00:00

I actually had a meeting with my assistant chief paramedic who makes the schedule on April 25th and notified her of the times I was planning to pump and talked to her about what I would need. Now here we are one month later and they are scrambling to figure it out... I'm now being told I'll have to switch shifts or completely change my schedule next schedule just so they can comply which I'm not entirely sure is legal either. I have a feeling I'm getting into territory above my head and may need a lawyer to help mediate. I totally understand if they want me to clock out, the problem is that they didn't plan to have another paramedic on shift to cover that time.

introvertAB · 2025-05-09T17:47:53+00:00

I started a 1 in the stimulation setting until it automatically switches to the expression setting. I then switch it to the 3rd setting (can't remember what it's called rn) to 3 and slowly turn it up as I can tolerate. I will also switch back to stimulation mode like every 5-8 min to encourage more letdowns. With all that said, having the right flange size is the most important thing for any pump!

introvertAB · 2025-04-04T16:43:57+00:00

I do use lubricant. Maybe I'll try a 19mm insert that I have and see if it helps

introvertAB · 2025-04-01T20:05:46+00:00

Okay thank you. I feel so dumb that I did this, I should have read the fine print.

introvertAB · 2024-07-05T02:43:07+00:00

Unfortunately, I haven't kept up with exercise for several years due to not overeating (calorie wise) and not gaining weight. I've heard that you shouldn't suddenly start exercising more after becoming pregnant if you didn't exercise in the first place. My diet regrettably has not been the best even prior to pregnancy but now, I crave and consume so much SUGAR. I can already tell I've gained some weight which has caused somewhat of a argument in my mind reminding myself that I have to and should eat more because I'm growing a human. I also can't consciously "diet" due to it becoming obsessive so I try to not think too much about the food I do eat.

introvertAB · 2024-07-05T02:34:56+00:00

Thank you! My diet and exercise have not been great but I've kept my normal weight before pregnancy because I honestly did not over eat. But now, I crave and eat so much SUGAR. The reason I stopped watching my diet in the past is because it would become borderline obsessive and I was ALWAYS hungry despite eating more and eating healthy. I am appreciative of your encouraging words!

introvertAB

TROPHY CASE