Mid June and July Firecrackers Group Due June/July 2017!

[808malia]

Ya, I think I'm gonna go with the medela backpack because it will travel nicely and gets good reviews, but the spectra s2 does get some great reviews so...?

 

[Maries_s]

I used to have the Pump in a style and sold it. Now I bought the Spectra S1 (is basically the same as the S2) and I really like it. Is more gentle, quieter, close system and hospital grade pump. Ah and also you have more settings options which is good. I also bought the adapter in case I want to use my medela parts and bottles.

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

I found a website that I can go to that have all 7 types of pumps that my insurance cover and once I choose they will Do all the leg work with my insurance and doctor to get the script to get it to me. I think I'm going with Madela..

 

[DobbyForever]

Well... I failed my 1 hour glucose test by 9 points.

And some of my bloodwork is out of standard range/the lowest it has ever been.

I'm trying not to cry.

ETA doctor brother says my levels are normal lol

 

[lesondemavie]

So jealous of this awesome breast pump coverage. I'll probably end up buying either the medela or the s2, but I'm going to wait and see how breastfeeding goes first (and I have my free cheap pump to get me started if needed). I'd like to breastfeed or even just exclusively pump, but I'm not going to be a martyr about it. I like that it's cheaper than formula , that it helps mama with weight loss/recovery, and it seems to have some small protective effects for baby in the first few months. Beyond that the studies trumpeting amazing, long-term benefits are poorly designed, and those benefits disappear in the few well-controlled studies that are out there. Still breastfeeding is my preference, so we'll see how it goes! We bought those comotomo bottles in the hopes that they'll help baby switch from breast to bottle and back. I've seen all the crazy warnings about not bottle-feeding in the beginning bc baby won't want to go back to the breast...but having DH involved and getting to feed the baby as well is important to me, and since I'm not set on the baby being at my breast, I'm ok with trying and seeing how it goes. Plus I think that risk is overstated by the breast is best movement. I'm sure it happens, but I'm sure it also works out fine in plenty of cases too. My SIL was induced early and had to give her baby formula from a bottle to start bc her milk wasn't coming in. Her baby switched back to her breast when it was time no problem, and breastfeeding was easy for her. I'm just going to be flexible and do what feels right for us as a family. So long as baby is healthy and growing this mama will be happy

 

[lesondemavie]

Oh also so many BH yesterday! I guess I've been getting them now and again for a while now and just didn't realize what they were! My tummy would feel hard/really stretched sometimes, and I guess I just thought baby was doing something idk.

Sorry about the tests Dobby . I'm sure everything will be just fine

 

[Girly922]

I've got an avent comfort pump, but I'm also looking at getting the haakaa pump for when I'm feeding one sided. I've also got some milksavers for opposite side let down during feeding.
I've heard great things about the medula pumps, but as I don't plan on expressing much I'll just stick to what I've got.

I didn't want to breastfeed DD, I was uncomfortable with the idea of it. DH asked me to try for the first couple of days so she'd at least get the colostrum. In the first few weeks we combi-fed. After that I switched exclusively to breast until she was 7 months old, mainly after DH had to go back to work purely due to how much easier it was than making bottles! I don't think I would've survived night feeds if I was making bottles up each time. Kudos to the mum's that do!

I was lucky that DD was happy to switch easily between breast and bottle but I've had a couple of friends that have really struggled to get baby off the breast because they outright refuse a bottle.

The way breast milk changes is truly amazing. It changes in calorie content depending on baby's health. It's an overnight cure for spots, and is great on cuts and grazes, works great in the bath too. Boobs are incredible things!

 

[DobbyForever]

Ooo have you seen the new study where breast milk changes to provide antibodies to sick babies?! I thought that was insane!!!

 

[Girly922]

I have Dobby, and I believe in it. Have you seen the photo comparisons of frozen milk from when baby is healthy to when they have a cold. Mum was expressing and freezing and noticed that while baby had a common cold, her milk was much more yellow in appearance, much like the early colostrum. Incredible!

 

[lesondemavie]

Thanks girly. Good to hear another personal story where being flexible worked out just fine . I'd like to breastfeed, but I just won't know how it'll go until we get there and the confirmed benefits just aren't big enough for me to stress out over it if it doesn't go well. I had a pretty awful experience watching my best friend essentially starve her newborn when her milk wasn't coming in just bc she was so dead set on breast is best and if we use formula at all he won't switch back etc. She put both her baby and herself at risk because of the social pressure, and it just killed me inside. She ended up in the hospital (long story but she was also delaying some meds for her mental health so that she could breastfeed), and her baby ended up formula-fed anyway. I know I don't have the same issues as her, but I just hate that the hype and pressure over it doesn't match the evidence.

The human body is quite amazing. I guess it is believed that the baby's saliva can interact with the mammary glands and thus change the immunological composition of the breast milk. That's part of those short-term protective effects in the early months. Great for mild infections etc.

 

[Girly922]

Oh I am totally with you on not placing too much pressure on breastfeeding. I've also seen people make themselves ill over it, and heard the horror stories of babies dying of dehydration because of the pressure to breastfeed. I'm actually a little worried in case I have any problems breastfeeding this time as it came so easily with DD and I think it will be heartbreaking for me personally if it doesn't come as easily this time.

If you can, then great. If not, formula isn't the poison some pro-breast make it out to be.

I also have no plans to breastfeed into toddlerhood, somewhere around 9m-1yr I'm hoping to reach before we start weaning off the breast. But I have friends that still bf their 3 year olds and that just isn't for me. The benefits are reduced drastically once solids take over as the main source of nutrition from what I've researched anyway.

 

[ALiKO]

Really bummed. The people I really wanted at my shower can't make it... as much as I didn't want a big deal or to be center of attention but it's really depressing to know like you have four "friends" coming and two of your mom's friends and three relatives. I almost want to just cancel.

I know exactly how you feel. I purposely have been avoiding the topic of a baby shower because I don't know who's gonna show up. My co-workers actually threw me a surprise shower at work which was very sweet but outside of that I doubt I would have much luck with a shower of my own.

Just recently a friend of mine had a baby shower where over 40 people attended and I'm having trouble thinking of just 10 people outside of some family members who I could invite to attend...

 

[Mummafrog]

Lots to catch up on again, you chatty lot I've had a good read.

Personally I wouldn't let any medical person near my cervix at 35 weeks! There is no evidence of benefit to that that I've ever come across, even sweeps only do anything if you're already starting to open. I am curious about what they are basing that practice on, I shall have a Google. You can always refuse to be examined and don't let yourself be pressured into it if it's not what you want.

Afm I've now had my gtt and bloods done and I almost cried with relief when they came back normal. My 28 week growth scan also showed that all is well. It has helped me to relax for sure. I'm sorry for those who haven't had such good news *hugs*

My lovely daddy bought us a new car seat for the baby, the joie every stage, which is very cool, I'm very grateful. He says he's useless at choosing gifts and prefers it this way haha.
Got to start moving the bedroom around tomorrow, the grandparents are bringing the changing unit and my blow up birth pool from their loft! Exciting times x

 

[DobbyForever]

Agreed fed is best. It is a shame when women get shaved/pressured to feel they have to bf to the point if making themselves or babies sick

 

[second.time]

I'm always sad when mothers feel so much pressure to do things "the right way" that they end up in a stressful situation. Breastfeeding is lovely and I'm glad there's more public support for it, and it is really cool to learn how complex our bodies are. But if formula works for you, that's what's best for your family!

You could take two adults and ask which was formula-fed as a baby and which was breastfed and I'm sure nobody could tell the difference. So many other factors go into helping your child be healthy and happy.

Dobby, I'm sorry for the frustration of not passing the one-hour test! I hope the three-hour goes by smoothly and you get some good news. I'm sure your blood work is OK -- it's pretty typical for levels to be a few points off during pregnancy, and if it IS an issue, your doctor will know and will be able to help. It sounds like you've had a great pregnancy so far.

I can't believe I'm in the single-digit week countdown now! Nine to go.

 

[second.time]

About cervical checks, I remember them causing me a lot of stress and anxiety. I wasn't effaced/dilated in the few weeks before my due date and it made me miserable. I remember crying after my appointments because I was so disappointed and impatient. And I had my baby right on my due date anyway! This time I'd probably rather just wait until signs of labor start.

 

[DobbyForever]

Woot! 9 week countdown!!

I'm more annoyed at this point that it means a day off work rather than actually worried lol

I agree about the formula thing especially in this day and age when formula is so advanced.

 

[lesondemavie]

Absolutely Dobby the nutritional profile of formula is so much better than breastmilk no matter how well you eat. There are pros and cons to each and you just have to do what ends up working best for you.

I'm with you girly. The studies on benefits don't really extend beyond 6 months anyway. If I can breastfeed, which I hope is the case, then I will be stopping at 6 months so DH and I can start trying for baby #2. I'm already 35, and it took us 14 months from start to finish (with some breaks in there for pregnancies we lost and recovery from miscarriage etc) to conceive our Charlie. While we know my problem now and the fix is easy and I'm hoping our next ttc journey is much happier and faster, I just don't want to wait too long and regret it bc it takes just as long or longer. I'd much rather have two kids close in age. That sounds like a quite a bit to handle, but not something that I'd ever regret.

 

[second.time]

That sounds like a smart move, lesonde, if you know you want to have two kids! I bet siblings close in age will have a strong bond. And you get the babyhood stage out of the way all in one go. It's a little crazy because I JUST started leaving that stage behind: my kid is independent, potty-trained, sleeps on his own, etc., and now I'm going right back to square one. I'm excited about a newborn, but also a little nervous about having to shift right back into the late nights and diaper changes.

 

[Girly922]

Leson, you may be like I was last time and get your cycles back while still breastfeeding anyway Mine returned at 3 months pp. I'm hoping to have a little longer before AF returns this time, I definitely don't want a close gap! Lol. I'm not even sure if I want a third at this point. We always said we wanted 3 but I think that'll be a decision for a few years time.

Second, I'm in the same boat. DD is fiercely independent, has been potty trained for 18 months, and has slept through the night in her own room since about 5 months old. I'm a little scared of hitting the newborn stage again.