I desperately wanted to breastfeed, but for some reason, my milk never came in, and no amount of triple feeding made any difference. I suspect there might be a medical reason for it. Anyway, I ended up having to use formula, and I feel so angry and upset when I read posts from people who are able to breastfeed but choose to use formula instead. Like, why wouldn’t you want to give your baby the best? It’s such a beautiful bond, a connection that no one else could ever have.
Formula should be the last option if you physically cannot produce enough milk.
Has anyone else ever felt this way? Any advice? I know everyone has the right to make their own choices, but I just don’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to give their baby the best. I know that, ultimately, I’m just envious because I couldn’t have what I so desperately wanted, while others who have that opportunity seem to take it for granted. It hurts to see people have something I would have given anything for, only for them not to want it.
I feel like a failure and that my body failed to provide for my baby.

It wasn't gas.

I had gallstones and a gallbladder that needed to be yeeted.

Apparently my gallbladder was so full it was like a distended bag stuffed full of marbles.

I feel much better now 2 months after removal. But apparently post Partum is a major time that gallbladders have issues for women. So yeah.

previous post

Posting for my friend

Baby is 6 months old and has not been able to sleep independently since 2 months old.

She has tried sleep training consistently for a week but baby wails. Not just a constant cry/scream but that wail that sounds painful.
Even when she brings him in bed with her he only sleeps 1-2 hours at a time… if that.

Anyone have a similar experience?

He typically naps 3x a day. First nap typically 2 hours, second and third range from 20-40 minutes

Still eating every 2 hours at 5 ounces each feed, typically finishing bottle. Solids maybe 2x a day

She relies on her parents for child care and says it’s hard to enforce a consistent schedule for a lot.

Tips, tricks, advice, etc. she’s a tired momma

My baby is almost 7mo. He’s been sleep trained and self settling for months now. We put him to bed awake, he goes to sleep, no issue.

Yesterday, though, about 5min after I left his room, he started crying and crying. It was SO out of character (he neverrrr cries unless he hits his head or something like that). I gave him 10-15 min just in case he was just blowing off steam but the cry was different than a simple fuss so I went in, put my hand on his chest, and talked to him until he fell asleep. He slept like normal otherwise so I moved on.

But then he fussed before his first nap and woke up upset after ~30min when this is a nap I’ve always had to wake him up from (usually 1.5-2h later). I tried not to overthink it but then nap 2 same exact thing.

He doesn’t seem to mind too much when I step out of the room but then again, he has started protesting when his dad walks away (I’m basically always with him so he doesn’t really get to protest me leaving lol).

I’m pretty thrown. He’s eating and playing normally otherwise.
Does this sound like separation anxiety? Or could he be teething ? How did either start for you? Idrk how to proceed tbh

My little girl is almost 2 months old, and the entire time, we have struggled with breastfeeding, long before I got pregnant I dreamed of breastfeeding my baby, and how incredible it would be. When my little brother was born, I even tried to breastfeed my baby doll (I was 4).

I wish someone had told me earlier how hard it really is. I had no idea how many people i know that have also struggled. No one really talks about it. My mom couldn't nurse me, and my granny could not nurse my uncle (we were both very premature, my uncle was so premature he had to be fed via an eye dropper), but i never thought i'd struggle with it to

I was induced at 37 weeks, and it ended in a C Section. The spinal medicine made me VERY sick within moments. I was dizzy, faint, throwing up, and just completely out of it. Because of this, the nurse didn't allow me to do skin to skin right away, and I was unable to sit up without feeling sick, so i could not breastfeed for the first 6 or 7 hours of her life. Because of this, the nurse had to give my baby girl formula, hubs and I were fine, and thought she'd still be able to breastfeed once I was able to sit up.

Sadly this was not the case

In the hospital, my daughter really struggled to latch, and when she did latch, she'd fall asleep, we figured she was just sleepy from the speedy delivery, so I kept trying, but she kept resisting the boob, or would sleep at my boob. My breasts also never felt drained after i'd nurse her, the lactation nurses in the hospital really tried to help, but in the end, we had no choice, we had to bottle feed her my pumped milk and formula in order to get her weight up, because she lost 10% of her body weight due to her inability to latch and suction out the milk

This continued when we got home, and her weight went down even more, it took a few weeks, but she is finally a healthy weight, but the breastfeeding is still very hard. I saw a lactation consultant a few times, and in the office, she would nurse beautifully. I'd go home with all the confidence in the world, then maybe 3-5 days latter, despite doing everything correctly, we'd be back to square one

I have outstanding milk production and was recently able to switch to mostly bottled pumped milk and maybe 1 formula feed every few days. (I can typically pump anywhere from 5-7 ounces per pump session depending on how hydrated i am, or if i've taken my lactation supplement), and I know i am very lucky to be able to even give her my milk via bottle. But I'm really sad that I can't 100% nurse her.

I am still trying, but we'll nurse for 40-60 minutes, and she won't get more then maybe an ounce, and will scream for the bottle when she pulls away. Her positioning is not an issue, and she has a good latch, I see her little jaw moving, so she can swallow. And i do hear her swallowing sometimes. So she CAN nurse, but just not enough to satisfy her. it's very discouraging.

Hi! Currently just gave birth to my second baby (1w old) and have a 19 month old. My husband gets 2 weeks of leave and then I plan to have my nanny come back. She is part time and she comes 2 days a week for 6 hours a day. Thing is, I wanted her to just handle my son until I am done with leave and have to work again. I normally work from home so typically when she's here with my son I am in my office working. But i'm a bit worried he's going to give us a very hard time because he knows baby sister will be with me. Any tips on how to make this a smoother transition? Some ideas I have are to tell him i'm still working on(right now with the nanny he says "mommy working" so he knows i'm there but working), also when I hand him off to nanny I'm planning to keep his sister in my room in the bassinet so he doesn't really see her with me (at least for the first few times). They play outside, and in my basement a lot so there will be times I can come out with baby girl and move about freely.

Any ideas or do we think this is going to go horribly wrong?

My 16.5 week old son is really going through it. For the past 3-4 days he has been pooping an outrageous amount. He is formula fed, not breastfed. Not all of it is a true poop/full diaper, more often than not it’s more of a “shart”, but this is happening an insane amount. It’s been about 3 or more poopy diapers an hour and it’s to the point where is butt is getting terrible diaper rash. It must be very acidic. I am not thinking that this is a dairy intolerance as he is acting 100% normal otherwise.

We brought him to the doctor and she wasn’t super concerned that it was fungal or anything like that. She was thinking it could just be a small virus that has started. He is acting 100% normal. No fever, vomiting, etc. He is just now starting to get very crabby due to his sore butt. I’m really concerned about letting this go much longer as his diaper rash is getting so much worse. We just went to the doctor today, but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this? It’s crazy to me how much he is pooping and makes me so sad :( Also, if you did deal with this do you have any advice for the diaper rash? She told me a concoction I can mix up of some different creams so I am going to try that. She also mentioned trying to give it time to air dry. Should I also try an epsom salt bath? Or would you not recommend that for a baby. I’m really struggling right now and am nervous for tonight since his bum is so raw

I’ve searched everything I can, I’ve seen all the replies that it’s normal for baby to want closeness right now (5 weeks), but he starts daycare at 12 weeks and I’m nervous. At most he’s ever let me put him down is 20 minutes to an hour and that’s only when he’s wide awake looking at something. I’ve tried all the tricks - heating pad before he’s in the crib, slowly transferring him, making sure arm is limp. With and without swaddle. It doesn’t work. He immediately knows he’s not being held, so he’s been held by someone 24/7.

So.. what happens when he goes to daycare? Is this going traumatize him or has anyone found their LO adjusted pretty quickly? I have to go back to work so there is no other option, but what can I do to help him in the meantime?

I keep trying to put him down, but I know cry it out is bad at this age so I pretty quickly have to pick him back up. I’ve tried every type of swaddle on the market.

Is there something I’m missing???

Our nanny has been with us for couple months now and overall she's great with my daughter. She's caring and my daughter seems happy with her. But lately a couple of things have been starting making me a little uncomfortable.

First, she's always wanting to buy my daughter gifts. When she first started, she bought us baby clothes.Today she texted me a picture of a baby bouncer and asked if she could bring it for her. She does ask first, which I appreciate, but it happens a a few times now and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Second, last week she put baby cologne on my daughter without asking me. It's not a huge deal on its own, but I feel like she should ask me and also it’s way too early to put cologne on a 7 week old.

I don't think she has bad intentions. I think she's just really attached. But together these things feel like the boundaries are getting a little blurry, and I'm starting to feel uneasy.

Is this normal nanny behavior? Am I overreacting? She’s an older lady and had 3 kids all over 18. And if you've been in a similar spot, how did you bring it up without making things awkward?

Thanks!

My son will be 1 in a couple of weeks and while I’m starting to feel more myself (especially after I stopped breastfeeding at 8 months) the mere thought of sex makes sick.

My sweet husband is an amazing father and partner. He absolutely carried me through postpartum anxiety, a very colicky baby, woke with me every time our baby did for 7 months and all while working full time. When he comes home he assumes the role of primary parent (I’m a SAHM). He spends every moment with us and makes sure we know there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. I know for sure that he is not the problem and there’s no resentment.

We’ve had sex a handful of times over the last year. He would never, ever try to make me feel bad about it, but I know this bothers him. My feelings around it range from ugh to sheer disgust to the point of tears at the thought of it. The first 6 months it was actually painful so we didn’t do it, but that’s not the case anymore. It feels fine now, it’s just that I am so grossed out by it. It feels wrong and I don’t know why. I suspect it’s hormonal in some way, but I don’t know. I was never sex obsessed before having a baby, but I also never felt so averse to it.

Has anyone ever felt this way, and if so, did it get better? I desperately want to feel differently and I don’t know how to get there.

Not sure if this is the right community but I need outsiders opinions if anyone cares to read this massive message.

I’m 5 weeks pp, I had a C section and my baby has colic. He cries for the vast majority of the day while I bounce him and walk him up and down the house trying to soothe him. My husbands paternity leave only lasted 3 weeks. He’s works 8am-6pm. Baby bedtime is 9pm. He does 3 hours of parenting M-F.
My mom is helping me with the baby until 30Nov.

We have a 7 year old dog who is a rescue. She’s around 27-30kg and she’s a Russian Laika Cross. She had severe separation anxiety when we adopted her at 6 months (along with other behavioural issues). We worked extremely hard (for months we were recluse) until we trained her and she could be left alone for 5 hours. I work from home so this was a compromise.

We had a baby on 13Sep. My dog was with my in-laws and they brought the dog back on 19Sep.
We had planned our new life with our dog. The pram we got is for rough terrain so we could go on dog walks with the baby. We bought a bigger car so the baby and dog could fit comfortably.

Unfortunately, my dog reacted badly to the baby. She would follow and react to every movement the baby made. For example:
\- When my husband picked up the crying baby to soothe him, the dog jumped up and I had to physically get her off and tell my husband to get away from the room because the dog was chasing him.
\- The baby started crying at midnight and the dog started howling. Husband went to soothe the dog while I took care of the baby.
\- The baby would coo, move an arm, and the dog would spring up and come to the Moses basket. If I grabbed the baby and held him while on the sofa blocking her form the front, she would approach from the back of the sofa (she’s very tall).

We consulted a behaviourist and she said we had to fence the area in the living room where the baby is going to be and expose the dog to the baby noises by recording every single noise the baby makes and playing it very low first, give a treat when she doesn’t react and keep at it until we’re playing it super loud. Our house layout doesn’t allow this. I cannot silence the baby on command just to not go over the dogs anxiety threshold. I would have to live upstairs with the baby and expose the dog to the recorded sounds.

Given this, we decided that she needed to go to my in-laws who she loves. It was heartbreaking but another behaviourist we consulted said it was the best choice. She said we could work on introducing them slowly during walks.

For reasons that I really cannot even bring myself to write without wanting to run for the hills, my in-laws are returning her and she’s coming back tomorrow. My husband doesn’t want to rehome her. He wants to train her because he says we’ll regret this decision.

I’ve explained to him my plate is full. I’m also very reactive to noise and having a baby crying all days is very overwhelming already. Add to that the breastfeeding, the baby not napping if not on us (so no independent sleep at night time longer than 30 mins) and you can get an idea of how I’m feeling.

I cannot train a reactive dog while being the main carer for a colicky baby. My mom is here and helping but she’s 71 so she cannot physically restrain the dog and the dog could easily overthrow her.

I’m extremely disappointed and frustrated because I keep explaining the practicalities to him and this mf basically says I’m temporarily mentally ill.

Does this sound like pet aversion or do I need to leave this situation in whatever way available to me?

My toddler is 22 months old and only has 8 teeth (top 4, bottom 2, 1 top molar and 1 bottom molar) she is cutting about 4 at the moment. Any of other late teethers or experience with it before? My niece is 15 months and has 6 teeth right now with no signs of more so maybe genetics?

They are lovely, caring and kind people who are coming to visit for a few days. The plan is for them to stay with us (and stay alone with baby so me and husband can go do stuff) but this makes me nervous because their kindness is incredibly overwhelming. Me and MIL enter in the perpetual cycle of her trying to make me happy, and me getting overwhelmed and upset at all the attention. Im very direct and blunt, if I want something, I will ask for it. Her love language is acts of service and gifts, when I ask her for something she will do that and 50x more which I never know what to do with (eg gifting a giant 2m tall crochet project when we live in a tiny apartment or gifting baby swimsuits and summer clothes for his size in winter) I know what I sound like, incredibly ungrateful. But while I can learn how to navigate this with her, I’m not sure how to proceed with the baby.

I want to create a list of rules which make sense to me, but not to them. I want my husband to present said list, but he’s already upset that I hate them. I truly don’t hate them, they just make me nervous (always but now worse) and I suffer strongly from PPA and probably on the verge of PPD.

The list includes things like don’t let strangers into the babies face (they are so kind I can totally see them handing over the baby if someone asks so they don’t offend them). Or if the baby is acting weird I can see them not calling us because they don’t want to bother.

And then there are other things that they used to do back in the day that are no no today. Eg blankets or fluffies in the crib, or overdressing him, etc.

I know my husband is excited to see his parents. They live 4 hours away and last time they came to see the baby I insisted they stay at the hotel and they had very limited (and supervised) time with our back then 10day old baby. This time they will stay with us and hubby is thrilled we will be able to have a life and a clean home for a few days.

I’m spiraling with anxiety that I can’t share with him as it just goes into “you hate my parents”. He’s previously put up boundaries with them for me, and I know he will always do what’s best for the baby but I just don’t know how to talk to him about this. Maybe I’m overthinking this and it will all be ok but I genuinely don’t know how I will leave the house if the husband doesn’t read the list and prints it out and makes sure they understand it first.

I have a 2.5 year old toddler and a 7 week old baby. For example, my cat loves to sit on top of the pile of burping cloths that I keep next to my nursing chair. I use them to burp my baby, I use them on my breasts when they leak, I use them on my baby when a little milk dribbles out of their mouth, etc. So whenever my cat sits on top of the cloths, all I can think about is her litterbox butt getting on everything. There are other examples too, this is just one scenario.

Does anyone else feel this way? Not looking for fixes, I know I can simply move the cloths or store them a different way. But moreso wanted to know if this is a valid concern? Do I need to be more careful or is this just one of those things that doesn't really ever become a problem?

*If you had a baby shower or purchased yourself everything you need for your first baby.

Because really the only thing I can think of is a car seat? But maybe my brain is just missing some things.

My 4 month old can roll from back to tummy, but not tummy to back. He gets stuck on his stomach several times a night and wakes up crying because he can't roll himself back. I'm spending a lot of time on the floor with him and we practice rolling from tummy to back. He also does a ton of tummy time. When he gets stuck, I give him some time to try to figure it out on his own before intervening. He is 20 lbs and his pediatrician said usually for bigger babies it is harder to roll from back to tummy. Any advice or tips? Right now I help him roll by crossing his leg over his other leg, then extend one arm out forward/straight, and gently push his hips to guide him back to his back. Is there a better technique?

I hadn’t had a period in a long time prior to becoming pregnant. Birth control had stopped mine. But prior to that it was always a whatever thing for me. They were never bad. I’m almost 6 months pp and this will be my third period. The pain is truly horrendous. Cramping feels like I’m literally in labor again. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it get any better? (Please say yes) and anything anyone did to help?

My little one is 7 months old and what you could call a "velcro baby". I want to preface this by saying, in no way do I mind being his safe space, comfort, and favourite person. His comfort and support needs are my top priority. That said, he is so discontent for a large portion of our day, really most of the day, unless im holding him.

Even when holding him, its not that he just wants to sit and play on my lap or have a cuddle on the couch, he wants me to be standing at all times. We play, sing songs, go on walks, sit outside, read books, he has an activity gym and an activity table, but he's hardly interested in any of it for more then a few minutes, then he's grouchy and crying again until im holding him and up and standing/walking about. He is a bit more content when his dad has one on one time with him, he atleast lets him put him down to engage in play. But still it doesnt last to long, and there always comes a point every evening where dad no longer suffices and its back to me carrying him around for hours.

I feel like im missing something? What entertains your 6-8 month old? I feel like he's already bored of the toys he does have so maybe i need to invest in some new ones? For those with similar experiences, does the velcro phase end any time soon?

Solidarity, advice, recommendations all welcome! Im tired, my back hurts, and I just want to improve both of our day to day life 😪

For some background: My first was rolling from tummy to back at just over 2 months old and was so good at tummy time. I know that’s not normal, but that’s making me feel like my second is behind haha

My second however hates tummy time with a passion. Won’t last more than 3 minutes before he stops trying and just cries. It’s harder to get tummy time done for this reason and the toddler always thinks she also needs to be doing tummy time in the same spot (no one loves a baby toy more than a toddler)

He’s almost 4 months, when we hold him upright he has pretty decent head control, and when he does cooperate with tummy time, he will lift his head for a good amount of time, but won’t keep his arms below himself to push himself up.

For those of you who have had tummy time haters, how did you encourage rolling/hit that milestone? Do I just suffer through tummy time and he’ll eventually figure it out?

Hi everyone,

I have a beautiful, healthy, and hilarious 10.5 month old. He’s doing well on solids and loves to eat - chicken, eggs, yogurt, peanut butter, all fruit, veggies, fish - you name it. We introduced all of the high allergen foods around 6 months and he had no issues - with the exception of eggs, which caused him to break out around his mouth - red rashy skin with some red dots. The pediatrician told us that this was likely contact dermatitis and he just has very sensitive skin (he did not have any other kind of allergic reaction besides the skin issue around his mouth). She prescribed an antibiotic ointment to use as needed, which helped a bit. We tried to be mindful when he was eating eggs and added a barrier cream around his mouth prior to meals.

Fast forward to now, it seems like after every meal - despite what food it is, any food that touches his mouth causes him to break out. We still use barrier cream (vaseline) and simple Aveeno lotion with the prescription ointment intermittently. There’s been no other changes to his linens, bedsheets, etc. or anything we use in the bath (Cerave baby wash and that’s it).

Again, our pediatrician has advised that he just has super sensitive skin and there’s not much we can do but let him grow out of it. I feel awful looking at his red irritated skin. It doesn’t seem to bother him at all and he loves to eat, but I know after every meal the rash will flare back up.

Has anyone experienced anything like this and if so, did you come up with any solutions on how to mitigate? Topicals, changes in diet, etc.? He is still taking formula which has never seemed to bother his skin. Other than that he just has water with his meals.

Thank you for any insight!!

Not sure where else to post about this but — as my baby has gotten older, I think I’ve just really had to let go of how i thought this season would look, even how i thought she would be as a baby. She is absolutely feral, high energy, cannot sit still and literally NEVER chills out. If babies can have adhd, she has it.

She recently started sticking her fingers in her mouth and causes herself to full on vomit, now several times a day. It’s maddening. She seems otherwise fine when she does it other than the fact that she’s bored and protesting the current activity.

Solids are seriously not going great. She has been trying out the food in the past but recently just is not interested at all and it almost makes her mad when I offer. Of course this is stressing me out cause she’s gotta eat? She also has always been on the lower end of milk/formula so im trying not to stress that she’s not getting enough daily calories.

She also is just so fussy and seems unhappy all day long as long as she’s awake. It’s like a never ending cycle all day long of entertaining her, changing environments to avoid meltdowns and keep the stimulation going. It’s like she’s just unhappy no matter what I do. I feel like I literally never stop!

And I know what you’re thinking, stop entertaining her, she needs to get used to boredom. Well, her sleep at night is SO bad and all the advice for building proper sleep pressure includes lots of activity and stimulation during the day. She sleeps so horribly that I’m exhausted during the day and truly feel like I do bore her so I really try to make the days full enough to sleep better, and I do notice it helps the nights. I just never get a break where it stops, how do people do this?? I’m going insane.

On top of all of this, she’s in the clingy phase where i genuinely can not set her down to use the restroom so i am walking around holding her allllll day my back is killing me.

I think I’m just a little taken aback at how her personality/temperament is turning out to be and I can barely keep up. No family to support around so I do everything myself on no sleep all day and I’m drowning. Everyone else makes this look so easy. Am I just not cut out for motherhood?

Anyones 6 month sleep regression worse than the 4 month one. My baby and 4 months went from waking up once a night to 2 no big deal. Baby at 6 months is waking up every 2-3 hours 😅literally don't even remember how I used to function when he was a newborn born doing that and I actually have to feed him and change him each wake 😂

we really wanna travel with our LO and are hesitant. any experience is appreciated.. we are leaning toward something like the Bahamas or Turks and Caicos. we do not mind sleeping early or being stuck in room for when baby is down for the night.

I can't tell if we are behind or everyone else is just "ahead." Baby girl just turned 10 months old yesterday. She is amazing and ahead on milestones and a great weight, but on the petite side. She is fed pumped breastmilk in a bottle. She eats 3 meals and a snack most days during the week, because she's in daycare. On weekends, we have slacked a little and she may only eat 2 meals a day. I'm really not sure how much she is truly "eating" with solids but with purees/yogurt/things like that, she will eat a good amount.

She has one MOTN wake, drinks a bottle, and goes back to sleep. So I'm most concerned about dropping the MOTN bottle. For her before bed bottle, we do wipe her 2 teeth with a washcloth. Her pediatrician said not to worry about the MOTN bottle and cleaning her teeth and we'd address that at a year old.

My concern is that it seems like there is pressure to start weaning her off of bottles at daycare. Her pediatrician said we'd also revisit this at a year old.

She can drink water out of a straw cup (but gets herself wet in the process so it still needs some fine tuning). We are going to start with an open cup but I imagine there will be a learning curve with that too. I also will start using the same sippy cups (I know sippy cups aren't great but that's what they use at daycare) they use at daycare and put breastmilk in there to get her used to it.

At this point, I don't think she is consuming enough solids to be dropping bottles. And I was under the impression that breastmilk should be her primary form of nutrition until she was a year old and solids are "just for fun" but it seems like there is differing opinions on that.

When did your baby get the hang of solids? When did you start weaning? HOW did you start weaning? Thanks so much in advance. - Signed an anxious FTM!

Mom to a 4.5 month old and almost 3 year old. I feel like I’m going insane. The baby is frustrated with her existence and inability to do anything and does. not. stop. whining. She’s never even silent. Just going back and forth between whining and crying all day long. My toddler is a talker. I love that about him but when combined with the whining, it’s making me crazy. He just talks and talks and talks. And he always needs me engaged in his conversation and play. Yes or mhm aren’t acceptable answers. Repeating back what he said isn’t acceptable. He always wants me actively providing comments/questions. I loved being a stay at home mom with my first but now being around this all day is not enjoyable anymore.