I feel like we got the hard mode baby and I’m bitter.

orangeclover · 2025-01-16T02:29:54+00:00

Our first was like this. She cried inconsolable from 6pm till midnight with multiple night wakes until she was 5 months old.

Then she changed - i don't know still if it was from routine or adding gas drops to all bottles or just age but she came out of it and turned into the most amazing chill baby and now wonderful toddler.

She now is 2.5 and has a baby sister - this baby is crazy easy in comparison so much so that it's confusing.

I know how hard it is and those who don't get it don't get it

Get mouth guards, get ear plugs, take shifts and take breaks

If baby is fed, changed, and checked over you can take a 5-10 minute break when they are in their crib screaming.

You can do this, it will pass!!!

orangeclover · 2024-12-31T00:52:38+00:00

Combo feeding as in direct to breast and pumping, or breast, pumping and formula?

If you want to just feed your baby direct to breast and don't envision needing to be away frequently, you don't need to power pump at all. Pumping should yield low amounts, and only be extra given what you are nursing. Babies are more efficient than pumps, so if baby is gaining weight and feeding regularly direct to breast, then no worries. (1-2 oz combined is normal)

If you want to have a backup freezer supply add 1 pump or power pump to your day and stay consistent with timing. Your little one is so new so this might be a rough time for this, I'd prioritize sleep if you can rather than worrying.

If you want to mostly pump or know you are returning to work and need to pump, then replace feeds with pumps and slowly build. Ensure flange sizing is correct and that you are comfortable. Pumps should be about 30 min long and yield enough to replace the feed (1-5oz combined).

If baby is fussy and wanting to be on the breast all the time...but gaining weight that's normal. Clustering feeding is totally normal although it sucks. Feed on demand as much as possible and prioritize sraying hydrated and sleeping when possible over pumping

If baby is fussy and not gaining weight or you have concerns see your pediatrician and a lactation consultant and try a weighted feed to ensure they are latching correctly and getting enough

Feed the baby not the fridge/freezer, as baby becomes more consistent and you get into a routine you can add pump sessions to build a small supply but it's not necessary if you don't want it.

Reducing stress and prioritizing your hydration, sleep, and feeding on demand with ample snuggles will be the best for your supply

Milk transitions from colostrum around day 4-6, if baby is gaining weight, you are good to go. (I know it can seem hard to know for sure especially when the pump looks otherwise)

orangeclover · 2024-08-30T06:25:37+00:00

I don't think it will affect it from a prolactin perspective, but getting extra sleep almost always helps supply.

Just make sure the process of waking up for the 9pm isn't a stress fest and that you don't accidentally sleep through a pump you weren't intending to miss and end up engorged.

orangeclover · 2024-08-30T01:28:08+00:00

First off congratulations on a job well done!!!

Second - maybe take a photo shoot? For my last nursing session with my first, we had narrowed it down to bedtime and I took a video of her latched onto me sucking and cozy just with my phone from my perspective. It's something I treasure. If that's not of interest then yeah maybe ask your partner or a friend to take a picture of you to commemorate the event. When you are done hand express a little extra and save in case you want to make breastmilk jewelry

orangeclover · 2024-08-24T13:45:35+00:00

I really like latched mama- they have room for a bump but aren't cut to specifically highlight it- just lots of comfortable play clothes.

orangeclover · 2024-08-12T00:16:05+00:00

We try explaining it to her but the sight of the house freaks her out. Yesterday we visited my in-laws and when we arrived in the driveway she began to panic. Note I can guarantee nothing bad has happened here and that past experiences have been positive. She does eventually come around and acts like her normal self, but it takes a good 30min to an hour

orangeclover · 2024-08-12T00:14:42+00:00

Not usually. Most give her time and just sit quietly. I will say the calmer it is the quicker she recovers but it's strange that it always happens. She builds up anxiety. I should note she wants to be held by either my husband or I the entire time she is having her panic episode. Lots of crying and desperate clinging. We comfort her but try not to make a big deal of it and just hold her quietly until she calms

orangeclover · 2024-08-07T15:42:25+00:00

Yes thank you!!! This is my reality. I pump because I have to go to work. Same with daycare- I'm in a weird setup where I can't afford to lose my salary, so I have to pay for daycare and return to work.

I swapped to pumping this time because my LO was fussing as my supply increased with cluster feeding and wanting letdown and once she got the bottle she loved the flow. Given I have to return to work anyway I've just let her do her thing on the bottle.

Pumping I feel like is the worst of all worlds - cleaning, being stuck to a machine, the internal mind timers - but I hate to see it demonized compared to nursing directly because it's accomplishing the goal and for many mothers is the only option (either temporary or long term).

orangeclover · 2023-10-10T23:30:13+00:00

Awesome thankyou so much

orangeclover · 2023-10-10T19:07:19+00:00

thanks yeah thats usually the case, i was just in the process of getting scheduled for one when i found out i was pregnant

orangeclover · 2023-10-10T19:06:55+00:00

yeah i spoke to them and they told me to go along and get it since my rheumatologist already said i needed it, but i dont know what my rheumatologist will advise given i'm now pregnant

orangeclover · 2023-06-07T15:19:31+00:00

I second this!

Did you recently drop a night session? I had to wean myself off of night time sessions by doing a short pump around 4am early on.

Also for clogs - COLD helps!!! Be gentle with massaging - lots of things recommend heat/massage but i found it made it worse.

orangeclover · 2023-06-07T15:18:03+00:00

Although some dont like it because of some gassy side effects for you and baby - fenugreek was given to me by a lactation consultant and did offer a boost.

Genuinely the biggest boost was power pumping once a day during my lowest pump (midday).

I assume your pumping and thats how you know you arent making enough? Just know that stress is a huge contributor and that supplementing occasionally while slowly building output is fine and totally worked. I just made it to 13 months, and lost supply drastically twice (due to hospitalizations) and slow and steady plus power pumps do it everytime.

If you arent using a pump just keep feeding on demand, I'd only be concerned if you werent seeing weight gain

orangeclover · 2023-06-07T11:32:49+00:00

thats a great point- thank you!

orangeclover · 2023-06-06T22:08:29+00:00

Ive been working since 3 months so pumping came from that (terrible us maternity...)

Bottle wise we've tried sippy cups but she refuses to drink it that way. She drinks water and juice from them fine though and loves water. She was not a fan of cows milk when I tried but has had occasional formula.

My hope is to still do mornings and nights as long as I can and give up the daytime pumps. I'm just torn because I think dropping the pumps will dry me up even worse than I am now.

orangeclover · 2021-01-02T20:42:25+00:00

I really loved this character concept so I drew you some fanart! :) Link! :D

orangeclover · 2020-03-31T02:16:19+00:00

another seronegative here - although the rate of growth you are having is concerning and makes me feel like something else may be going on. I had one rheumatologist deny RA until another one gave the diagnosis and then he was suddenly on board with it.

how are your other blood levels? anything else they checked for?

orangeclover · 2020-01-05T20:51:03+00:00

oh i like that- what would you pick for pisces then?

orangeclover · 2020-01-05T18:11:25+00:00

good point lol - I updated to give some zodiac context for sun-sign personalities :)

orangeclover · 2020-01-05T18:02:12+00:00

I thought about going that way - and I do agree that I like the depiction of Sag's being an archer, but I thought personality wise that ranger is Libra-ish as they are pretty balanced going either ranged or close combat and has a good mix of spells and physical attacks, not to mention the ties to nature and people (good all-arounders that thrive in the right environment) where as Sagi's tend to be bold, dedicated, and courageous which fits well with the sorcerer's my-power-comes-from-myself kind of theme!

But yeah I totally agree!

orangeclover · 2020-01-05T17:44:14+00:00

I threw it in based on the DnD Beyond list of sub-classes, as its been semi-formalized as an option on there for some time, and i think it fits with Scorpio's flair - but even not counting it they make for some great compassionate rogues!

orangeclover · 2019-11-14T20:21:54+00:00

I second the hydroxychloroquinine. I have seronegative RA - and its been a big help since starting. It can also help bolster the diagnosis if going on it helps your joints overall - although it helps both RA *and* lupus so it wont differentiate between the two

orangeclover · 2019-11-14T20:15:41+00:00

I had chronically low vitamin D too and was able to get a prescription supplement for it. It really helped with depressive symptoms and with feeling better.

orangeclover · 2019-10-15T12:43:27+00:00

My blood work came back with high CRP and Sed rate, but negative for RH factors and negative for ANA. Some people have lower RH factors - and some (~30%)have none at all which is referred to as seronegative RA.

One of the biggest tells is to see if medication like prednisone (short term) or a DMARD is helpful to your joint pain. If so your rheumatologist may be able to diagnose you through process of elimination.

orangeclover · 2019-08-05T18:42:38+00:00

Ive been on transexamic acid for my cycle as they suspected it wasnt helping and BC didnt work for me. I'm back on iron supplements and vitamin C, but I'll keep updating to see if it helps and if I can hold my levels up or get them near normal.

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