*Baby Corner*

[Nessa 23]

good luck caybee

[Staashi 371]

Carol Anne - good luck, honey! Can't wait to hear the news.

[sara535 15]

yaaaay for a new Caybee baybee

Nessa love the new pic

[chnst 6]

caybee: good luck to you!!! I forgot to mention last time- 1 day after we were released from the hospital, I had to be re-admitted for an infection and the nurses wouldn't let me nurse him for an entire week. I had to pump and dump, which is total bs in retroperspective, BUT, I have been nursing him since I was released. It took a few months with the nipple shields, but we eventually got rid of these too.

So I hope this makes you feel better. As long as you have a good supply you should be fine. Babies can adjust pretty well. If you're having trouble latching get help from a lactation specialist (they're everywhere) and definitely try the nipple shield if all else fails.

I think you're very well prepared and you're going to be a great mommy regardless whether breastfeeding works or not. I wish you all the best, keep us posted!

[Staashi 371]

I can't bf Enzo - he's been bottlefed since the NICU, but that doesn't make me any less of a mom. I tried to bf for a whole month - pumped like a freaking cow - just call me Bessie. But my milk never truly came in; which I knew was a possibility as a diabetic, hypothyroidic mother. And truth be told, I didn't want Enzo receiving the meds that I have to take to live.

At the end of the day, if you can bf that is awesome - if you can't you do formula. After everything I went through with Enzo to try to bf I found it to be unbelievably overrated. Furthermore, the bf posse zealots that exists in the US today seem to have a wonderful way of making you feel like ####### if you cannot bf. I just wish that bf mothers didn't make you feel like you're not part of the in-crowd if you can't bf. It's so fricking high-schoolish in many ways - almost like I've never seen such cliquish behavior. In my honest opinion, here's my two cents on bfing - I think the only positive thing about it is - it's free! That's it.

For me, I'm just so excited that my son will drink soy formula and LOVES it! With the bottle, we've all bonded with Enzo - myself, hubby and MIL. He's healthy, happy, and has never had an ear infection. <knock on wood>

[chnst 6]

@staashi: I see where you are coming from. I would never judge a mother who doesn't want to breastfeed or just somply can't. Formula quality nowadays is pretty advanced, the only advantage is the immunity breastfed babies get from breastmilk vs formula. And I guess it is easier than mixing bottles, heating them up, cheaper etc once you get past the crazy first weeks. It really doesn't matter as long as you feed your kid and love him.

I think there are bad stigmas to both breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding mothers. I have gotten some really stupid comments for breastfeeding Ben past 9 months, of course from non-breastfeeding mothers, like it's perverted. People who make judgements like that are just dumb or insecure. It really shouldn't be anybodys' business how you feed your baby as long as he's healthy and thriving.

I have a lot of respect for mothers who have really tried but it just didn't work out. Also, who can blame a working mom for bottle-feeding when there just isn't enough time in the day to pump and it really is a lot of stress.

I will definitely try to breastfeed my next child, but I might end up weaning sooner because chances are, I have to return to work.

[caybee 21]

@ Staashi, Enzo is such a cutie I'm glad he's been so healthy. And I agree with you about the pressure parents can put on each other, not just about b/f but about so many things. When I first mentioned planning to have ours sleep next to me in a bassinet, my coworkers all told me that was a huge mistake. Well, it's our choice, and if it doesn't work out as we hope, we'll change tactics. Every baby is different, and so I expect everything we do to be a series of trial and error to see what works in our particular set of circumstances. At the end of the day, you have to do what feels right for the baby and for you. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with formula, and if that's what we have to do, we'll do it without any guilty feelings about it. My husband and others will be bottle-feeding him anyway, whether it's breast milk or formula. We just want to give the b/f the best try we can for several reasons -- and one, quite frankly, is the cost, same as one of the reasons I want to try cloth diapers. That's not the main reason, but if we can save a few bucks for other things, why not? But we'll take what comes. I don't expect reality to be anything like what I've pictured.

[caybee 21]

...I have gotten some really stupid comments for breastfeeding Ben past 9 months, of course from non-breastfeeding mothers, like it's perverted. People who make judgements like that are just dumb or insecure. It really shouldn't be anybodys' business how you feed your baby as long as he's healthy and thriving...

There are SO many different ideas about what is normal and what isn't. I mentioned to my husband that some children breastfeed until they're two or three years old or longer, and he didn't bat an eye -- sounded like a good idea to him. Then he asked me if women here ever breastfeed each other's children if the birth mother can't nurse or just to give each other a break. I told him wet nurses used to be somewhat common here, but these days I would guess that is pretty unusual. But he's heard of it back home, and when it happens, the children grow up thinking of the other woman as sort of a second mother. I imagine that is not unusual at all in many parts of the world, but many people in the U.S. would be shocked by the idea just because it's outside of their personal experience.

[Staashi 371]

@staashi: I see where you are coming from. I would never judge a mother who doesn't want to breastfeed or just somply can't. Formula quality nowadays is pretty advanced, the only advantage is the immunity breastfed babies get from breastmilk vs formula. And I guess it is easier than mixing bottles, heating them up, cheaper etc once you get past the crazy first weeks. It really doesn't matter as long as you feed your kid and love him.

I think there are bad stigmas to both breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding mothers. I have gotten some really stupid comments for breastfeeding Ben past 9 months, of course from non-breastfeeding mothers, like it's perverted. People who make judgements like that are just dumb or insecure. It really shouldn't be anybodys' business how you feed your baby as long as he's healthy and thriving.

I have a lot of respect for mothers who have really tried but it just didn't work out. Also, who can blame a working mom for bottle-feeding when there just isn't enough time in the day to pump and it really is a lot of stress.

I will definitely try to breastfeed my next child, but I might end up weaning sooner because chances are, I have to return to work.

You know one thing that is hilarious, Stef, my sister couldn't bottlefeed her daughter. She wouldn't take a bottle to save her life. My sis had to bf her for more than a year - she didn't even want to eat food. She'd play with it but wouldn't dream of eating it. That was frustrating, too. When my sis realized that Kaitlin wouldn't bottlefeed she had to leave her job.

[Anna C. 4]

With all things parenting, it is always so judgmental. I personally don't care whether people breastfeed or bottlefeed, they have their reasons. When someone really wants to try, they should get adequate support though.

In my family, nobody ever breastfed. The first time I saw a nursing mom was 2 years ago when my niece was born. My mom and her generation wanted to bottlefeed cause it was in and breastfeeding supposedly gives you saggy boobs. So my background is very anti-breastfeeding. I worked very hard on it, I was dead set to breastfeed (mostly the immunity advantages were so appealing to me, it's for free and a great bonding experience). I'm a stay at home mom and don't have to worry about pumping. Jona was so little and jaundiced, he couldn't latch on. We pumped and SNS fed him which was a pain, especially postpartum... Then nipple shields, then oversupply, then it finally was fine. I am very proud that I stuck with it and extremely grateful for my support: Hubbie, both families (my mom feels a little guilty nowadays and supports bfing now) and the wonderful lactation consultants. I never put a time on how long I want to breastfeed.... Jona is going strong and not really interested in solids. He eats some here and there, but I'd say 90% nutrition is mama milk; he hates bottles - no way. Hubbie thinks beyond a year is weird, I disagree, however, he got used to the fact that we will follow Jona's lead.

My sisters chose breastfeeding too, once again, they get 12 months off of work per German laws... So they are planning on around a year.

I think women/moms should support each other instead of accusations. Some can't breastfeed or have private reasons not to, other want to breastfeed their kids for 4 years - it is all a personal decision that should be respected.

@ caybee: good luck

Edited August 4, 2009 by Anna C.

[Eveline 9]

Yay Caybee..good luck with the induction. I'm glad to see that you want to try labor first. You seem pretty prepared to everything that might come up. A C/S wasn't in my plans whatsoever with ADam, I wasn't prepared for it and then it happened...oh well. I think I'm almost over it now..still not completely but I'm not crying as much anymore as I used to. Allie's birth helped a lot. Call me weird but it's just the way I feel. I guess in the end it doesn't matter which way they are born.

Anywho...good luck again. I can't wait to hear the good news.

Edited August 4, 2009 by Eveline

[chnst 6]

...I have gotten some really stupid comments for breastfeeding Ben past 9 months, of course from non-breastfeeding mothers, like it's perverted. People who make judgements like that are just dumb or insecure. It really shouldn't be anybodys' business how you feed your baby as long as he's healthy and thriving...

There are SO many different ideas about what is normal and what isn't. I mentioned to my husband that some children breastfeed until they're two or three years old or longer, and he didn't bat an eye -- sounded like a good idea to him. Then he asked me if women here ever breastfeed each other's children if the birth mother can't nurse or just to give each other a break. I told him wet nurses used to be somewhat common here, but these days I would guess that is pretty unusual. But he's heard of it back home, and when it happens, the children grow up thinking of the other woman as sort of a second mother. I imagine that is not unusual at all in many parts of the world, but many people in the U.S. would be shocked by the idea just because it's outside of their personal experience.

Didn't Salma Hayek go to a third world country and got scrutinized for nursing a starving child? I thought it was a very courageous thing to do that, yes it may be uncommon to us but she was basically feeding a kid who needed it. I can't believe there are people who criticize that. Would I personally do that? Probably not, but I think it she deserves respect not criticism.

haha, the idea of nursing someone else's kid to give her a break sounds kind of awkward, but I heard that is very common in some ethnicities.

[Nizzy 1]

...I have gotten some really stupid comments for breastfeeding Ben past 9 months, of course from non-breastfeeding mothers, like it's perverted. People who make judgements like that are just dumb or insecure. It really shouldn't be anybodys' business how you feed your baby as long as he's healthy and thriving...

There are SO many different ideas about what is normal and what isn't. I mentioned to my husband that some children breastfeed until they're two or three years old or longer, and he didn't bat an eye -- sounded like a good idea to him. Then he asked me if women here ever breastfeed each other's children if the birth mother can't nurse or just to give each other a break. I told him wet nurses used to be somewhat common here, but these days I would guess that is pretty unusual. But he's heard of it back home, and when it happens, the children grow up thinking of the other woman as sort of a second mother. I imagine that is not unusual at all in many parts of the world, but many people in the U.S. would be shocked by the idea just because it's outside of their personal experience.

Didn't Salma Hayek go to a third world country and got scrutinized for nursing a starving child? I thought it was a very courageous thing to do that, yes it may be uncommon to us but she was basically feeding a kid who needed it. I can't believe there are people who criticize that. Would I personally do that? Probably not, but I think it she deserves respect not criticism.

haha, the idea of nursing someone else's kid to give her a break sounds kind of awkward, but I heard that is very common in some ethnicities.

OMG we were just talking about this at my parents house. It is too common in our culture. EVERYONE that I know of breastfeeds in Afghanistan so if the mom is not around for some reason (stays late at work etc) then any other lactating female just breastfeeds the child. It is rare to see a mom bottlefeed a baby.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

So...my sis is on day 6 of breastfeeding her baby. She is using nipple shields bc he wont latch but he is eating quite well for being less than a week old. 45 min feedings or so. She is having problems with him having super uncomfortable gas. She is eating bland and not consuming anything she shouldnt. Any ideas or suggestions? I know alot of u breastfed so any advice would be great

[Eveline 9]

Most babies have gas as far as I know. It might be that her letdown is too forceful and baby can't swallow as fast as it comes out (happened to both my kids because I turned into a cow after birth...mooo) and he might swallow too much air. She can nurse until letdown, then hand express a little bit into a towel or bowl or whatever and then latch the little man back on and see how it goes.

If Rowan's poo is green and foamy or stinky then she might have a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and I would do the same thing as mentioned above PLUS only nurse him on one side instead of both sides so that he gets enough of the hindmilk which is a lot fattier and nutritious than foremilk.

Good luck to your sister.