Pregnancy Thread.....Thursday, 1/20

[Shandril105]

to all of you who had medical issues with regards to bfing. Its not common, but neither is it rare. I can't possibly imagine what that was like for you. I am glad that they were able to pinpoint your problem early so no harm came to your children. And, thankfully there is an alternative in formula. You can even get donated, pasteurized breastmilk from LLL if you like. You truly are great ladies!

For most cases of sqeamishness though, I would recommend at least trying before making the call as to whether to BF. The benefits your children get far outweigh our own discomfort. Plus, after going into labor, having your nether regions exposed to God and everyone else, being poked, prodded and sending the wet St. Bernard through the cat door, you may feel able to do anything.

[vixendrop]

I only get offended and defensive when I'm faced with comments like "If you researched more and knew how bad formula was you wouldn't do it! You're killing your baby!" and "Your baby will never be healthy if you feed her formula. Your breasts aren't just for fun you know!" and things like that. Those were a couple comments I actually got when I had to stop BF my daughter.

I think it's great if someone can BF, but not everyone can, for a variety of reasons. I think it's only wrong when people look donw on those of us who don't do it.

[Dar20]

Originally posted by Shandril105
and sending the wet St. Bernard through the cat door, you may feel able to do anything.

[karatejen]

Originally posted by BrattyChelle
No offense here Jen....after trying myself, I applaud those that can and do. I just don't like societies stigma that is attached to formula at times.

I understand.

There have been times I have actually felt frowned upon for continuing to BF after going back to work. It is not that they have a problem with the BF, but they think it is going to extreme to pump. A nice resolution for them is BF at night and weekends, formula during the day.

No one at work has said anything. I really only think 2 women even know that I am doing it. I imagine some of my coworkers (all male) wonder why I now close my door 3 times a day, but I don't ever expect them to get up enough guts to ask me why. I throw my pump parts in the little cooler bag that came with the pump. I take them into the bathroom to rinse with hot water in privacy. The guy across the hall saw me and said, "I hope that is not a lunch bag." Guess it looked weird to him for me to take a lunch bag into the restroom. I told him "No, it's not a lunch bag". Then he asked if it was a purse. I told him no again and then just told him not to ask. He didn't push it. Whether or not it has dawned on him what I am doing, I'll probably never know. He isn't the type to ask. All of the people I work with are males over the age of 50. Thankfully they wouldn't ask a women personal questions anyway.

[heather123]

Originally posted by Dar20


Anyways, quick question I hope someone can answer before I cut my head off.. can I use Halls menthol cough drops?

BBL!!

My list dosen't say "cough drops" but it says Robitussin DM is OK, so you'd *think* a cough drop would be OK too.

[karatejen]

Originally posted by Shandril105
Plus, after going into labor, having your nether regions exposed to God and everyone else, being poked, prodded and sending the wet St. Bernard through the cat door, you may feel able to do anything.

OMG....

I've got to remember that. That is a great way to describe it!!!

[vixendrop]

Originally posted by Shandril105
The benefits your children get far outweigh our own discomfort.

This I completely don't agree with. Yeah, I think we can all agree that the antibodies provided in the first week or so are beneficial, but they can be provided by pumping and feeding with a bottle. And unless you ARE someone you have no way of knowing WHY they're uncomfortable. Maybe the benefits WOULDN'T outweigh their feelings. My neice was sexually abused when she was a child... she's managed to move on and heal to a remarkable degree, but the though of putting a baby on her breast makes her literally hyperventilate. It is a very serious issue for her. Her baby will benefit MUCH more from formula feeding and having a mom who is calm and capable of taking care of her, instead of a mom who freaks out everytime another feeding comes around and would eventually grow resentful of the baby.

That's an extreme case, but a perfect example of why broad general statements like that need to be made VERY carefully. Just because it works for you does NOT mean everyone else is the same.

[Dar20]

Originally posted by karatejen
All of the people I work with are males over the age of 50. Thankfully they wouldn't ask a women personal questions anyway.

LOL, same here, Jen. I have a door, but doesn't lock. So, if i can BF, I think I'll put a sign on my door asking for privacy during those times. Folks are pretty respectful and private around here, so I can't imagine they'd worry about it.

As far as BF in public, I have never ever seen my friend Dani do so. We even go out to dinner every week, and back when all her baby was getting was breastmilk, she always made sure to feed him before they picked us up, and would bring a bottle of pumped milk as a snack for him.

to everyone. I love how we're such a small group here. No twits with drive-by posts telling us all off because we're 'wrong'.

[vixendrop]

Oh, regarding cough drops... I was told they're fine.

[Dar20]

Originally posted by vixendrop
Oh, regarding cough drops... I was told they're fine.

Yay! Thanks, guys!

[karatejen]

Originally posted by Dar20
As far as BF in public, I have never ever seen my friend Dani do so. We even go out to dinner every week, and back when all her baby was getting was breastmilk, she always made sure to feed him before they picked us up, and would bring a bottle of pumped milk as a snack for him.

That is what I usually do. Now, when we go to the mall, I don't worry about a pumped bottle. Our mall has family bathrooms and a private locking nursing room with a comfy chair. And our Belk's has the same kind of room too. When I go to the other mall, I use the fitting rooms. DH and I find one either in the men's dept or the baby dept that is pretty vacant looking so we feel ok going in together. He helps out a lot by handing me the baby and burp clothes, etc.

As far as work, my door locks, but like your place, no one would just barge in anyway, so it is a very safe place to pump. I had a small frig I bought to use in my pop-up camper that we didn't have a use for since we sold the camper. I moved that into my office last year. It makes it even nicer. I pump and put it in the frig before I even open the door.

[GoJackets]

I've been trying to stay out of this thread as much as possible because I am so behind on personals....but as far as BFing goes....Smiley Amy asked a question and most have answered based on personal feelings based on research and/or experiences. It seems to me that Amy was seeking opinions and possibly hasn't done the research on it yet.......so suggesting to research it is not necessarily a bad idea....along with seeking opinions.

I don't think anyone is knocking a mother who has tried BFing. I personally don't consider anyone a failure for trying. I am concerned about first time mothers who aren't willing to even consider BFing (unless they have known unique circumstances that will prevent them). I think from the research, there are many benefits other than nourishing your baby that should be considered that may help get over the queaziness/fear of it.

Smiley Amy made the comment that she knows it's supposed to be a beautiful thing etc.....For me, I'm totally not looking forward to doing it...I'm not sold on the "beauty or bonding" thing either, but I feel as a mother and by design, I owe it to my baby and my body to "try".

And I think that is all anyone is trying to say. I think two weeks is plenty of time to know if it is going to work or not. I can give up two weeks for my child.....or maybe it will be obvious even sooner than two weeks. I realize this is a sensitive subject because there are breast feeding Nazi's out there....and I just want to share my thoughts coming from someone who hasn't had the experience yet but must make a decision.

And thank goodness for science and doctors who were able to formulate an alternative for those who cannot BF.

Edited 100 times to try and get the right "tone"....hope I found it!

[BrattyChelle]

Just a quick suggestion that I wish I'd tried when I was BF'ing my son....if you do breastfeed and you question if your baby is getting enough, try pumping to see how much you're producing. That is when it finally enlightened me after he spent a night in the hospital when he lost all his weight. I pumped while he was there to keep my milk coming in and sure enough, I wasn't even pumping a full ounce at any given time from BOTH breasts (yes, I mean combined!!!). No wonder the lil guy was starving!

Granted this won't solve the empty calorie issue...but it definitely lets you see how much you are producing.

[Dar20]

I find it so interesting how milk is different! With what VixenAmy said about the lack of calories, and was it Jen that mentioned she can't freeze hers. Never something I would have thought of.

Funny we're all talking about BF. I just got an e-mail from Dani to tell me she's depressed because her breasts have suddenly stopped producing what they used to. David had been taking in about 15 oz per day, and she said she barely was able to pump 3 oz. this morning. Weird how they'd suddenly do that, but I guess we're all different.

I'm not sold on the "beauty or bonding" thing, but I feel as a mother and by design, I owe it to my baby to "try".

LOL.. our bodies are no longer our own, are they?

[GoJackets]

Originally posted by Dar20

LOL.. our bodies are no longer our own, are they?

Nope, that kid hijacked my body and my brain about 4 months ago....I can barely complete a whole sentence any more and forget multi-tasking!

[gilbabe75]

Jen, you did not offend me.

GoJackets, well "spoken"


Amy...if you want to try it try it, if you don't...don't. Go with what you feel you need to do. It is a choice you and your baby have to make.


I'm sorry if I am defensive about my situation. I just wanted SO BADLY to BF both my kids. I last 5 days with the first and 2 weeks with the second but that was with pumping. I produced enough milk but just couldn't get everything to mesh. I want to try again with this one but what are the odds it works? I don't want to put the baby, myself, my DH and my kids thru the trauma of it. I know I sound like a drama queen but it is a very traumatic time if it isn't working. I'm very jealous of those who can do it.

[vixendrop]

You know, I personally think this subject has about run its course... bottom line, do it if you can and want to, but if you can't or don't want to then just be sure you're making an informed decision. Can we all agree with that?

And now, in am attempt to turn the thread in a more pleasant direction... here are some old pictures I just found:

This was me when I was 18 months old:


This was my daughter at 2 months old with my mom:


3 months old on christmas day with my dad and step-mom (~gag~):


Her 1st birthday (which was also her first day of pre-school):


And here she's a few months past her 2nd birthday:

[heather123]

I passed my 3 hour glucose test!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pictures Vixendrop, your dd was a cutie pie!

[karatejen]

Originally posted by Dar20

Funny we're all talking about BF. I just got an e-mail from Dani to tell me she's depressed because her breasts have suddenly stopped producing what they used to. David had been taking in about 15 oz per day, and she said she barely was able to pump 3 oz. this morning. Weird how they'd suddenly do that, but I guess we're all different.



LOL.. our bodies are no longer our own, are they?

Tell her not to stress or give up. There are many factors than can affect breastmilk expression. Sometimes I get 9oz at one pumping session, but then can barely get 2oz the next. Time of day can make a big difference. Milk production is huge in the mornings and drops off late afternoon and evenings.

Something that I have learned is that even if the pump can't get milk out, your baby can. I have pumped a breast dry and then turned around and fed DS on the same breast.

ThininMex and I have discussed pumping. She can feed her daughter all day long, but hardly pump anything. It is different for every woman.

Here is a great site than can give info to those trying to decide and those who are BF.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

[karatejen]

Originally posted by heather123
I passed my 3 hour glucose test!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pictures Vixendrop, your dd was a cutie pie!

Way to Go !

[vixendrop]

Originally posted by heather123
I passed my 3 hour glucose test!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pictures Vixendrop, your dd was a cutie pie!

Congrats!

And thanks

[Dar20]

Originally posted by heather123
I passed my 3 hour glucose test!!!!!!!!

Yay, Heather!

[ChristieJ]

Hi Mommies,

I have a TON of catching up to do, but don't have a chance to do it at the moment. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a perinatologist for a level-2 u/s and a consultation with a genetic counselour due to an abnormal result on my triple screen. I'm trying not to get too worked up about it because I also got a false positive with my first last year, and he's perfectly healthy.

But, after that appointment, I should have more news to report and hopefully will know whether #2 will be a brother or sister to Carter.

In the meantime, I'm driving by to show you this! Here's hoping none of us delivers a 17 pound baby.

Mom gives birth to 16.7-pound 'giant baby'


You can read the article here:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.../world/3001185




Christie

[vixendrop]

Oh lordy! I heard about that on another forum, but this was the first picture I'd seen! From what I understand though it was due to uncontrolled GD... which proves there is good reason for watching what you eat when you have GD especially.

[BrattyChelle]

Originally posted by ChristieJ
Hi Mommies,

I have a TON of catching up to do, but don't have a chance to do it at the moment. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a perinatologist for a level-2 u/s and a consultation with a genetic counselour due to an abnormal result on my triple screen. I'm trying not to get too worked up about it because I also got a false positive with my first last year, and he's perfectly healthy.

But, after that appointment, I should have more news to report and hopefully will know whether #2 will be a brother or sister to Carter.

In the meantime, I'm driving by to show you this! Here's hoping none of us delivers a 17 pound baby.

Mom gives birth to 16.7-pound 'giant baby'


You can read the article here:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.../world/3001185




Christie

OMG talk about a St. Bernard through a cat door!!!

[chels_hoff]

Originally posted by Dar20
Hi, girls,

Sorry for the drive by, but I'm very busy at work trying to make all my changes before our deadline and I had my 1 hr glucose test this am. Piece of cake.. hope I pass.

Anyways, quick question I hope someone can answer before I cut my head off.. can I use Halls menthol cough drops?

BBL!!

My sheet from Kaiser says "all cough drops & lozenges" are OK

jen ~ he is so cute, love the pics!!

Holly Molley on that baby!!! That is more like a hippo through the cat door!

Here are some baby pics of David and I ....although mine is in my avatar, any one else have any??






xoxo Chelsea
*Pregnant with Our First*
It's a Boy!! Cant wait to meet you Payton Wayne !!
Baby's Web Page
Mom & Dad's Website

[mandyhoward]

Hey guys. I wanted to pop in and share my 12 week u/s that my aunt did last week. You can see the little feet sticking straight up and a little knot sticking out to the right. Shea said it looked very phallic. I think I may indeed have my son Cameron floating around in there. What do you think?

No time for personals today. My sister is having her birthday dinner tonight and then I'm giving a test tomorrow. Gotta prepare.




Mandy

[allibaba]

Hi Mandy,
I'm glad the doctor seems to have found out what all the bleeding was from! Hopefully, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy . When we had our 14 week u/s last Friday the tech said it was still too early to even guess what the sex was. We're going for our level 2 on the 7th of February and will hopefully find out then .
Alli