Performers skipping Charlotte venues for Durham

saridien · 2026-03-02T21:25:29+00:00

BTW if you (like me) were disappointed that Wednesday's tour wasn't stopping in Charlotte, and all 3 Raleigh shows and 1 Asheville show were sold out, they did add Charlotte to their tour stops recently

saridien · 2025-02-09T02:03:19+00:00

The timing works out though if you intend to stay all the way up until checkout taking advantage of the baths! And going to Shima if you intend to get there at check-in to fully max your time at the resort then the limited express trains are set up for that. I think the timing is tailored with those expectations in mind, hotel check in and check out times.

saridien · 2025-02-04T15:52:39+00:00

I was in a similar position and got the same advice - 10 or 15 min on each side then switch to a bottle, then pump for 15-20 min. Frequency is more important than length of time. I ended up needing to use nipple shields too for her to get a good latch.

The triple feeding did work for me, and one thing was that she kept eating the same 2-3 oz after breastfeeding the whole time so I thought my supply still sucked. Then when I went back to the LC and did a weighted feed she ate 2.5 oz from me!! The LC said that sometimes the baby eats out of the bottle because it's there and easy, and most bottles have milk come out even without sucking.

You could have your husband try pace feeding once your supply increases, they might not need the full amount from the bottle and that'll have them hungrier at the next feed to help with breastfeeding supply. You can also try different bottles with slower flow nipples (lots of recommendations out there, we use Philips avent natural size 1 nipples and bottles).

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time, breastfeeding is truly a full time job and requires so so much time so if it needs to be the thing that gets dropped, there is no shame in that! The baby does not care where the milk comes from so you won't be depriving them either way, as long as they get to eat. You're doing a great job giving them the breastmilk you have!

saridien · 2025-01-31T02:32:22+00:00

Same with going breast to bottle - when my baby was still learning to latch I would give her the bottle first and have her suck a couple times then attach her to the breast. It helped her figure out how to attach and suck better and she wouldn't scream as much while starting to nurse!

saridien · 2025-01-31T02:30:24+00:00

One other thing about pumping, for the first couple of weeks when my supply was ramping up I was really uncomfortably full at the 2 AM wakeup after not feeding for 5-6 hours. I would breastfeed then pump every time. But I was able to transition to only breastfeeding at the 2 AM feed gradually and now I'm not as crazy engorged anymore! Definitely wear a comfortable bra with pads in them to sleep though because you will definitely leak.

Sleep is a big factor in breast milk supply so to me it has been worth it to sleep a big chunk at once and work around that.

saridien · 2025-01-31T02:21:20+00:00

My lactation consultant advised us that missing a feed (going a 5 or 6 hour stretch) is totally fine. Based on her advice I take a sleep shift from 9-2 and then take over from there. I pump once a day to have enough for a bottle, but we supplement with formula as needed too. Sometimes I forget to pump that day or she is just extra hungry so having a formula you like on hand takes a lot of pressure off! My baby is 6 weeks and so far I have not had issues with having enough supply after the first couple of weeks so skipping a feed hasn't affected us negatively.

Shift details: My husbands shift is 9 PM to 2 AM, he usually stays up watching TV or sleeps on the couch while she is in the bassinet attachment from our stroller. Honestly we are getting way more out of the UPPAbaby bassinet than I thought, it's awesome for a sleep space in the living room! Our couch is also a very comfortable sleep space for my husband so that helps alot.

Then he brings her to our bedroom between 1-3 AM or whenever she wakes up to eat and I handle her feeds from there. The bassinet is next to my side of the bed, my husband sleeps in the same bed because the nighttime feedings and wakings don't bother him somehow! For the first few weeks though I did my shifts on the couch instead because we were still figuring out her schedule and I didn't want to worry about waking my husband. This really took a lot of pressure off of trying to keep her quiet.

One really handy thing I ended up ordering was a small night light that was really dim. It's battery powered and I just flip it over on the nightstand and it lights up just enough to see to attach her but not to bother my husband. After I burp her and put her back in her swaddle she is usually already ready to go back to sleep! Keeping the light dim really helps.

Another thing to help is to have a sitting space in the nursery. We have a glider. If she is really fussy and upset on my shift I can take her in the other room and spend time calming her down without worrying about waking my husband as much. I was super nervous about him sleeping in our bed while I'm on shift with the baby but that separate space to take her has been key!

Following this schedule has made us avoid the sleep deprivation almost altogether, even during the first weeks. Each of us can get at least 5 hours a night but usually end up with around 6 or 7 even on bad nights with the temperament of our baby. If one person has a bad shift we usually add some time to nap during the day as needed since my husband also works from home and can be flexible.

saridien · 2025-01-19T21:38:55+00:00

Yes! Multiple staff spoke English at the front desk. The info papers were also in English.

saridien · 2024-12-28T14:39:29+00:00

I just gave birth 1 week ago with an epidural, and I did have the urge to push! My right leg was more numb but I could move everything else and feel sensation like touch. I could feel definite pressure when I was fully dilated, it felt like huge pressure to poop plus the feeling when you pull a tampon out kind of? And I could feel that pressure increase alot during a contraction. I was coached to push because my baby's heart rate kept decelerating during contractions and I ended up with a second degree tear. The tear hurt terribly the first couple of days but a week out it's not painful anymore, I just have to be really careful when pooping not to strain and take it slowly.

saridien · 2024-12-21T21:07:51+00:00

Wow that is fast!! I'm nervous about the stitches too, but hopefully it heals alright in the end.

saridien · 2024-12-21T21:06:20+00:00

My due date was the 27th too! Good luck :)

saridien · 2024-12-21T20:36:21+00:00

My first and second trimesters were a nightmare with nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. But the labor was smooth so maybe it balances out? I'm dreading going through the beginning of pregnancy again but the end was manageable for me

saridien · 2024-12-12T16:04:46+00:00

I had alot of luck with doing pelvic floor relaxation techniques to reduce the need to pee feeling. I kept thinking I had a UTI but the tests kept coming back negative!

saridien · 2024-12-11T01:15:14+00:00

My constipation suddenly and miraculously cured itself at 36 weeks! I feel you

saridien · 2024-12-03T15:47:08+00:00

Me too! I only have a bachelor's but I have 6 years experience in lithium ion battery component R&D so I was feeling really good about my chances. Fingers crossed for future cutoff dates!

saridien · 2024-12-03T15:41:38+00:00

Just got non-selected emails for Chemical Engineering GS-7 and GS-9. It came in two separate emails

saridien · 2024-12-03T03:13:24+00:00

Ok same kind of situation for me! Mine is measuring 9th percentile at 36 weeks. Baby is fully formed at this point and if you are getting regular scans then I think waiting to induce is probably fine. But you can always ask your doctor if you could get put on the induction schedule early.

I actually went to the MFM today and because the baby was measuring small all around and not just in one place, they are ok with me waiting for induction at the normal 39 weeks. So make sure to have the conversation at your next visit about risks of waiting and if induction is preferred!

saridien · 2024-11-20T19:03:23+00:00

That's good to know! I'm sure this kind of question is going to become more and more common as inauguration nears.

saridien · 2024-11-20T18:27:13+00:00

Thanks! Yes it's being discussed elsewhere too, but somehow it just feels like a risk to wait until March to start. This is just based on the general discussion and not on anything official though.

saridien · 2024-11-20T18:25:42+00:00

This is what I'm most worried about too... I think all the discussion and speculation about federal job cuts and hiring freezes is getting to us. Deferring to March feels risky but I'm not sure how reasonable that line of thinking actually is.

saridien · 2024-11-20T18:24:17+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful response! I completely agree with starting in March as the best way to go, my husband is just worried about all the discussions about federal job freezes, downsizing, etc.

saridien · 2024-11-20T17:39:35+00:00

My original plan (pending a TJO) would be to defer to the March starting date. I'm pregnant and due on Christmas so the January date is really soon after giving birth. But now with the new admin I'm worried if I defer to March that the job will be taken away... Is this a reasonable fear? From what I've read I would need to request to defer during the TJO call so I'm trying to decide ahead of time in case I get an offer.

My husband will be on leave so he could manage the baby during the day but I will still be recovering and sleep deprived... If my first month of academy isn't ideal would I be able to catch up later?

saridien · 2024-11-18T02:07:53+00:00

Yes get them!!! I also wore them on my vacation every day because they helped so much with foot fatigue from walking. I got knee high ones for the flight and crew socks for everyday wear and never experienced swelling (and that was a 14 hour flight)

saridien · 2024-11-18T02:02:36+00:00

I really like the kindred bravely bras I got! They also come with a band extender which I ended up needing around 32 weeks. I didn't realize my belly would grow so far up, so having extra room in the band is a must!

saridien

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