@Jabreen- I loved that book. And I love Matt Damon.. haven't gotten a chance to see the movie (darn toddler).. but I've heard good things. Maybe it'll come to HBO soon, is it good??
Not sure if this is the place for it or if it's even OK for me to link things like this, but there's a really interesting parenting-related AMA going on over at reddit if anyone wants to take a look. Here's the short summary: "Science AMA Series: I'm Amy Tuteur, an obstetrician-gynecologist, blogger (The Skeptical OB) and author. I write about the intersection of parenting and pseudoscience. AMA!"
Worth a read IMO and feels particularly relevant with the recent Sanctimommy post.
September '16 - May Signature Challenge Awkward Family Fun
I really like it! I saw it in theaters and was really impressed with the movie itself and with the science. Normally I have such a hard time suspending disbelief in movies with "bad science" (looking at you. Interstellar!) I haven't read the book yet, which is unusual for me, but I've heard it stays pretty faithful. The usual complaints about loss of detail and characterization in order to fit into a manageable run-time, but nothing major. I highly recommend it!
I'm super jealous of all the mom's feeling baby kicks and somersaults! I'm here at 16w4d and being all "I want to feel movement!!!!" :-( I know it'll come soon, but still jealous (and very excited for) all you lucky mommas who get to feel something already.
It's the hardest wait!
*************************************** FORMER USERNAME:@runningisrad
Not sure if this is the place for it or if it's even OK for me to link things like this, but there's a really interesting parenting-related AMA going on over at reddit if anyone wants to take a look. Here's the short summary: "Science AMA Series: I'm Amy Tuteur, an obstetrician-gynecologist, blogger (The Skeptical OB) and author. I write about the intersection of parenting and pseudoscience. AMA!"
Worth a read IMO and feels particularly relevant with the recent Sanctimommy post.
@JabreenI try to read books before the movies come out.. in case the movie is terrible I figure the book must have been decent if it inspired a movie (not always true). This one I particularly liked and wouldn't have known to read it other than the movie trailer. Will have to check it out!
Today is the first day back from spring break for me and my students, but I planned ahead, so all we're doing is watching the end of The Martian all day. I may have had to get up early, but work consists of Matt Damon "science-ing the shit" out of things, webcomics, and The Bump. Added bonus: tomorrow the 10th graders have a major standardized test, so I won't see my kids (11s and 12s). They will be home doing a virtual assignment, so I have a whole day to plan and prep!
I loved that movie!
*************************************** FORMER USERNAME:@runningisrad
@AnnaS930 rent, no buy the Martian now! Quick go! I loved that movie! DH wouldn't see it in theaters but was home when I rented it. He was glued to it as much as I was. We both loved it. Easily a top ten.
@AnnaS930 I hated pumping. There was nothing enjoyable about it and it's such a mind fuck when your production fluctuates. It's easier for her to have that opinion when she's not also taking care of a newborn/toddler at the same time while also trying to pump. And 100 ounces a DAY!? That's insane. It took me months to get my supply of 200 ounces in the freezer before I went back to work. I'm hoping to have a bigger stash this go around so I won't actually have to pump at work since ideally I'll go back in March and as a teacher would only have to work til June when we get out for summer. So at most that's like 16 weeks or so? But seriously. I hate pumping. I don't blame you at all for not wanting to this go around. I'm just too cheap to use formula, lol! Especially with taking an extended leave.
Damn, @LakeR2014- That's convincing! I wonder if it's still in RedBoxes? We only stream with netflix so I can't get the disc that way.. hmmmm. I used to buy movies constantly.. now I have hundreds in my basement that i never watch/are worth nothing. I rarely buy now (unless a good black friday deal or something)
@diagonalley- the cost is not my favorite that's for sure! Lol, but to be able to be at work, never have to think about finding time to pump, sending a bunch of bottles to daycare without caring how much they give him, it was just all so much more carefree with formula. Granted I only breastfed for 10 weeks and was not keen on doing it in public, so it was more of a hassle than it is for women who are comfortable and willing to feed on the go and can just leave home whenever. While breastfeeding I either packed a bottle (so same annoyance as formula) or scheduled our outings in the 3 hours between feedings. I don't know.. it really wasn't for me, but I was also struggling with some PPD/PPA so who knows how things will be this time around.
@diagonalley I was able to get into a pumping routine that was OK for me (nothing like what some of the PPs have mentioned -- I was good to get 2-3 bags a day depending on how productive I was), but holy crap I hear you on being cheap.
People have asked me why I've breastfed and yeah, it's good for baby, but at the end of the day, it saved me money, I liked the extra calories it burnt, and it was a nice excuse to blow 20ish minutes each and every morning on a book or video game before work. I'm such a noble person.
September '16 - May Signature Challenge Awkward Family Fun
Similar to @AnnaS930, I also found formula feeding a lot easier than breastfeeding. We started supplementing breast milk with formula at 7 months and completely weaned around 9 months. I hated pumping at work and over time my production went from barely sufficient to not enough. DS really seemed to have a preference for the bottle - he likes to take in his surroundings and look around while eating. That is much easier to do with a bottle than a boob (and he would try with the boob which would be painful for me). We were already washing a lot of bottles because of daycare, so when we went full time to formula the slight increase in bottles to be washed was offset with not having to wash pump parts.
That said, with this kid I will try my best to breast feed for the same length of time. Mostly, it is because I have a weird guilt about treating both kids equally.
@marajay6@Thurstobertay I read the article and skimmed through the AMA and it basically seems like she's saying natural childbirth and breastfeeding are being put on a cult-like pedestal. I understand that there's definitely a market that sells the "Natural Birth and Breastfeeding Goddess" schtick, but at the end of the day I hope women feel empowered no matter what route they take, and make decisions on what is best for baby AND best for them. And not feel any guilt (almost impossible I know) for their informed decisions.
Super random (which is why posting here), but I finally saw @blondie080300's April Fool's Day siggy challenge and I cannot stop laughing. I seriously re-watched it for a good 5 minutes. The skipping runner - kills me!
Does anyone else have horrible teenage acne? Like, really? My face looks terrible and it's spreading to my chest. My DD was even kind enough to tell me it looked like my face was rotting. She's such a sweetie!
@LeahKnits We totally have a full bed in our nursery. There weren't any other rooms to put it in, and it has come in handy the few times we had guests stay. And sometimes when the little one is playing in her room I just lay on the bed and "supervise" haha it's a win win for our family!
My random for the day is OUCH!! I forgot how much more sensitive to the sun I am when pregnant. Our beach day yesterday left me a little crispy haha For those FTMs out there, as the weather warms up wear extra sunscreen! Apparently it's a common thing in pregnancy that I will definitely remember for next time! Pass the Aloe Vera...
@Thurstobertay As a teacher I had no time built into my day last year to pump and did it over my lunch. Our lunch has been shortened by 15 minutes this year, so that is not going to fly next year. We have a meeting about scheduling tomorrow and I'm going to ask them how they plan to accommodate my needs, because last year I seriously got walked all over. Not happening again. I hope that will ease up some of my hatred towards pumping.
A coworker posts pics of her daughter on FB every day, and shares her memories from this day for the past 5 years.. every day. It's overload. My real issue is that the current pics of her daughter she's always bare chested. I'm just too weirded out by lack of internet security/stolen pics/weirdos in the world to put nudie child pics online. The girl is 5.. I can see it as a newborn (though honestly still wouldn't do it just based on my principle), but this is getting really old to have her nipples online. Even if people say I'm overreacting and being paranoid, I'm comfortable being that person and will put my foil hat back on now
Just a thought re the ladies who hated pumping and never produced enough - it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can do both. My daughter was fully breastfed until I went back to work at 12 weeks. I pumped until six months but never pumped enough (and was also not able to get a pumping schedule down due to the nature of my job) so had to supplement. I weaned off the pump at six months and gave formula during the day and BF'd morning, evening and through the night until I weaned her at 14 months. Worked out really well for us.
@PSUBecky23- I can see that. For me, I didn't see a big difference in the bonding feeling between having his mouth on my nipple, versus holding a bottle for him to drink from. We were snuggled in close and I gazed into his eyes, so I just didn't miss that. He also starting sleeping through the night at about 3 months, so a few weeks after I stopped breastfeeding. The night wakeups with formula were a pain compared to breastfeeding, I remember that much! Pouring, warming, feeding... versus just popping a boob out. It's all a possibility.
personally my current plan is to do exactly what I did last time. Most likely start out breastfeeding, and if it doesn't go well, switch to formula. I don't see it as giving up, just changing to what works best for me and my family
BFing for me was just about feeding my kid, not about bonding. I bonded in other ways. And yes, I would much prefer middle of the night feedings with nursing than with bottle feeding, so I was glad I was able to keep nursing through the night even if I couldn't do it during the day.
@PSUBecky23- I can see that. For me, I didn't see a big difference in the bonding feeling between having his mouth on my nipple, versus holding a bottle for him to drink from. We were snuggled in close and I gazed into his eyes, so I just didn't miss that. He also starting sleeping through the night at about 3 months, so a few weeks after I stopped breastfeeding. The night wakeups with formula were a pain compared to breastfeeding, I remember that much! Pouring, warming, feeding... versus just popping a boob out. It's all a possibility.
personally my current plan is to do exactly what I did last time. Most likely start out breastfeeding, and if it doesn't go well, switch to formula. I don't see it as giving up, just changing to what works best for me and my family
In regards to the above for anyone who used formula or knows the answer. Can you create the bottles before hand, say before you go to bed, then pop them into the microwave or bottle warmer when needed? I've seriously considered us getting a mini-fridge and use the bottle warmer upstairs for this reason...simply to avoid the necessity of having to go downstairs turn on all the lights and inevitably wake the dog, myself, and DH up that much more. Just wasn't sure how feasible it was to actually having to feed the baby.
@PSUBecky23- I can see that. For me, I didn't see a big difference in the bonding feeling between having his mouth on my nipple, versus holding a bottle for him to drink from. We were snuggled in close and I gazed into his eyes, so I just didn't miss that. He also starting sleeping through the night at about 3 months, so a few weeks after I stopped breastfeeding. The night wakeups with formula were a pain compared to breastfeeding, I remember that much! Pouring, warming, feeding... versus just popping a boob out. It's all a possibility.
personally my current plan is to do exactly what I did last time. Most likely start out breastfeeding, and if it doesn't go well, switch to formula. I don't see it as giving up, just changing to what works best for me and my family
In regards to the above for anyone who used formula or knows the answer. Can you create the bottles before hand, say before you go to bed, then pop them into the microwave or bottle warmer when needed? I've seriously considered us getting a mini-fridge and use the bottle warmer upstairs for this reason...simply to avoid the necessity of having to go downstairs turn on all the lights and inevitably wake the dog, myself, and DH up that much more. Just wasn't sure how feasible it was to actually having to feed the baby.
Yes, pre-made formula bottles are safe in the fridge for 24 hours.
@LakeR2014- as PSUBecky said, yes.. mixed formula is good for 24 hours in the fridge. We bought a pitcher and would make up all of the formula for the day either the night before or morning of. It was MUCH easier than mixing individual bottles (and much less powder on the counters trying to scoop into narrow neck bottles). We had a bottle warmer in the kitchen and 1 upstairs so that I could grab a bottle, start warming it (about 2 minutes) and pick up Emmett/start to soothe him while it warmed up. 2 minutes of screaming for a bottle feels like a year in the middle of the night. We have a mini fridge and considered bringing it upstairs but I didn't mind scooting up and down the stairs overnight - GRANTED, we were down to 1 or 0 middle of the night feedings at that time, which is why I didn't always have a bottle poured. If we do formula earlier on this time (or have a little who wakes more often) a mini fridge in the nursery is a definite possibility for us - I still have mine from college.
A coworker posts pics of her daughter on FB every day, and shares her memories from this day for the past 5 years.. every day. It's overload. My real issue is that the current pics of her daughter she's always bare chested. I'm just too weirded out by lack of internet security/stolen pics/weirdos in the world to put nudie child pics online. The girl is 5.. I can see it as a newborn (though honestly still wouldn't do it just based on my principle), but this is getting really old to have her nipples online. Even if people say I'm overreacting and being paranoid, I'm comfortable being that person and will put my foil hat back on now
I agree that's too old, and don't think you're over reacting. I felt a little weird the one time I posted a pic of DD in a shirt and diaper when she when she was about 11 months old. There are too many sick, weirdos out there for me to be comfortable with posting topless photos of my 5 year old. I don't mind it when they are under one because cute baby rolls, but after that, it isn't necessary.
I find the posting every damn memory on FB to be annoying as hell, too. I have one friend that does that as well. And she posts about 10 pics of her kid a day. So now it's the new 10 pics plus all the memories that I've seen before.
And another complaint, FB doesn't give me the option to share a memory. It tells me the option isn't available to everyone currently when I try. People have had this feature for years, and I still don't get it? You suck, Facebook.
@PSUBecky23 I know you can do both but for me I just felt like had to try and do it all myself. My son was born premature at 34 weeks and I was told by the neonatologists he would double his weight by 6 months, triple by a year. He doubled his weight in less than 2 months and more than tripled by 6 months (for real I had back problems those first few months!) I had read that when babies are premature your body has a way of knowing this and producing higher calorie content milk so I felt more obligated to stick with it, if that makes sense? I'm sure he would have been perfectly fine on formula, but I just felt like given our situation what he needed most was my milk so I stuck it out that full year (although, it did get to a point where I had enough in my freezer stash to last me to his first birthday so I stopped pumping, but continued to nurse. He weaned himself at about 13 months and that's ultimately my plan this go around).
Yay!!!!!!!! On fb someone was talking about Skyline (Cincinnati chili place) and now I really want some but we only have one can left BUT I looked on their website and there is a store that sells it that is only 40m from me! I think I know what we will be doing next weekend Now all I need is Graeter's black raspberry chip.
Yay!!!!!!!! On fb someone was talking about Skyline (Cincinnati chili place) and now I really want some but we only have one can left BUT I looked on their website and there is a store that sells it that is only 40m from me! I think I know what we will be doing next weekend Now all I need is Graeter's black raspberry chip.
I just finished a pint of Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. Oh my god...so good!! I seem to be lactose intolerant while pregnant, but it was worth the stomach issues that came after eating it.
I'm on Etsy looking for Big Sister shirts for DD. I found this, and was making plans to get them before I realized I don't know that the baby is a little sister.
My son's daycare has iPads in each of the rooms. The teachers take pictures throughout the day and email them to us. I love seeing getting pictures during the day. We usually get 1 or 2 pictures a few days a week. So far today we have gotten 3. It seems that they are taking extra to help my sick husband feel better. I love it!
@camichael84Lol, I've done that so much this pregnancy! We're team green but I keep mentally referring to the baby as a girl and have twice almost purchase some girl clothes. Being team green is hard!!
@marajay6- our daycare uses ClassDojo app to post updates and maybe 1 day a week will post a few photos. I love seeing E and his little buddies doing whatever they're doing.
@LizC216 - I was very intolerant to lactose last pregnancy (but would often eat ice cream in the evening and deal with it in the morning regardless), but haven't noticed the issue this time around.. although I haven't been having much ice cream and that is usually the worst culprit for me (since I don't really drink milk). Now I'm tempted to get a blizzard from Dairy Queen... to test my lactose tolerance and well, because YUM
@PSUBecky23 - I can see that. For me, I didn't see a big difference in the bonding feeling between having his mouth on my nipple, versus holding a bottle for him to drink from. We were snuggled in close and I gazed into his eyes, so I just didn't miss that. He also starting sleeping through the night at about 3 months, so a few weeks after I stopped breastfeeding. The night wakeups with formula were a pain compared to breastfeeding, I remember that much! Pouring, warming, feeding... versus just popping a boob out. It's all a possibility.
personally my current plan is to do exactly what I did last time. Most likely start out breastfeeding, and if it doesn't go well, switch to formula. I don't see it as giving up, just changing to what works best for me and my family
In regards to the above for anyone who used formula or knows the answer. Can you create the bottles before hand, say before you go to bed, then pop them into the microwave or bottle warmer when needed? I've seriously considered us getting a mini-fridge and use the bottle warmer upstairs for this reason...simply to avoid the necessity of having to go downstairs turn on all the lights and inevitably wake the dog, myself, and DH up that much more. Just wasn't sure how feasible it was to actually having to feed the baby.
Yes, you can refrigerate bottles and then reheat for 24 hours. Or you can pre-measure the water in the bottle and powder in a cup before bed and just dump the formula and shake the bottle in the MOTN. (This works as long as your child will take a room temperature bottle. You'd have to keep warm water in a thermos if your LO will not take room temp, but it could still be pre-measured.)
My first never latched. We tried and failed for a month, but the baby took formula beginning in the hospital. Once we abandoned ship on BF completely, we bought a baby brezza formula dispenser.
@KimmySchmidt- do you mind my asking if your little one was in daycare at all during the day? I was about to buy a Brezza last time, because I LOVE gadgets and this one was just calling my name.. but realized with little guy at daycare and having to send x number of bottles with him during the day, we'd still be doing a lot of mixing by hand, and the two things didn't mesh.
Also, your comment reminded me why we bought the pitcher, not so much for the convenience of mixing a whole day's worth at once, but also because it seriously eliminated the bubbles that you get when you shake a bottle of formula for mixing. Our little dude was GASSY! and would wake in the morning screaming because of it if we couldn't get a good burp out in the middle of the night. The pitcher spins a whirlygig (technical terms, yeah?) so like an immersion blend instead of a shake, leading to basically zero bubbles and less chance of gas. Worked well for us.. but that Brezza, man I want that so bad!
Re: April Randoms Thread
Worth a read IMO and feels particularly relevant with the recent Sanctimommy post.
Awkward Family Fun
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
I saw it on Slate today but I haven't read it yet.
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
People have asked me why I've breastfed and yeah, it's good for baby, but at the end of the day, it saved me money, I liked the extra calories it burnt, and it was a nice excuse to blow 20ish minutes each and every morning on a book or video game before work. I'm such a noble person.
Awkward Family Fun
That said, with this kid I will try my best to breast feed for the same length of time. Mostly, it is because I have a weird guilt about treating both kids equally.
● IUI #2: BFP - early M/C
● IUI #3: BFN
● IUI #4: BFN
● IVF/FET #1 (2 transferred): BFP! TWINS!
● FET #2 (1 transferred): BFP! BOY #3!
● Natural #1: BFP - M/C @ 8 weeks
● Natural #2: BFP - M/C @ 5w5d
My random for the day is OUCH!! I forgot how much more sensitive to the sun I am when pregnant. Our beach day yesterday left me a little crispy haha For those FTMs out there, as the weather warms up wear extra sunscreen! Apparently it's a common thing in pregnancy that I will definitely remember for next time! Pass the Aloe Vera...
personally my current plan is to do exactly what I did last time. Most likely start out breastfeeding, and if it doesn't go well, switch to formula. I don't see it as giving up, just changing to what works best for me and my family
BFing for me was just about feeding my kid, not about bonding. I bonded in other ways. And yes, I would much prefer middle of the night feedings with nursing than with bottle feeding, so I was glad I was able to keep nursing through the night even if I couldn't do it during the day.
Yes, pre-made formula bottles are safe in the fridge for 24 hours.
I find the posting every damn memory on FB to be annoying as hell, too. I have one friend that does that as well. And she posts about 10 pics of her kid a day. So now it's the new 10 pics plus all the memories that I've seen before.
And another complaint, FB doesn't give me the option to share a memory. It tells me the option isn't available to everyone currently when I try. People have had this feature for years, and I still don't get it? You suck, Facebook.
@LizC216 - I was very intolerant to lactose last pregnancy (but would often eat ice cream in the evening and deal with it in the morning regardless), but haven't noticed the issue this time around.. although I haven't been having much ice cream and that is usually the worst culprit for me (since I don't really drink milk). Now I'm tempted to get a blizzard from Dairy Queen... to test my lactose tolerance and well, because YUM
My first never latched. We tried and failed for a month, but the baby took formula beginning in the hospital. Once we abandoned ship on BF completely, we bought a baby brezza formula dispenser.
https://www.target.com/p/baby-brezza-formula-pro-one-step-bottle-maker/-/A-14681624#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=baby+brezza+formula+dispenser
IT WAS AMAZING. It's worth every penny for anyone who is FF from early enough to be up making bottles several times a night.
Also, your comment reminded me why we bought the pitcher, not so much for the convenience of mixing a whole day's worth at once, but also because it seriously eliminated the bubbles that you get when you shake a bottle of formula for mixing. Our little dude was GASSY! and would wake in the morning screaming because of it if we couldn't get a good burp out in the middle of the night. The pitcher spins a whirlygig (technical terms, yeah?) so like an immersion blend instead of a shake, leading to basically zero bubbles and less chance of gas. Worked well for us.. but that Brezza, man I want that so bad!