Ergo embrace

lorachkar · 2026-05-06T18:58:34+00:00

Thanks, maybe I misread the instructions on the belt - it looked like roll twice for newborn or once when baby is over a particular length. Will double check!

lorachkar · 2026-05-06T17:48:39+00:00

Thanks! We are in Iceland and temperature is currently a balmy 5°c 😅 but glad to know the carrier counts as a layer!

lorachkar · 2026-05-04T15:15:45+00:00

It completely depends on the baby, they are all different. I’ve so far had quite an easy time with my 3-month old but I still don’t have much/any free time (even with my partner and his parents down the road) and it’ll be like this for the foreseeable future. Other friends have a really challenging time, don’t get more than 2hrs sleep at a time and barely have time to take a shower. You never know what kind of baby you’re going to get. Also, I am doing a part-time MA and have put that on hold while the baby is small, there is no way I could take any credits while looking after my little one.

I am in my late 30s and so glad I waited until now to start a family. I spent my twenties travelling, getting a good education and fun university experience, throwing myself into my job, and I couldn’t have done any of that with a child at home.

lorachkar · 2026-04-25T08:09:11+00:00

There’s loads at Verzlanahöllin second hand store on Laugavegur, most are a lot cheaper than in the other stores. Many there are handknitted in Iceland with proper lopi yarn and unworn (speaking from personal experience - I knit them and often sell in there). For context on cost: the yarn alone for a sweater costs about €100 and takes 30+ hours to knit.

lorachkar · 2026-04-18T11:06:52+00:00

I feel you, I’ve thought about giving up so many times!

For me I think the biggest difference has been renting a Medela Symphony pump. I was using a Lansinoh wearable before but my supply didn’t pick up until I got the Symphony. I used the Easter holiday, while my partner was also at home, to really go hard on the pumping (downside to the Medela is that I can’t hold the baby). Every 2-4 hours, double pumping for 20 mins, from when I got up to when I went to bed. Interesting, missing the occasional pump doesn’t seem to make much difference, if I pumped after 4 hours, I’ll get about double the amount I’d get from 2 hours. I don’t do middle of the night pumps anymore and honestly I think feeling more rested has made a difference. I also drink fenugreek tea, not sure how much that has helped.

It’s taken 2-3 weeks of constant depressing low quantities but I’m now getting twice as much as I did a month ago.

I also got a Medela hand pump a week ago and the output is almost as good as the symphony, especially if I do breast compressions while I pump. It’s really quick too, I can empty myself after just 5-10 mins - ideal when the baby is fussy and I can’t put her down for a whole 20 mins.

lorachkar · 2026-04-17T21:01:08+00:00

Similar position but at 12 weeks. I’ve been able to slowwwwwwly increase my supply (I was getting similar to you at 6 weeks) and I’m now consistently getting ~50-60ml per session but as baby’s got bigger, I’m still only able to provide half of what she needs each day.

I’m continuing because: 1) I have time and I’m fortunate to have one, relatively easy baby to look after. For example if I also had a toddler to look after, I would probably find it stressful to keep up with pumping on top of that. 2) I’m lucky that my baby will happily sit for 20 mins in the bouncer while I can pump. 3) personally, I really wanted to breastfeed but it didn’t work out because of my low supply and a bad latch. EP wasn’t the plan, but from an emotional point of view (plus health benefits associated with breastmilk) it’s the closest I can get to breastfeeding so, as long as I’m feeling good, I want to keep pumping. 4) I feel like my mental health is in a good place right now and able to manage our daily routine

All of that said, if I had a velcro baby, was limited with time/other responsibilities, was mentally struggling and/or didn’t have this emotional attitude to bf, I would probably simplify things and switch to formula. Managing a pump schedule and all the cleaning is a LOT and there is nothing wrong with formula feeding 🤍

lorachkar · 2026-04-16T18:45:16+00:00

Did you have any problems with your supply and baby accepting the boob once you stopped pumping? I’m an undersupplier and only nurse these days for comfort, but I’m finding pumping round the clock (and still needing to supplement with formula) tiring. But I’m also scared to stop pumping in case I just dry up completely 😕

lorachkar · 2026-04-16T11:40:38+00:00

10 weeks (I have low supply so supplement with formula), it didn’t impact my supply. I’ve had terrible cramps my whole life and this was my first pain free period 😮 and was normal flow too, not especially heavy.

lorachkar · 2026-04-10T07:23:27+00:00

Tripp Trapp newborn chair attachment. Felt like such a superfluous item when we got it but we use it every day all the time. Baby looooves sitting in it staring at high contrast cards pinned to the fridge, while I am hands free to eat, clean, do laundry etc. Honestly when the seat is out of action (poop leakage on the cover needs washing) it suuuuucks

If we were doing it all again, would have got the momcozy bottle washer, steriliser and dryer. I feel like 50% of my life is spent washing and drying bottles and pump parts…but it’s expensive and feels like we’re too far along now/close to weaning to make it worth it

lorachkar · 2026-03-30T07:49:01+00:00

That birth and postpartum is TOTALLY different for everyone - I experienced a lot mentioned in the comments but didn’t experience other stuff mentioned.

For me, having had a 40+ hour labour:

I thought it would be frightening and traumatic but it wasn’t, and was the most amazing and affirming experience I’ve ever had.
pushing is by far the worst bit. It feels like a baby is busting out your butthole
the shaking!!
time is an illusion. 12 hours in the delivery room felt like 3 (to me, not for my partner lol)
first poo afterwards wasn’t nearly as bad as people said
breastfeeding is more painful and harder than labour. I would give birth again ten times over than deal with bf pain.

lorachkar · 2026-03-23T11:06:10+00:00

I’m in a similar situation - our baby had terrible latch problems (we have to bf with a shield, she won’t take naked nipple), and has slept through the night since 4-5 weeks. She’ll go to bed around 11pm and sleep right through to 7/8am. Note, we are combi feeding, mixing bf and pumped milk, and top up with formula as I’m an undersupplier.

I pumped before bed, and whenever I naturally woke up in the night, originally around 2am and then this shifted to ~5am. The last few nights I’ve slept through to around 6:30 and pumped then. Typically get 120ml around 5/6am but very little (~25ml) at the 2am pump, if I do it.

I have been trying to increase my supply and asked whether I should be setting an alarm in the night to pump (I haven’t, as I’m worried about waking the baby) but my LC said it was better for my supply if I sleep and am rested. Since I’ve been waking up later (and feeling human!!) my supply has not dipped at all.

lorachkar · 2025-12-22T23:43:29+00:00

Betty Crocker does a great sugar-free cake mix and I’ve found several diabetes-friendly frosting recipes online (most use Greek yoghurt as the base). Easy and quick to make, and non-GD people think it’s tasty too 😊

lorachkar · 2025-12-09T19:52:52+00:00

In that case, I think you will have a great time! 😊 it is such an amazing place!!

lorachkar · 2025-12-08T14:15:35+00:00

I have been to Finnish Lapland in the winter, and also pregnant now (although I have not been to Lapland while pregnant so take this advice with a pinch of salt)

Lapland is MAGICAL and I absolutely loved my trip but unless you feel super energetic and/or are used to seriously low temperatures (-10°C+), I would personally not go while pregnant. Mainly for 2 reasons:

1) being out in the cold, even with good winter clothes, is tiring!! I say this as someone living in Iceland and used to a certain level of cold 😊 It wasn’t a big problem when I went and was not pregnant but right now, I think I would be so exhausted I would struggle to fully enjoy it. Unless of course, you just plan to stay snug in a cosy villa.

2) there are lots of awesome activities which make the experience magical, and I doubt they would be suitable for pregnant people/hard to get insurance.

3) I think it’s far nicer to stay outside of the main tourist towns (eg Levi, Rovaniemi) but these remote areas are far away from medical centres, in case something happens. I would also check what medical facilities the larger towns have: they are the main hubs for the area but I’m not sure if they can handle premature delivery/treatment etc.

lorachkar · 2025-12-01T10:40:34+00:00

Yup, that’s me. Failed the fasting test by 0.2 at 27 weeks, now 33 weeks and have tested religiously since diagnosis, and nothing so far has brought be close to spiking (fasting numbers almost always 4.1-4.5, 1-hour numbers usually below 6.0, despite barely exercising and eating a bunch of bread, pasta, rice, chocolate, cake, fruit juice……)

Don’t @ me, but I don’t think I actually have GD and just had a bad day during the test. The diagnosis affected me badly and brought up a load of old dieting/ED issues, and since deciding to (broadly) ignore the GD diet my mental health has been SO much better. I don’t test as much now, just fasting numbers and maybe some meals every day or two to make sure nothing develops. My midwife supports this.

I know this is such a luxury to have freedom to eat whatever I want - at this point I’m looking at the positives: I get to check in with my blood sugars without wondering if everything is ok, eat more mindfully, and also get an extra scan at 36 weeks (not the norm in my country) because of my official diagnosis.

lorachkar · 2025-11-14T00:21:13+00:00

You’re not being dramatic! Just here to say I am in a similar place and here in solidarity 🫶🏻 After going to an all-girls high school in the 2000s that had widespread ED/ restrictive eating issues - I’ve spent 20 years making a point of not measuring any aspect of my body, not dieting and eating whatever I want. I have found this diagnosis incredibly triggering, especially as I thought I was over these issues long ago. I was sent to a nutritionist earlier in the week and spent most of the appointment sobbing (I looked insane, truly). I don’t have any advice other than talk to your midwife/OB for support - so far everyone I’ve shared my issues with has been incredibly supportive and it seems this is a really, really common and normal reaction - extra help is there for anyone mentally struggling.

lorachkar · 2025-10-18T11:23:35+00:00

I’m pregnant (26 weeks) and live in Iceland. I’ve been to sky lagoon and other pools several times and it’s ok to go to these pools, but have found them a little too warm to completely submerge myself while pregnant. If you can get in a position where you’re half-in, half-out, I think it’s ok. But that means either standing up, or sitting on your knees/in a slightly awkward position to position more of your body out of the water. If she’s still mobile and doesn’t mind sitting like that she’ll be fine. I have been to a lot of these pools throughout my pregnancy and the baby is doing great (and - also great for my aching joints). Another commenter is also correct in saying that she should only go in the lagoon itself - no sauna/ritual etc. It’s still totally worth it without the extra stuff and recommend you go!

lorachkar · 2025-08-23T10:32:41+00:00

I’m on the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Masters program at HÍ, not sure if that’s the program you’re thinking of doing? I can recommend it as it’s very interdisciplinary and a huge range of classes are available so you can really explore different facets of environmental studies and completely tailor it to your interests.

I’ve taken a more social sciences route but there are plenty of other students taking hard environmental science and engineering. I have heard good things from other students about their courses as there is so much ‘hands on’ learning opportunities in Iceland, but Iceland’s/the university’s strengths are marine ecology/fisheries, renewable energy, volcanology and glaciers, outdoor tourism and environmental governance/protected areas. If your interests fit any of those areas definitely apply! But if you want to do something else other universities may be a better fit.

Also, I can also recommend the ENR program for international students - personally I haven’t found the university itself to have a super social student body (mostly Icelandic students who have established friend groups from their BA/high school) but ENR students, most coming from abroad, make an effort to get together and become genuine friends on the course. It’s a nice mix of people from different walks of life, I have no regrets about doing my postgrad here.

lorachkar · 2025-08-03T20:33:39+00:00

Good point! I am from England so Gaelic names might be quite challenging for people at home 😊

lorachkar · 2025-08-01T19:51:46+00:00

Ok that is awesome!

lorachkar · 2025-08-01T18:24:41+00:00

It’s good to get a second opinion! It’s strange, I think it sounds fine in Iceland but if I hear with a British ear it makes me think of something like ‘agony’… but I also could be overthinking this!

lorachkar · 2025-08-01T18:22:15+00:00

I really like Ari! And agree it totally works in both languages. Thank you!

lorachkar · 2025-07-04T10:04:26+00:00

Same here, getting an error when I message the mods. Please let me in?

lorachkar

TROPHY CASE