Am I missing some girlie gene? *rant*

[Catfish]

I loved Huggies Supreme diapers.

Me too.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Not to start a whole "bottle feeding" brouhaha here, but I forgot to note, if you did not know, that you will need to try different bottle nipples and bottle styles with your baby. The general rule of thumb is that (s)he will only drink from whatever style you had not already purchased.

Movies and TV make the whole breastfeeding thing seem so easy, but it's not.

Maddie didn't appreciate having a boob in her face and would arch her back and push way. She just wouldn't latch on. I had coaches come from the La Leche League and my mother-in-law tried to help. (More people saw my boobs after Maddie was born, than I even want to think about.) It was a totally stressful time in my life.

Finally I started pumping and feeding her breast milk in bottles. I did this for nine months, even when I went back to work. I got so much grief from my in-laws and the people from the La Leche League, but Jeff totally supported my decision.

[marrymeflyfree]

BTW, in case I never said it -- CONGRATS on the midget, and best of luck!

Thanks HD, for the congrats and the tips. We actually have the stroller already...it was the first thing purchased aside from a few little clothing items. It is a way cool piece of equipment. Seriously, if I knew no one was looking I'd take it for a spin around the block right now.

Not to start a whole "bottle feeding" brouhaha here, but I forgot to note, if you did not know, that you will need to try different bottle nipples and bottle styles with your baby. The general rule of thumb is that (s)he will only drink from whatever style you had not already purchased.

The bottle thing is confusing to me. Too many different styles, features, nipples...do they or don't they contain BPA and is that or isn't it really a bad thing and which ones go with what pump and when to introduce bottles at all...blahblahblah. I'm going to a La Leche League meeting tonight, and we have a breastfeeding class coming up soon...good thing because we will need the insight!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

I'm going to a La Leche League meeting tonight, and we have a breastfeeding class coming up soon...good thing because we will need the insight!

Some of the La Leche Leaguers can be intolerant in their views.

Do what works for you and make no apologies for your decisions.

[marrymeflyfree]

I got so much grief from my in-laws and the people from the La Leche League, but Jeff totally supported my decision.

Good hubby.

I'm surprised that they gave you grief about it...breastmilk is breastmilk! Sometimes it really just doesn't work out for whatever reason, and everyone's got to make those choices for themselves anyway. It's a personal thing.

[Catfish]

Have you thought about what type of diapers you are going to use?

We started out using cloth diapers with Maddie.

We planned to use cloth diapers with Frank. We brought him home, put him in his first, went back later to check on him, and the fleebin' diaper was saturated and my sweet baby boy was freezing cold. Fortunately, we had the rest of the package of disposables from the hospital. Switched to disposables and never looked back. We still have the cloth ones, which make very posh cleaning rags.

Nursing and epidural anesthesia were two other things that didn't live up to their PR for me.

[marrymeflyfree]

Some of the La Leche Leaguers can be intolerant in their views.

Do what works for you and make no apologies for your decisions.

Yeah, I have gathered that. I am pretty 'crunchy', but not militant...and I already know that I'm not down with some of the LLL ideals such as waaaay extended breastfeeding. Just have to take some of it with a grain of salt and figure out what is going to work for us.

[marrymeflyfree]

Have you thought about what type of diapers you are going to use?

We started out using cloth diapers with Maddie.

Well, I'd like to try the cloth, but The Naughty Norwegian isn't hip to the idea. (Yet!) He would be ok if there were a diaper service in our area, but there isn't that I have found. Otherwise, we're not sure yet - though it seems like most people I know use Huggies. There are some new eco-friendlier diapers out there, but they're pretty new to the market so I'm not sure what kind of reviews they get.

[Catfish]

The bottle thing is confusing to me.

I used those Playtex ones that consist of a hard plastic holder into which you insert a plastic bag type thing. For the simple reason that that's what my mom used. Whatever you choose will be the right choice.

[marrymeflyfree]

Maybe they could make it a diaper shower.

That reminds me of the other issue with this shower! We're in PA and it will be in TN...if we're flying, hauling everything back may not be feasible. And I think I'd rather do an hour-long flight than a 12 hour car ride x2!

Someone else suggested a 'feed the family' party..where everyone brings a frozen dish for us to have later. Another great idea, but one that doesn't travel well!

[Appa23]

I got so much grief from my in-laws and the people from the La Leche League, but Jeff totally supported my decision.

Good hubby.

I'm surprised that they gave you grief about it...breastmilk is breastmilk! Sometimes it really just doesn't work out for whatever reason, and everyone's got to make those choices for themselves anyway. It's a personal thing.

BTW, it also is fine if you do not want to breastfeed or pump. Enfamil (or any of the other brands) with DHA is perfectly fine for your baby. (S)He will not be more sick, dumber, or grow any less. I have three incredibly bright, incredibly active, incredibly perfect, formula-fed children.

I know that my wife felt tremendous pressure from the lactation consultant at the hospital last year. I can not imagine that she would have handled it nearly as well if we did not already know that formula-feeding had no effect on our other children. (After all, you can't breastfeed a baby 2000 miles away. )


As for all of the other "stuff" related to "Am I doing this right?" or "I am so confused and I have no clue what I am doing" -- take a deep breath!

In my experience, a large part of parenting comes naturally. You only get into trouble when you fight those natural instincts. Trust those instincts.

Oh, and take lots of pictures. (Both to help you remember the good times and to blackmail and/or embarrass the child later in life.)

[Catfish]

Maybe they could make it a diaper shower.

That reminds me of the other issue with this shower! We're in PA and it will be in TN...if we're flying, hauling everything back may not be feasible. And I think I'd rather do an hour-long flight than a 12 hour car ride x2!

You could fit hundreds of Target gift cards in a suitcase!

[marrymeflyfree]

[
Nursing and epidural anesthesia were two other things that didn't live up to their PR for me.

Mother nature and whatnot willing, the epidural won't even be on the table for us. I have very strong feelings about that, and am taking a lot of measures to avoid it. It won't even be an option at the birth center, which will help. I hope.

[Appa23]

MMFF, nice stroller!

I could not tell from the photo -- does it actually have a seat or does it just have an area for the baby carrier?

We purchased a convertible stroller for PP2. However, we neglected to notice that it did not have the most key part of a stroller -- a feeding tray to place Cheerios, baby goldfish crackers, and fruit pieces. Arrgghhh!

Luckily, we still have that double stroller, although I hate encouraging the kids not to walk by having that open seat in the back.

(OK. I think that I was not looking for the seat/carrier area to be in the back. )

[marrymeflyfree]

BTW, it also is fine if you do not want to breastfeed or pump. Enfamil (or any of the other brands) with DHA is perfectly fine for your baby. (S)He will not be more sick, dumber, or grow any less. I have three incredibly bright, incredibly active, incredibly perfect, formula-fed children.

Thanks for saying that, HD...there is a lot of pressure on mothers to breastfeed these days. I think it is a great thing, but its important to know that formula isn't poison in a can, either. NN and I were both formula-fed babies, and we'd be ok with it if we had to.

I think going the au naturel route will be easier, logistically, once it is well established. With our lifestyle, the boob is always there and warm and ready...but clean water and everything else may not be. Less crap to carry. And I'm not terribly shy about such things either, so no worries there. Its easier to get the pre-baby bod back quicker when breastfeeding, too. I'm really looking forward to it, honestly...I think I will be sad if it doesn't work out for some reason.

[marrymeflyfree]

I could not tell from the photo -- does it actually have a seat or does it just have an area for the baby carrier?

Yeah, it has a seat and also came with a bassinet...and both can be placed facing you or away. And we can get another piece to attach an infant car seat if we choose. It is pretty rugged. It's not a full on jogger, but does have great wheels and shock absorption. Probably the only feature that its lacking is the tray that you mentioned, but everything else is fab.

I didn't want to pay shipping on the thing, and the color we wanted was backordered anyway...so I searched and searched and finally found a place about 2 hours away that had it in stock. I'm so glad that I did...the people that run the shop had just opened there store a few days before. They are a young couple with 2 kids, in their first business venture. They couldn't have been nicer. The hubby even carried the thing 3 blocks to my car. I told them I'd be back. Felt good to give them some business!

[mrkelley23]

Just the scientific input on the Great Diaper Debate.....

There actually is a guy who made his academic reputation studying garbage: Bill Rathje.

He and his graduate students at some university in Arizona, I believe, started the Garbage Project, to study what actually did decompose in landfills and what did not. They attempted to answer several questions, and among them was the aforementioned diaper question. Their considered conclusion is that the extra energy, water, appliance cost, etc., involved in cloth diapers removes any advantage gained from not having to "throw them away." In other words, it was a wash. (Sic!) With the advances in technology since, I would imagine the disposables are actually much better for the environment than cloth. But you still need a supply of the cloth ones, for puke duty.

Here's a link to the book Rathje wrote about his findings:

http://www.amazon.com/Rubbish-Archaeolo ... 0816521433

Here's an article he wrote about the issue:

http://www.gradingandexcavation.com/mw_0209_beyond.html

BTW, I also find it highly humorous that one of the conclusions of the Garbage Project is the disconnect between self-reported behaviors and actual evidence: people drank alcoholic beverages at about twice the rate they reported on surveys. Shocked! I'm shocked, I tell you!

[Catfish]

[
Nursing and epidural anesthesia were two other things that didn't live up to their PR for me.

Mother nature and whatnot willing, the epidural won't even be on the table for us. I have very strong feelings about that, and am taking a lot of measures to avoid it. It won't even be an option at the birth center, which will help. I hope.

This is most excellent. I was pressured into it by a labor and delivery nurse. They tried one epidural, and it didn't work. The anesthesia resident basically scolded me, suggesting that it was my fault their drugs didn't work. Then the anesthesiologists, perhaps to save face?, pressured me into a second try, which also didn't work. My only regret of my entire birth experience was giving in to the epidural. The anesthesia attempts were far worse than the contractions. My husband wasn't capable of strength in the decision making, so it's good you will have numerous people on your side.

[marrymeflyfree]

In other words, it was a wash. (Sic!)

haha...I think that is the same article that NN found when he was explaining why he wants to do disposables. Very high minded, but really he just doesn't want to wash poopie diapers!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

But you still need a supply of the cloth ones, for puke duty.

You do! Babies are constantly spewing up little bits of stuff. Most of the time it's yellowish and the stains do not it always come out of their clothes.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

In other words, it was a wash. (Sic!)

haha...I think that is the same article that NN found when he was explaining why he wants to do disposables. Very high minded, but really he just doesn't want to wash poopie diapers!

We had a diaper service, but towards the end of the week, the diaper bucket smelled horrible.

[silvercamaro]

But you still need a supply of the cloth ones, for puke duty.

You do! Babies are constantly spewing up little bits of stuff. Most of the time it's yellowish and the stains do not it always come out of their clothes.

Besides, when the youngest child is 10 or 12, the old cloth diapers are still magnificent for car washing and general cleaning. IMO, they provide the greatest return for investment in family life.

[marrymeflyfree]

This is most excellent. I was pressured into it by a labor and delivery nurse. They tried one epidural, and it didn't work. The anesthesia resident basically scolded me, suggesting that it was my fault their drugs didn't work. Then the anesthesiologists, perhaps to save face?, pressured me into a second try, which also didn't work. My only regret of my entire birth experience was giving in to the epidural. The anesthesia attempts were far worse than the contractions.

Yikes! This is one reason why we chose a freestanding birth center over a hospital....many OBs and LD nurses haven't even seen many natural births - and whether you're having a baby or recovering from some trauma or whatever, nurses and docs will always offer pain meds to make the hurt go away. It's human nature. They have the drugs, they see you hurting, and they want to do something to fix the problem (and make it easier on themselves in the process!). When I worked in ERs, the "How's your pain?" question was always among the first things asked whenever entering a patient's room.

My husband wasn't capable of strength in the decision making, so it's good you will have numerous people on your side.

We have been talking about this lately. I know NN will be a total pansy if I'm in pain. He will need some coaching to prepare for this. I've already told him to be ready to play 'bad cop'!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Nursing and epidural anesthesia were two other things that didn't live up to their PR for me.

I had the nicest deliveries.

Both of my girls were inductions.

I was given rather lovely drugs when they started the inductions, so when it came time fo the epidurals, I didn't feel the needle go in.

When it game time to push, I was very relaxed.

For both girls it took less than 15 minutes of pushing.

I always thought that I wouldn't want drugs, but after participating in a few deliveries, Jeff told me that I would be better off with drugs.

Of course he's also the guy that had Emma drugged with Ketamine when she broke her arm.

[marrymeflyfree]

We had a diaper service, but towards the end of the week, the diaper bucket smelled horrible.

Ugh. I think NN would be more amenable to the idea if there were a diaper service near us, but there is not. He is skeevish at the idea of washing so many poopy diapers in our washing machine...so then I considered buying one of those tiny European style washers just for them. But that would be a bit much considering we will probably be moving again a few months after the birth.