*Baby Corner*

[Vipul and Jamie 0]

Hi everyone,

I just had a quick question did anyone use ovulation tests to concieve? Were they useful?

Thanks,

Jamie

[Nasturtium 500]

Hi everyone,

I just had a quick question did anyone use ovulation tests to concieve? Were they useful?

Thanks,

Jamie

Hi! I haven't TTC yet really, but... I did go out and buy a set of the ovulation tests. They actually helped me a lot in that I always had a sense of when I was ovulating but never had concrete proof that I could tell my signs beyond CM. I actually did realize I have a sense for a window of 5 days around it, and so they were helpful for that. I hope that helps a bit.

[tnh9479 1]

Keltic - I agree with Sara. Don't hesitate to post. Your input is valued to me.

One thing I have noticed, not here, but with the women I work with. They make their decisions about how to parent their children by reading a book. After everything that has been said, I jokingly told them (but seriously meant it) that it was a miracle that any of us made it out of childhood!

[chri'stina 190]

keltic-I also like your posts! I do a lot of things too that might not be considered the best. If it makes you feel any less failure-ish, I use the really cheap bottles from Walmart and Target, you know the 3 pack for like $3? Oh yeah. Also generic diapers and formula.

I agree with what Sara said about the medical things, if not for the Dr's and C-sections, me and baby might not have made it in the old days.

Hi everyone,

I just had a quick question did anyone use ovulation tests to concieve? Were they useful?

Thanks,

Jamie

Hi Jamie! Great pics from India.

I forgot to write the rest of my post...I used those one month and it did help me know my ovulation window too. I didn't use them after the first month of trying though. (took about 5 months for us)

Edited July 16, 2008 by Parivar CSK

[~ Karima ~ 0]

Well I'm not breasfeeding and considering my child weighs over 14 pounds already, I think he's doing just fine.

agreed! I think ayman is Faaar from malnourished! lol..

Apparently, I erred greatly by not quoting the post I was referring to. I was not intending to imply that you were malnourishing your children. My post about water for infants was specifically in response to this post:

So when did you ladies start food, juice and water? I was thinking I would start all that at 4 months when I got back to work. But I was wondering if I should give her some water in Jamaica to keep her hydrate or if my milk would be fine.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that she is breastfeeding. I was trying to ease her mind. If I am wrong, I am terribly sorry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been a member of VJ for a long time and was in the baby corner for the pregnancy and birth of my child. I have posted less and less because it is very clear that my input is not what this corner of VJ cares to hear. As a nurse who works with infants and a mom who has now had 2 children, I have questions and also have experience that I have wanted to share. It has been increasingly implied in posts that the medical profession is only out for money, lazy and don't care for families and their birth experiences. I am part of that profession. It is very offensive and I have not said anything about it, although it has weighed on my mind.

Aside from the professional, I am also probably what most everyone here thinks of as a total failure of a mother. I was not able to breastfeed my children (don't even begin to say it is because I didn't try or didn't have support - I did). I had a C/S for my son and don't feel it is something that I should feel horribly disappointed in - my son is just as much my son no matter how he came into this world. I use Avent bottles - yes, they have BPA, it doesn't mean I love my child less. I had no hesitation in getting both my children immunizations on the schedule as recommended. There are reasons they are recommended that way and I believe the studies that show why.

So, as much as I don't seem to fit, I know there are many other women that are just like me. And really, the only reason I am even posting this, is because I think those women might feel too intimidated to join in.

Not a problem Keltic.

And please don't feel that your experience and knowledge don't matter. If not being able to breastfeed and having a c-section constitutes you as a failed mother, than I believe many of us here would be be considered the same, including me. I tried to breastfeed, but it just did not work and I had to have a c-section as well. I've used Avent bottles and my child is being immunized. Does all this make me feel I'm a bad mother....hell no! If your child is healthy, safe and happy, then you have done your job as a mother. We are all going to have opinions and not everyone is going to agree all the time, but that does not mean your opinion or experience is any less valid. Sometimes we all just have to agree not to agree.

[nannygirl82 0]

Well I'm not breasfeeding and considering my child weighs over 14 pounds already, I think he's doing just fine.

agreed! I think ayman is Faaar from malnourished! lol..

Apparently, I erred greatly by not quoting the post I was referring to. I was not intending to imply that you were malnourishing your children. My post about water for infants was specifically in response to this post:

So when did you ladies start food, juice and water? I was thinking I would start all that at 4 months when I got back to work. But I was wondering if I should give her some water in Jamaica to keep her hydrate or if my milk would be fine.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that she is breastfeeding. I was trying to ease her mind. If I am wrong, I am terribly sorry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been a member of VJ for a long time and was in the baby corner for the pregnancy and birth of my child. I have posted less and less because it is very clear that my input is not what this corner of VJ cares to hear. As a nurse who works with infants and a mom who has now had 2 children, I have questions and also have experience that I have wanted to share. It has been increasingly implied in posts that the medical profession is only out for money, lazy and don't care for families and their birth experiences. I am part of that profession. It is very offensive and I have not said anything about it, although it has weighed on my mind.

Aside from the professional, I am also probably what most everyone here thinks of as a total failure of a mother. I was not able to breastfeed my children (don't even begin to say it is because I didn't try or didn't have support - I did). I had a C/S for my son and don't feel it is something that I should feel horribly disappointed in - my son is just as much my son no matter how he came into this world. I use Avent bottles - yes, they have BPA, it doesn't mean I love my child less. I had no hesitation in getting both my children immunizations on the schedule as recommended. There are reasons they are recommended that way and I believe the studies that show why.

So, as much as I don't seem to fit, I know there are many other women that are just like me. And really, the only reason I am even posting this, is because I think those women might feel too intimidated to join in.

i love to see everyones input and i take away different ideas about what to do with Kaila even if i may not post it...i am always writting things down!!

I am in the same boat as you! I failed to progress in having a vaginal birth had to have a c section...failed at breastfeeding and guess what i also use Avent bottles Kaila. I don't see you as a failure in anyway!!! you are doing what is best for and your children and in my eyes you are doing a great and wonderful job!! Please don't shy away!

[nannygirl82 0]

keltic-I also like your posts! I do a lot of things too that might not be considered the best. If it makes you feel any less failure-ish, I use the really cheap bottles from Walmart and Target, you know the 3 pack for like $3? Oh yeah. Also generic diapers and formula.

I agree with what Sara said about the medical things, if not for the Dr's and C-sections, me and baby might not have made it in the old days.

Kaila and i for sure would not be here if it wasn't for the c-section....her head was too big to drop down and it was already fussed along the front and sides and was not able to colapse to fit through....

[sara535 15]

about the teething and drooling - yes even though it seems early the drooling surely indicates teething. although the drooling can go on for a couple of months before there are any teeth. I took Amirah in for her checkup at almost 5 months and I asked the Dr if he thought her drooling and biting meant early teeth and he said nah, its way to early. well a week later at just barely 5 months she popped not one but two bottom teeth through and now at almost 9 months she has 6. my son on the other hand didnt get his first one until I think 9 months, so of course every baby is different but some definitely start earlier

by the way, where is eveline? its too early for her to be out having a baby, isnt it?

and autumnchik, how is declan today??

Edited July 16, 2008 by sara535

[BelwinMills 0]

Well I'm not breasfeeding and considering my child weighs over 14 pounds already, I think he's doing just fine.

agreed! I think ayman is Faaar from malnourished! lol..

Apparently, I erred greatly by not quoting the post I was referring to. I was not intending to imply that you were malnourishing your children. My post about water for infants was specifically in response to this post:

So when did you ladies start food, juice and water? I was thinking I would start all that at 4 months when I got back to work. But I was wondering if I should give her some water in Jamaica to keep her hydrate or if my milk would be fine.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that she is breastfeeding. I was trying to ease her mind. If I am wrong, I am terribly sorry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been a member of VJ for a long time and was in the baby corner for the pregnancy and birth of my child. I have posted less and less because it is very clear that my input is not what this corner of VJ cares to hear. As a nurse who works with infants and a mom who has now had 2 children, I have questions and also have experience that I have wanted to share. It has been increasingly implied in posts that the medical profession is only out for money, lazy and don't care for families and their birth experiences. I am part of that profession. It is very offensive and I have not said anything about it, although it has weighed on my mind.

Aside from the professional, I am also probably what most everyone here thinks of as a total failure of a mother. I was not able to breastfeed my children (don't even begin to say it is because I didn't try or didn't have support - I did). I had a C/S for my son and don't feel it is something that I should feel horribly disappointed in - my son is just as much my son no matter how he came into this world. I use Avent bottles - yes, they have BPA, it doesn't mean I love my child less. I had no hesitation in getting both my children immunizations on the schedule as recommended. There are reasons they are recommended that way and I believe the studies that show why.

So, as much as I don't seem to fit, I know there are many other women that are just like me. And really, the only reason I am even posting this, is because I think those women might feel too intimidated to join in.

OMG!! No No I thank the advise. Yes I am nursing.

I loved the article. This article helped me put my mind to ease.

I liked this part of it:

What about infants in hot, dry climates?

Water in breastmilk exceeds the infant’s water requirements in normal conditions and is adequate for breastfed infants in hot, dry climates. Studies indicate that healthy, exclusively breastfed infants in the first six months of life do not require additional fluids even in countries with extremely high temperatures and low humidity. Solute levels in the urine and blood of exclusively breastfed babies living in these conditions were within normal ranges, indicating adequate water intakes.

It is everyones choice of what to do. In my family I am the only one who has ever nursed out of all my cousins and inlaws. It just worked for me. I thought at times about quiting but I got the hang of it. Please don't leave I love everyone's point of view.

[nannygirl82 0]

about the teething and drooling - yes even though it seems early the drooling surely indicates teething. although the drooling can go on for a couple of months before there are any teeth. I took Amirah in for her checkup at almost 5 months and I asked the Dr if he thought her drooling and biting meant early teeth and he said nah, its way to early. well a week later at just barely 5 months she popped not one but two bottom teeth through and now at almost 9 months she has 6. my son on the other hand didnt get his first one until I think 9 months, so of course every baby is different but some definitely start earlier

by the way, where is eveline? its too early for her to be out having a baby, isnt it?

and autumnchik, how is declan today??

i was wondering where she was as well she hasn't been on in a couple of days...hope everything is ok!

[♥JP♥ 5]

Aside from the professional, I am also probably what most everyone here thinks of as a total failure of a mother. I was not able to breastfeed my children (don't even begin to say it is because I didn't try or didn't have support - I did). I had a C/S for my son and don't feel it is something that I should feel horribly disappointed in - my son is just as much my son no matter how he came into this world. I use Avent bottles - yes, they have BPA, it doesn't mean I love my child less. I had no hesitation in getting both my children immunizations on the schedule as recommended. There are reasons they are recommended that way and I believe the studies that show why.

So, as much as I don't seem to fit, I know there are many other women that are just like me. And really, the only reason I am even posting this, is because I think those women might feel too intimidated to join in.

Keltic...that is just silly. No one on this forum or anywhere has the right to judge you as a mother. There is no handbook or instructions that come with motherhood. Anyone that feels you are an unfit parent because of the reasons you posted should just shove it where the sun don't shine! As long as you are doing the best you can and providing all the love you can for your child...thats what makes you a total sucess as a mother IMO.

As far as your reasons for posting this...I have noticed that people get defensive on this thread when someone prefers not to do something that others are doing. A perfect example of this was a few pages back when there was a discussion regarding sleeping with the baby in your bed.

I think its important for everyone to remember that there is no right or wrong way for doing things. Everyone has to make judgements on their own about what is right for their family and their child. My grandmother raised 8 kids and never had a doctor or a book to refer too and they all came out fine. I think everyones input here is very valueable and sometimes people will make a decision by weighing out all the input that is posted and coming up with the right solution for them.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

well said JP

[Carolyn 1]

I think that parenthood in America is full of guilt...no matter what you do someone is going to have a strong opinion about its merits and drawbacks. I love to research my options, but I'm going to try to be gentle with myself about the decisions I make.

You ALL seem like great, dedicated parents to me!

[sara535 15]

I think that parenthood in America is full of guilt...no matter what you do someone is going to have a strong opinion about its merits and drawbacks. I love to research my options, but I'm going to try to be gentle with myself about the decisions I make.

You ALL seem like great, dedicated parents to me!

Actually I dont think its an American thing although I have no other standard to measure it by, but I dont think there is ANYTHING else in life that makes you second guess yourself, question yourself and ultimately feel guilty more than being a parent. and having a 12 year old, I will also say that these first 2 or 3 years are the EASY ones. Wait until your kid is older and you completely lose it on them for something that seems legitimate enough but later you lay awake all night racked with guilt over your total overreaction, or wondering what kind of permanent damage you have caused and how maybe you should just get them into counseling NOW as a preventative measure. its hard. Bottom line, IMHO, we all 'make mistakes' with our kids, some big and some small. When our kids are adults they will say "I am not going to do (blank) like my mom did!" and they wont, but they'll do something else that THEIR kids will say the same thing about and on and on. So yeah, be gentle with yourself, and just do your best

Edited July 17, 2008 by sara535

[Autumnchik 6]

Hi guys! Declan was discharged today and the doctor gave the okay for us to head home to New Hampshire!!! We just got in a couple hours ago, and it is such a relief to be back home. He seems to be feeling better, still a little fussy and gassier than ever. I have to remind myself that he only had surgery a week ago and that he still needs time to heal and return to normal.

Keltic - I too appreciate your posts and hope that you continue to post here. My experience with the medical community has been positive, especially with everything that happened recently with my child. People here will have differing opinions on things, and there is no one right answer.

Stina - When is Kavi's surgery? I'll be thinking about you. One of the toughest things for me was watching them put IV's in my baby, but honestly, it was harder for me than him. He did great, only cried one time (after the first IV leaked after a couple days, the nurses had a hard time putting in a second one and that is when he cried. At the time of the surgery, they put in a central IV line and he was fine with that too). A pacifier dipped in sucrose water was the best thing for him, really took his mind off the pain.

Question for everyone about immunizations (I really do want to hear differing opinions): How did people decide what schedule to do immunizations on .... traditional or a schedule speading out the immunizations. Declan was due for his 2 month immunizations on the 8th, but we missed that appointment due to the surgery. We are scheduled to go in next Tuesday. I have been going back and forth on whether to get all his shots then, or just do a couple and spread them out. Poor baby has been through so much lately. I am not sure what to do.