Month of March... parents of February, and a few January babes!

[jillian15]

Grape - so the pumping bra works? In order for the milk not to leak make down my boobs I have to lean forward everytime I pump - and even then I get covered in it. I wonder if the bra would help, I assumed it wouldn't. I'm nervous about how I'm going to pump at work when I'm a milky mess after each pumping session.

[MumInWaiting]

Grape - Is this the bra? I have one because my friend swears by it! Definitely looking forward to testing it out (it will allow me to post on here more easily!). Amazon.com: Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra, XS/S/M: Baby

Um, so guess how sleep-deprived I am...that pack of 3 bottles that I got? With the 2 level 2 nipples separately in the box? Yea, well guess what was ATTACHED to the 3 bottles...duh, nipples! There were 3 level 1's, as promised. I just didn't think of them since the others were in a separate little bag. Oh man I need some rest. But it's too late now to deal with the initial sterilization of the pump/bottles. I'll try for tomorrow!

[MumInWaiting]

Jillian - I hadn't heard of a K'Tan before. Toby wants nothing to do with my sleepy wrap or ring sling and I've sat there several times in front of the videos, to no avail, so I keep thinking I'm putting them on wrong. Interestingly, he loves the Beco though, which was the most complicated for me at first so who knows. Anyway, I've found that having someone give advice in person is the only way to go. Do you have any local baby wearing stores or groups?

Mull - LOL I was watching that episode of Off the Map with DH today!! I had to take a deep breath to try to disassociate So funny about cutting the cord and becoming the godmother. And thanks for the advice to pump in the morning - such a good call.

Julie - Glad you're finally home and the bris went well! Ugh, Toby's on the same night schedule as Mason. I wish I knew any other way but it seems the only news is "it gets better" in a few weeks or so. GOOD LUCK and I'm right there with you.

Ophelia - Sorry to hear about the tantrums. How is Sammy doing now that his good friend/neighbor has moved? Was that hard when he figured out that she's no longer around? (it was a "she" right?!)

Elena - I'm so glad you got some time to yourself today! How was Tommy's nap? Hope you snuck one in as well!!

Okay, off to feed. DH has officially decided he's going to sleep in the guest room tonight since it's our first night with the bed empty. I'm telling Toby that now's as good a time as ever to try for a 3 or 4 hr sleep...let's see if he listens though.

[erobin1]

Grape-- Painful family stuff. Oh, the old rule never seems to fail, even with one's spouse that "I can talk **** about my family but you.... well, can't." On the other hand, the whole thing, to me, sounds optimistic. Sometimes grandchildren can be incredibly healing for parent-child relationships, it seems to me. More sympathy and forgiveness on the adult child's side. Lots of motivation on the grandparent side . And your post-visit appreciation is very moving to read for some reason. Don't worry, tho, it seems to me like you were perfectly cordial & generous and DH can't expect more (his irritation at you is probably related to his own guilt/conflicted feelings). And thanks for the good thoughts RE the school hire, I hope it all works out.

Mull-- will have to catch that show on one of my endless breast feeding jags... As for Allison's tantrums. Normal normal normal. (feel free to tell me that back when I next write about Sammy's ill behavior at school).

Jillian-- Argle! on the herniated disc! I hope someone like the chairopractor can help. Glad to hear other people have trouble with the slings/carriers! I feel utterly idiotic about it, honestly. Need to get back to the store where I bought mine and see if they can help me figure it out.

Julie-- So happy your DH is better. That must have been sooooo stressful. I don't remember your blood pressure being up during pregnancy. Are they sure you don't have post partum PreE? Anyway, I hope the headaches and bad feeling stop soon. Be careful to get LOTSSSSS of rest & keep communicating with your doctor.

Mum--- Oh, your description of your very too big day was lovely and cracked me up. It reminds me very much of DH and I when we first had Sammy (before we became, abruptly, people who no longer want to watch the Oscars for having seen none of the movies on the list... etc). We'd drag him to parties. When he was six weeks old we decided to drive to Montana to his parent's place there, with my 12 year old (very grumpy pre-pubescent) sister in tow. OH MY GOD was that insane! 2 days of driving. Sammy screamed almost the entire way.... We all tried to listen to Harry Potter on audiobook, loudly, to cover the sound while I pumped my breasts on the cigarette lighter power supply (as one cannot breast feed whilst driving, of course, (really?) and Sammy breast fed every 45 minutes...). As for bottle introduction, I didn't know LLL recommended waiting 40 days. I've been afraid of ending up with a baby who utterly refuses the bottle (which happens) and so 3-4 weeks is what I did, with Sammy too.

AFM-- Feeling rather tired.... hmm.... how unique of me, eh? I know that none of you, for example, are feeling sleep deprived. Tommy just turned a month old!! But I still feel distinctly post partum (still bleeding a bit) and new-born. Oh, in that hair loss discussion, BTW, the classic time is six weeks. Did any of you have hair loss with fertility treatments? I did. I've got all of these insane "new growth" layers in my hair still. Haven't had a haircut yet. Have an appointment in two weeks... should be interesting .

I know I had something else to say but Tommy woke up and Sammy needs prodding to finish his breakfast.

Oh, BTW, it is strange to me that sitting in my glider nursing for sooooooo many hours could be so exhausting? I'm just sitting there, right? And I've got this sweet little snuggle in my arms. It looks rather relaxing and even feels rather relaxing in a moment to moment way. But I emerge so tired. Yesterday was another marathon nursing day & night. DH even gave him a bottle at 1 a.m. but he immediately wanted to eat again anyway. So much nursing leaves one feeling.... well, drained I guess would be the word... lol...

[jenmom2myboys]

My har is starting to shed.It should be interesting since it is down to my waist. I think I am going to need a haircut soon. I had a meltdown last nigjh. Wyatt is sleeping horribly all of a sudden. Scot eventuallywoke up and took over which was nice. Had my 6 week OB checkup this morning and I am cleared for excercise and sex. I think I'll jut do the exercise, lol.

[Grapecrush]

One-month-old Zoe has been irritable since 8 this morning, when she projectile-spit up what looked like three feedings. It was like THE EXORCIST, and she's done this now once a day for the past three or four days. Since the puke-fest,, she's been either grazing or trying to settle in my arms. I finally got her sleeping in her bouncy seat at 11:30 a.m. Wow, I'm really appreciating all the help we had for a month! I think I need to check with the pediatrician to see if her gas issue is anything more ominous than just eating too quickly during a growth spurt.

Finally brushed my teeth today!

But she is doing better at night, going 3-4 hours with gentle feedings and then usually able to go back to sleep relatively quickly.

Elena, I get what you mean about nursing being exhausting. DH sat in the glider with the soft blanket over him and said, "THIS is what's exhausting you?" He was teasing, but still...he doesn't get it! : )

Jillian and Mum, yes it's the Simple Wishes brand bra. I'm using it right now! Both breasts at a time, little 2.5-ounce bottles take about 15 minutes to fill up. The bra works great. I do find I need to lean forward a bit, too, but the suction fit is pretty snug with the bra. This is one of those must-haves, in my opinion.

[Ophelia Payne]

Grape, every time I read your posts about her issues they scream foremilk/hindmilk imbalance/oversupply. Have you looked into that possibility? Seems like she has all the signs. Most first time moms don't know when they have it... just something to look into.

Julie- I'm worried about postpartum pre-e as well. You can follow the link in my siggie for more info. It can be very hard to get drs to take it seriously until it gets really bad. I'd push for labs, and consider bp meds.

[Ophelia Payne]

Our company left yesterday afternoon, and then we hosted a dinner party for my mom's birthday. Dh worked hard and made homemade chili rellanos (sp?). They were a hit, and I am grateful to him. I had no idea how much work went into them. He also made the most delectable enchilada sauce from scratch- the best I've EVER had.

Jade is doing well... she's awake a bit more now, but ever since discovering how to really SCREAM her cries in the car, she tends to crying/screaming when she is awake. For some reason, none of it is as stressful as it was with baby #1.

I think I've got a prolapsed uterus. It "happened" two days ago and had a Dr. been in, I'd have gone immediately. To me, it felt like and OMG, is this life-threatening... and surely an ER trip. However, all the info I can find says it's non-emergent and doesn't even "need" to be treated... but I cannot imagine living life like this. So, I planned on calling for an appointment today ASAP... but now that I can, I've frozen and don't want to go in. I want to bury my head in the sand. If it is what I think it is, then I've got decisions to make and I can't figure out which would be best for us. Why, OH why, can't I have a normal postpartum experience!!!! Maybe I'm wrong... but I can't figure what else would look and feel like this. Drs.... do you have any advice on who I should see? Should I trust this to my midwives, an ob, or get right into a specialist? My insurance does not require referrals to specialists, so I have that option.

[erobin1]

Ophelia-- An OB would be who you'd see. Probs not the midwives. But I would get in right away. Not the kind of thing that seems easy to diagnose on your own, on yourself (since you can't see) and since you are post partum you need to have someone take a look and make sure what's going on. Do you feel pressure in your vagina? or is there something coming out of your body? In any case, I doubt it is something terrible, but you should definitely go in today.

Grape--- So can you wear the bra generally or do you have to change your clothes to pump? (thinking about when I go back to work). I have to confess that the photos for that bra are something which border on the TRULY surreal/obscene... Oh, where the Mad Men have led us... lol... but you are really tempting me.

[Grapecrush]

Ophelia -
Thanks for the information. How would I deal with this? Also, I hope you are treated quickly and feel better soon.

Elena, et al -
The bra is more like a corset - you do have to fully change into it. I can't imagine wearing it all day, and it wouldn't work under most items anyway. So it's not the most convenient thing, but it does do its job.