Baby Corner

[Anna C. 4]

@ Evi" Funny how different experiences are... Maybe they ended up in more crunchy hospitals! I only have one friend who has a baby (all my other friends don't want kids like ever or til they are 40) and she still nurses her 18 months old... I must say though that growing up I didn't see a whole lot of moms nursing, just my aunt. But with the maternity leave one gets in Germany rates could be way higher (everyone who asks me how that works in Germany just gives me a blank stare and is totally amazed by how much time one gets!)! My mom always bottlefed and was like huh nursing every three hours?! But my dad did the night-feedings, so she didn't have to get up... Yeah mommy issues again here...

[TracyTN 237]

@ Tracy: I don't think anyone bashed formula, just pointing out how much it is (I frankly had no idea I never bothered to look at prices since we didn't need it). I know a mom personally who wanted to breastfeed so bad, but due to a brain tumor she can't. Formula isn't the end of the world, and breastfeeding doesn't always work out, especially in such medical cases. I do believe though that moms who try get very little support in American hospitals... What I hear from friends and American family compared to what my sisters experienced in Germany there are worlds in between - they had people at the hospital helping all the time and then home visits by their midwives to help out with nursing (they had both midwives and obgyns, and the midwives regularly do home visits, to see how mom recuperates and does with nursing). I was so lucky to be at a great small hospital in San Luis Obispo.

I didn't mean that someone here was bashing formula. It's just things I've heard on another board and, of all people, my damn mother in law of course had to mention how BFing is better, even knowing I physically couldn't do it (breast reduction surgery years ago). I just think it's starting to be a bit more of a trend for people to look down their noses at you if you don't BF and I think that's pretty lame. Esp. when they don't know everyone's circumstances. And even if they do, it's still a personal choice that I don't think any mother should be bashed for.

And Serena is beautiful, MissB! Congratulations!!!

[Jenn! 918]

@ Jenn: Ignore him

Oh I definitely plan to. It just gets me that of all people, the one who's given me the most resistance on "extended" breastfeeding is a doctor. No wonder so many women aren't successful at breastfeeding with these kinds of "take it or leave it" attitudes in the medical community.

[chnst 6]

Jenn: wow and that from a pediatrician... Mine encourages 2 years. Some doctors are very old fashioned in their beliefs I guess...

Tracy: I don't look down on people who chose formula even if they just do it because it's just not their thing. But I do think its a better way to feed a baby if it is possible. My MIL is the opposite, she is already giving me ####### for wanting to bf again...

Evi&Anna: I don't think Bf rates are much different in Germany than here, even with the extended maternity leave. But it would be interesting to find out. I guess it depends a lot on the education, OB's and hospitals. I agree, it is definitely an effort but in the big picture I'd rather go throu the initial struggles and then be able to just throw a ####### at the kid (haha) instead of getting up, mixing formula, heating bottles and saving money and not having to worry about complications from the formula. I just hope that my babysitter won't have problems heating up breastmilk instead of formula.

[Anna C. 4]

Oh dear, I had Braxton Hicks all night long, somewhat painful, but at 5am it stopped, so no sleep for me... I feel so exhausted now!

@ Steffi: Yeah I think the rates aren't that high, I just happen to know people who all successfully breastfed (and that's not that many people, like I said, most people don't have kids yet in my circle of friends!)... I do think though that the extended maternity leave would help! I don't care much about what other people choose in the end, it's their decision. But I personally am happy that I can breastfeed and have great support cause as you said, at night all you do is lift your shirt, attach baby, done. I couldn't imagine getting up and such... It was so easy. I lined up some lactation consultants just in case this time too... they have one at the birthing center and I tracked down the only one in town!

@ Jenn & Steffi: See I only ever met peds who wanted him to wean or thought it was weird that he still breastfed at 6 months... Only our family practitioner is totally happy about it and recommends 2 years too. It was military peds and peds in the hospital when Jona had croup. I also was yelled at for not giving Jona juice to drink at 12 months by a nurse on base.

Apropos, I just came across an interesting read about breast pumps - Ameda and Hygeia are closed system pumps opposed to open system Medela pumps. Ameda Purely Yours is way cheaper than the Pump in style... Open system means it can only be used by one person since milk can go into the motor, plus it can grow mold that way, while closed systems prevent milk from ever entering the motor parts... Just interesting - if I had to buy a pump because I had to work, I'd go with an Ameda after reading that tidbit!

[chnst 6]

Oh dear, I had Braxton Hicks all night long, somewhat painful, but at 5am it stopped, so no sleep for me... I feel so exhausted now!

@ Steffi: Yeah I think the rates aren't that high, I just happen to know people who all successfully breastfed (and that's not that many people, like I said, most people don't have kids yet in my circle of friends!)... I do think though that the extended maternity leave would help! I don't care much about what other people choose in the end, it's their decision. But I personally am happy that I can breastfeed and have great support cause as you said, at night all you do is lift your shirt, attach baby, done. I couldn't imagine getting up and such... It was so easy. I lined up some lactation consultants just in case this time too... they have one at the birthing center and I tracked down the only one in town!

@ Jenn & Steffi: See I only ever met peds who wanted him to wean or thought it was weird that he still breastfed at 6 months... Only our family practitioner is totally happy about it and recommends 2 years too. It was military peds and peds in the hospital when Jona had croup. I also was yelled at for not giving Jona juice to drink at 12 months by a nurse on base.

Apropos, I just came across an interesting read about breast pumps - Ameda and Hygeia are closed system pumps opposed to open system Medela pumps. Ameda Purely Yours is way cheaper than the Pump in style... Open system means it can only be used by one person since milk can go into the motor, plus it can grow mold that way, while closed systems prevent milk from ever entering the motor parts... Just interesting - if I had to buy a pump because I had to work, I'd go with an Ameda after reading that tidbit!

oh good that you mention that! I discharged a mom yesterday and she told me she gave her medela double pump away and then got pregnant again. so now she has one made by lanolin (sp?) she said that it was recommended to her by the lactation lady and that it's not only cheaper but closed and its supposed to work just as good. I still haven't bought a pump. I could get a pump in style from medela for about $180 thru work but I will def look into that. are they compatible with other bottles?

[Anna C. 4]

Yeah Lansinoh makes pumps and apparently they are the same as Ameda, at least they used to be. I saw it for like $120 at Walmart, and they also carry it at drugstore.com - if you have a Discover Card that website gives you 5% cashback... But I heard that people complained that the Lansinoh one is louder than the Ameda one...

http://www.drugstore...h=lansinoh+pump

http://www.diapers.c...4&ci_sku=HO-026

I have my no idea if those things are compatible with bottles, but I always put the milk from the pumping bottle directly into the milk storage bags... Those have little pieces of Scotch tape on top so you just tape them to the pump and it goes directly in there if you want to. Just gotta be careful not to move too much oryou spill...

Edited January 21, 2011 by Anna C.

[TracyTN 237]

Tracy: I don't look down on people who chose formula even if they just do it because it's just not their thing. But I do think its a better way to feed a baby if it is possible. My MIL is the opposite, she is already giving me ####### for wanting to bf again...

Now that's some BS!!! Wouldn't it be nice if people would just let mothers make their own choices without giving them grief (MILs included)?? I would like to have breastfed, and I think if you can do it for as long as possible, major kudos to you. So yeah Jenn - that doc needs to step off!!!

[Eveline 9]

I must say I like our pedi for not being pushy. She'll go over shot records with me, tells me which shots the kids are missing but won't push it that they have to get the vaxes right then and there. Also, back when I was bf and I came in with Allie in full blown ear infection, bronchitis, mucous mode her first question always was "Are you still nursing?" my answer was "Yes" and she goes "Then keep doing what you're doing, get as much milk as possible in her". I just wish a lot of peds would be more open to a more natural approach. I know I could be more proactive and google certain remedies but I'd like to go to my pedi, tell her what's wrong and have her tell me.."You have two choices, either the more natural way or doing XYZ or we give her antibiotics" or something like that. Oh well...I'm just glad Eric has gotten better about running off to the doctor with the kids. I'm not worried when they have a cough or a stomach bub and I always have to fight with him about taking the kids in, when it's something that will just take care of itself. this time with Allie being so sick I only went cause she had troubles breathing at night and threw up so much mucous. I guess I could have stayed home and sat it out but when the doc said "pneumonia" I was glad I went, even though we're back on ABX again .

Anyway...about the bf. I never got any sh!t about it from my MIL, she was very supportive. My parents never said anything either but I know what they were thinking . My grandma told me to stop (when Allie was 17 months old) or I'll 'get stupid' like the lady down the street . Thanks grandma. In the end - after everybody was sick except for Allie while visiting in Germany - she said "I think the reason why she didn't get sick is because you're still nursing her"...there you go Oma . That sounds way better. I just never told anyone that I was still nursing when Allie was about 17/18 months old. AT that time she only nursed at home anyways so nobody saw us.

[anya-D 8]

Wow Miss B, your baby is beautiful, congratulations!

Thanks chnst and Anna for the suggestion. I was actually thought about the Roundabout 55 instead of the Boulavard earlier lol. It's like $100 different in price.

Anna, How do you like your Radiant? I read the review and it didnt get a very good review on Amazon.com. Also my CRV has a very high backseat and if the carseat is very tall, I dont know if it will fit (I'm more concern on the rare view for me coz I like to see who's behind me when I drive!!) urgg.. need to really go to the store to check it out.

speaking of breastfeeding - I think my doctor is pretty cool about breastfeeding - cross fingers though!

[chnst 6]

Anya: do not buy a radian. This is the seat I have in my car and I hate it since day 1. Everyone complaining about it has the same reason- it doesn't install tight enough in the car. I took the whole car + seat to a "specialist" and he couldn't get it in right and he said he has never seen such a stupid system. The latch loosens itself and the seatbelt only holds the back part, not the seat.

Even with Ben sitting in it (he weighs 35lbs) I can move the entire thing with the seat belt AND latch as tight as we could get it.

I can't believe what a waste of money this carseat was for us. ALso another thing I absolutely hate- there is no side impact protectction whatsoever (although it is advertised so) Ben's entire side is completely exposed unlike other seats like the Britax.

I called the company and they asked me to ship them the seat so they could take a look at it, but I just don't want to pay for shipping and also we need 2 carseats, I can't just buy another one while they take their time to "investigate" the problem.

Evi: LOL My grandma thought I was a freak, when Ben was 15 months old and asked to go "nursey"

[Missbollinger 1]

Thank You for all the comments, I think she looks like her brother too but she is smaller, smaller hands and feet and daintier! (I hope!)

As for BF, I made the decision to BF all my kids myself despite the lack of support from my own mother or MIL. DH has been a huge help and support but even he is weak and has suggested formula a few times. Thankfully I am determined (pig-headed whichever ) I did 4 months with DS1, 19 months with DS2 and plan on going the full 2 years with Serena as long as I don't get prego again!

[Anna C. 4]

I actually didn't have troubles with the Radian... It does have a really tall shell though, so it should be used in a car that has enough room between driver's seat and second row... The car seat technician had troubles with the latch hooks in the Toyota and instead used the seatbelt as she couldn't get the left latch in, a piece of upholstery fabric was in the way, I will have hubbie try, he was always able to get it. It's very tight in our car and doesn't move... But the Radian doesn't work in all cars.

I had a long day in Denver, meeting with the Doula, then midwife and then we went to Costco. I'm measuring small so just to be safe they recommended an ultrasound which we scheduled for Monday. But the midwife thinks she really just balled up and is not a big baby, but just to make sure fluid levels and placenta are ok we agreed to get an ultrasound. They don't find it that urgent though so we wanted to do it next Friday at my next appointment, but the backup obgyn only had an opening on Monday. Ugh now I am tempted to try natural induction methods to get her out before there might be any trouble, but then again, even 40 weekers in my family weighed no more than 6lbs 6oz, so no big babies for us ever. I'm very tired now!

Edited January 22, 2011 by Anna C.

[chnst 6]

Anna: sometimes I think a day home with Ben, shopping, cleaning, doctors appointments makes me more tired than a day at work. If I only didn't have to get up at 4:30am...

I feel like I can't really fully recover anymore from work when I'm off. I have to work the next 3 days and I am exhausted.

Mommies- any suggestions for boys names?? Hubby is so stuck on Eli or Evan he won't consider anything else. I'm not sure about either one, and its time to pick a name!

Missbolinger: haha, she is tiny! I am hoping for a dainty baby, but I guess it will be around 9lbs again.

[TheFantastics09 19]

Hey ,

When did you guys think it was a good idea to start expanding your family? Before, or after your Green card was issued? And were there any issues with work (i.e maternity leave)?

Thanks!