Hellobee Boards

@agold: Hooray for thinking seriously about breastfeeding. As others have said, whichever way you feed your baby is the best way And it's not an all or nothing game. Note that hospitals provide lactation consultants who can help teach you how to bf and give you tips and tricks to make it work. Also, if you don't like one of the consultants, there is hopefully more than one on staff, so ask to try them all! You never know which one's advice will click and make it work for you. In addition, my hospital had a weekly lactation support group that was free to attend after delivery. I went weekly for awhile because things still weren't very comfortable. Not only was it great to get seen by another LC, but it was also great to be in a room full of nursing moms who were all trying to do their best and were in a similar position as me. Support is everything, especially early on.

Has anyone else started having Braxton Hicks already? I'm 19w3d, and had several this afternoon while I was at the park with DD. I didn't have any last time until I was 35ish weeks!

Another vent. So ladies I still haven't told work, and today I was invited to help present at a special BOD presentation scheduled for 6 weeks from now. Its hard enough being the only women in the room (usually), but now I will be the only pregnant women in the room. The looks that are going to come my way (whale in a dress suit) are going to give me major anxiety for the next 6 weeks. Its days like these where I have to remind myself of how far womens equality has come, and to be thankful that this problem even exists...

I graduated to maternity jeans!!!!! Oh, and a weird vomit inducing heartburn But yay for comfy pants, I have no idea how I made it to almost 19w. When I put a rubber band on the closure last night, I knew it was time

@pregnantbee: @CoffeeMom: Thanks! I texted my husband, because he's OOT on business. He said the preview of the text said, "Just got an email that the results from the blood test this week are..." Talk about a cliffhanger! whoops, haha.

@coopsmama: I can't wait for that!

@MrsBeluga: sorry the presentation is stressing you out! When do you think you'll tell work? I finally told this week and it felt good. Maybe try to think about how badass you are to be giving an important presentation while growing a baby. I'd like to see a man do that!

@mrschickpea: yuck, sorry about the heartburn! And I'm going shopping tomorrow. I rocked the rubber band all day today. I showed two of my coworkers, who have not had kids, and they thought it was hilarious. Glad I can provide amusement in the workplace

@pregnantbee: Literally the men acting weird is the reason! I also only work with men. I hate to think if they knew I was preggo that they would have passed up on extending this speaking opportunity to me. And once they know, it will be their go to small talk with me for the next 4.5 months. We find out what we are having Monday, and literally after the ultrasound (when Im feeling super happy and excited) I am marching straight into my bosses office and telling him. Hopefully finding out what we are having will put me in such a good mood that his reaction doesn't affect me at all!

@mrschickpea: Congrats on maternity jeans! I picked up a pair of skinny jeans from Macys, Motherhood brand, and they are so cute Ive been wearing them since before I really needed them

Just getting caught up, and really enjoying the discussion on breast feeding.
I loved breast feeding and did it for like 26 months. It was incredibly easy for me. That said, I stayed at home full time for the first 16 months which makes things a billion times easier, and somehow got lucky with good supply (despite an undiagnosed autoimmune disease) and a baby who had a good latch from the start. Basically: a lot of luck and a heavy dose of SAHM privilege (as it relates to breastfeeding, I mean). I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging- I really think it was all luck and not having to pump.
I was super nervous about it because it was important to me and I knew I'd be devastated if it didn't work.

So, this time I'm still feeling a little nervous, but less about "making it work." I mean, I want it to. But now that I have a kid, the important stuff is all kind of put into perspective in a different way. Like last time I was so focused on my birth plan, this time I don't really give a fuck as long as the baby is okay (and I'm mostly just worried about having it on the side of the road).

I am going to be working one day a week beginning st three months, which I know is nothing. But pumping is totally new to me. I don't even know how often I will have to do it, or anything. So I'm glad to have you guys to ask for help!

@Silva: You make a really good point here....I think that staying home for a year and not pumping would have made a huge difference in my experience the first year. I returned to work after 4 mos. and had to pump 3x during the work day (which ate up my work lunch time, and I couldn't go out or run errands or do anything), I was living "bottle to bottle" for awhile, and was SO stressed out. I often added a pump session right before I went to bed just so I could make up enough ounces for the next day.

There were so many things to wash every night and "reset" before work the next morning....when all I wanted to do was rest and snuggle and sleep. Instead, I washed and prepped and thought endlessly and did math about the milk rotation -- how old is the milk in the fridge, which needs to be given first, which should get frozen, which frozen milk should be used first, etc. ACK. And this is WITH an amazing husband who is really helpful and washed things, too.

Really not looking forward to that part of it again, but I'm hoping I can take a more relaxed approach overall this time.

@pregnantbee: I've already decided I'm not going to make myself crazy about milk production this time. I'll pump what I can, when I can, and I'll leave formula as back up. Even just a small amount of breastmilk is beneficial. And we're going to hire a morning nanny for a few hours a week and I'm going to have her wash the bottles. I think it'll be such a weight off.

@pregnantbee: I need someone to help get the kids ready in the morning, take them around the corner to daycare, and then come back and do some house/kid related stuff. Wash bottles, kid laundry, and light housework like vacuuming. I plan for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week.

DH and I both have demanding jobs and I need to put in more time at work, and I solo in the morning. I just don't think I can do it all myself with two . At least not if I want to operate at the level I need to at work.

@pregnantbee: I honestly don't think I would have gotten very far if I had to pump/work full time. I'm incredibly lazy, and often felt like I was breastfeeding because it was easier than anything else. Crying baby? Gets a boob. Tired baby? Gets a boob. I want to check my email? Boob.
I wish we had better maternity leave options and all women had the opportunity to stay home for longer if they wanted to. I always see all this stuff encouraging breastfeeding, and that's what comes to my mind. Pumping is hard, hard work. I am always incredibly impressed by people who make it work. I don't know if I could have.

@coopsmama: I can't wait for DH to feel the babe. Shouldn't be too long since it kicked today and my arm bounced.

@coopsmama: so jealous! How far along are you?? (Stalking from the September board! )

I finally gave in to my craving for pizza hut breadsticks. Sometimes there is just no substitution for what you really want!

20w today and still can't feel movement. I *may* have felt something tiny yesterday, but I'm truly not sure, so I'm not counting it yet.

@Applesandbananas: Yes! I've felt movement with these last two babies at 13 weeks but DH didn't feel our last one kick until 24-25 weeks last time so I was surprised about this one but he caught it just right.

@coopsmama: I do! Confirmed last Tues. No idea about placement for my son, but I didn't feel him until 22-23 weeks! I was hoping it would be sooner this time.

@coopsmama: I have no idea. Never thought to ask last time. I'm thrilled that you and many others here are already feeling movement

@coopsmama: Thank you! And me, too