Infertility to Parenthood : Spring/Summer due dates 2012

[BC-tysa]

First Day Home 11 weeks

Ugh, I know, I am lame. Actually I lied, I didnt really figure it out, DH had to do it for me. He said I was trying to upload too large of a picture.

[L&A]

Gee!! I had a huge post and got lost.

Just want to say thank you ladies for your support and advise. And will do personals later when I have a chance.

[greenm76]

Wow I have not neen on here in forever!!! but its so good to read how everyone is doing in new mommy land.

Luz - dont feel bad about the breast feeding...I did it for like 2 weeks lol...it took 2 weeks for the colostrum to come so by then he was quite used to the bottle. He did latch well and seemed interested in breast feeding but he ate so much that I just couldnt keep up and pumping was the worst!!!! I tried that for like 15 minutes and knew there was absolutely no way I could do it so we stuck with formula feeding and S is doing reat on it! he has doubled his birthweight (he now weighs 12lbs, 6oz and he is 23.75 inches).

Otherwise we are both doing great! S sleeps through the night now...good thing as I go back to work in 1 more week (gosh I still cant believe that my baby is almost 11 weeks old!)

And yes sometimes I still have to pinch myself that I am indeed a mother!

I've read that some of you had some troubles with baby acne...someone mentioned putting breast milk on the rash...S had a small rash on his forehead for a couple weeks after birth. I put breast milk on it and it cleared up right away...although I'm not sure whether it was the breast milk or just that it run its course.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone.

[L&A]

Simone - How exciting about your trip to Canada! We'll have our first road trip with LO next weekend, only 3 hrs. driving and I'm nervous LOL. I've heard that is easier flying with an infant than with a toddler. Hope Aaron is doing better and doesn't have the cold anymore.

Tysa - Welcome back! Will is precious and big! thanks for the kind words and all the BF tips, your post gives me hopes. Glad you got your milk production back. I'll definitively keep trying to increase mine. While struggling with BF I was also so depressed that didn't seek any help or lactation consultant (my mistake), but one of my friends also kept telling me all the time that it was ok to give up, that formula nowadays is made exactly like breast milk, that after seing my frustration she was glad that she didn't have to deal with BF (her son is adopted), etc. etc., so glad I didn't listen to her as you didn't listen to the lactation consultant

For the acne and flakes I was brushing after shower and you can imagine how it looks, instead of hiding the flakes it was more obvious lol. I've applied the podwer a few times in the areas you mentioned but now I'll do it everyday.

Vanessa - If it's hard to BF one, can't imagine BF two! plus and older sibbling to take care of. So glad they are growing well. Thanks for sharing BF tips too, especially the dark beer one

Littlesprite - I've been thinking of you being back at work, and how hard it must be. But you're a super mom and I'm glad things are working out as planned. Sorry tomorrow will be a sad day for you, but as you said, focusing in all the blessings will help you get through. Sherman is 5 months already?? yes, time flies.

... will finish this post later

[oneforlis]

HI Everyone!

Great to see some posts on here. I checked in every week but felt like I woudl be talking to myself lol

L&A so glad you like BF. Me too. I love the closeness and quiet time with Ri that it gives me, but hate the issues with milk supply. He still takes the bottle though and my child lets me know when boob is not flowing fast enough and will demand bottle instead so we trade off on both. He seems to want breast for those times he is not really starving or when he is upset for comfort but still feeds several times a day. If I pump I tend to do anywhere from 2-4 ounces so it is not a ton either. I do fenugreek and oatmeal but know I can incease my water and protein intake too. Good luck with your traveling with him! Ri had milia on his chin, nose and forehead the first 6 weeks or so and I made sure to wash the area well with his baths and it finally disappeared a few weeks ago. He never had the acne just the little white milia.

Hi Sim- sorry your LO has cradle cap. Ri had that weeks ago as well and we did something similar to what Tysa recomended and used the johnsons oatmeal wash on his hair and gently washed in a circular motion to help and it has been gone. I hope his cold gets better!

Littlesprite- wow for five months! sounds like your job is wonderful and though it is hard being away I know that makes it a bit beter enjoying what you do. Are you still working long hours? I am soooo impressed he sleeps that long! Can you teach Ri????

Marsha- S and Ri and neck and neck on weight. Will have to see how they are when Ri goes for his next doc appt. I don't think he will register on my digital home scale at home.

Tysa- sounds like you went through a ton to contineu to breast feed. I feel like I am still treading water half the time but am determined. I just dont have the energy to pump every 2 hours right now. More on that below but at least he still takes to the breast most times and I have about 40 bags in my frig that have about 4-5 ounces in them a piece so when I go back to work my mom will continue to give him what I pumped. Love the pics! I will ahve to post one of Ri I swear he no longer looks like a baby but a toddler and his cooing and squealing I have to remind myself he is only 3 months but at his 2 month check up he was already over 12 pounds and 24 inches.

Vanessa- so good to hear from you! Glad the twins are doing well and BF good too. Do you have help at home? How is your DD with the twins? The mother in law still okay with everything< I thought I remembered an issue there.

AFM: We are doing okay for the most part. Really Really struggling to get Ri to sleep at night and NOT wake up every hour. He is not the most easy goin g baby as far as sleeping goes. Wonderful when he is in a good mood and rested and if not he will let you know it. This leaves a tired mommy and try to nap when he naps which is only occasionally as I get him to nap and iether have to do laundry, or something and will sit down to take a nap and of course that is the day that instead of his 2 hour nap he decided to wake up in 30 min. We do have some good nights when he will only wake up every 2 with an occasional 3 but that has been rare the past week. Very tough when it is just you with no DH but I still would not change a thing. As I type I can hear him stire over the baby monitor. Sigh. I have three books on sleeping but of course only a few things work like the dream feed occasionally and I don't have hours to sit and read the books too. lol Time does fly! Hope everyone else is doing great!

[L&A]

OK I'm back to finish my post...

Greenm - Oh honey, after that difficult pregnancy you don't deserve to stress about anything! and 2 weeks to get the colostrum sounds like too long to try to BF after that. If I was you, I'd have done the same as far as S is growing strong and healthy. My issues were different and I knew the milk was there, that's why it worked out at the end, thank God. So glad to hear LO is sleeping very well. The best of luck going back to work

Lisa - Ri is so big and cute! Looks like we have the same BF problem right now, I have Alec to take the boob first and get whatever I have, then he let me know if he still needs more, which happens most of the time. If my breast isn't full and he's starving, he wont take it, so I try to offer the boob before he gets too hungry, and it has worked out for me. But sometimes he eats so much that left me with nothing for next feeding and I don't even offer to BF, just go ahead and give him formula Hope Ri starts sleeping better soon, I have no doubt it must be exhausting for you as single mom. You and Greenm are a couple of tough ladies

AFU - After the baby acne Alec developed the flakes in scalp and eyebrows, I asume that must be the cradle cap, so thanks for all the tips on that one. At least it doesn't bother him as much as it bothers me. He's also been gassy and fussy due tummy discomfort for the last days, today he's much better and taking his day naps as usual. At night he's sleeping very well, 4 to 6 hrs in a row since 3 weeks. Haven't seen the Dr. but I can feel he's growing and gaining weight, my arms are so sore from yesterday when I took him to church. In last Dr. visit he was 10 pounds 4 oz. and only 3 weeks old, can't wait to see how big he in next check up. Have to go, he just woke up and is sucking his thumb and part of his hand like trying to swallow it... this little guy is really hungry...

[littlesprite]

Ugh... the computer gods got mad at me and stole my post. Ugh!

I can't believe everyone who is on this board. We have come so far since we "met".

Lisa: I kept looking and seeing that it was basically just you and I who were writing so I, too, was like "I'll just stalk the boards for a bit". So glad Ri is doing well. You're getting ready to go back to work... how's childcare going? I'm in love with my nanny. She's wonderful with Sherman. I feel very fortunate to have her. How's your dad doing? How's the house renovation going? I can't believe the hair on him! How adorable. Sherman still looks like a blading old man. I love the sleeping baby pic... sooo sweet.

Tysa: haha... you sound like me and the computer. I'm sooo glad you got pics posted though. So super adorable. His smile is priceless in the baseball outfit. How sweet. It's amazing how "big" he looks compared to the first day home... definitely turning into an adorable little boy. You must be so happy... I'm glad things sound like they're going pretty well.

Green: So good to hear from you... absolutely well deserved. How's it feel to be back at work? I hope you're doing okay with all that. See below for my personal comments. I hope things continue to go well for you. I'm not sure about the whole "breast milk fixes everything", but it sure isn't going to hurt... so putting it on his acne at best helped and at worst didn't cause any harm! I'm so glad he's sleeping through the night. Totally a game changer, isn't it? You feel so much more human. Though I'm still pretty sleep deprived and chronically tired. I'm glad S is gaining weight and doing well on the formula. It's so good to hear that things are going well for you. You so deserve it!

Luz: you're such a sweetie and so adorable. I'm glad you're getting the hang of the breastfeeding/formula feeding balance. Alec is lucky to have a mommy that works so hard to figure out what's best for him! Sherman didn't really have cradle cap, but when he gets hot, if I leave a hat on him that isn't really breathable, he gets this yellowish gross residue on his head. I usually use baby oil and a soft brush (that I got at the hospital) to work it off his scalp and out of his hair. It leaves his little head red for a few minutes, but it doesn't hurt him. Well, at least, he doesn't seem to mind.

AFU: doing well... back at work for a month now. Phew! It's really a different ball game back at work with a baby! I can't hardly wait to get home every day, but it's such an awesome experience that I'm having at work (new job) that it's hard to complain too much. DH and I have started to do a "marathon cooking" session on the weekend so that all we have to do during the week is heat stuff up. So far it seems to be working really well. At least it means he can get dinner ready. Our nanny also cooks one night a week for us so that's a nice break for me. Sherman is doing great. He's a 5.5 months old... we actually introduced rice cereal last week. He was fussy and crying whenever we ate and watching us eat like a little hawk so I caved and started a little early. He seems to be doing well with it. I make it quite liquid-y, but he laps it up off the spoon and cries if I don't go fast enough! Tonight, I added sweet potato for the first time... definitely got a picture of that!

Anyway, I need to get some stuff done before bed/dream feeding Sherman... so I better go. Hope everyone's doing well. I'm so proud of us all... isn't it amazing, ladies (through the fog of sleeplessness!)?

[Simmone]

Sorry I've been so slack. Been crazy busy with my brother and fiancé here and planning our trip which we go on in two weeks. So hard to plan stuff when bubs wants to play.

I was told about this stuff called moogoo (google it you can get it in the US) and it has been amazing on Aaron's dry forehead and cradle cap.

Great to hear from you all. Little sprite sounds like you have got a great balance happening with work and baby. I go back in October for two days and already loathing the idea. Lol. Still I'm luckier than most!

I know the first post is out of date my bad but hard to do on iPhone. Will try and sort it out soon x

[L&A]

Littlesprite - So glad everything is going well for you! I was going to ask if you were getting ready to start solids but seems like Sherman doesn't like to wait for anything lol... it must be the cutest thing seing him eating desperate like a little pig. Can't wait to see Alec doing the same. I've read it and heard from a few moms that it's better start with veggies and introduce fruits later, because if they taste the sweet first, they wont like the plain flavor of veggies. But you don't have to worry about that because looks like you have a good eater

Simone - Don't be sorry for not updating the chart, you've done a lot keeping us together in this new thread and we all know how hard is to find time to read and post. Alec's b-day is my signature in case you need it later... Very interesting about the moogoo cream, did you get it online? here is the only way to buy it... Enjoy your family trip, I'm sure Aaron will do just fine, I've heard that's easier to travel with an infant than a toddler. Take care

[L&A]

AFU - Baby acne and scalp problem looks much better, aveno shampoo and brushing while giving a bath is been working well. It's huge difference from now and a month ago, I'm enjoying being a mom a lot more that almost feel like I was a different person back then, darn hormones!... One week from today for LO next pedi appt. and first shots, so not looking forward to... Had our first road trip a week ago, only 3 hour drive and spend the weekend out of town. We went to our friends wedding and it was a 360○ change, didn't party like I used to, instead I enjoyed so much talking with other parents who also brought their children, there were a lot of babies there. I felt like finally fitted in society, enjoyed the party in a way I never thought I would, didn't have to deal with the always asked question "and when are you having children?", it wasn't only DH and I anymore, we were a family.

He'll be 2 months next week and doesn't lift his head while laying on his belly, I try at least twice per day a few minutes of 'tummy time', but he doesn't like it at all; I put mirrors with music in from of him for stimulation, toys, myself, and nothing works. He lifted his head just a little in two ocasions and that's it. I guess he'll need a little more time to catch up with that. I blame daddy for the big head he passed to his baby lol.

EOE - Hope you're doing well and enjoying being a mom!