~*~ HDB/BD ~*~

TJ1979

My favorite day of the week!  Share your babies and bumps!

GTKY: What has been the most challenging aspect of being a parent so far.

TJ1979

My pic today is E exploring a tunnel at the children's museum.

My biggest challenge so far has definitely been breastfeeding.  It seems to always be something... low supply, cracked bleeding nipples, vasospasms, thrush, clogged ducts, thrush, low supply, in a vicious cycle.  We just had thrush again, and now here I am again with low supply.  It breaks my heart to not be able to pump what she needs the next day at DC.  Everyone keeps talking about how it gets better and easier the older they get.  I wish I could just relax and enjoy it without constantly worrying.

mrskitton

I am going to piggyback off of TJ and say my biggest challenge has also been breastfeeding.  My milk never seemed to come in.....I guess the doctors said this can be normal for a 5 week early preemie.  *Sigh*

Suebee8

You get 2 today:)

The serious:

and the happy, playful:

GTKY: My biggest challenge has been patience. We went through a lot early on and I know things will continue to be challenging and changing all the time. I just have to remember to be patient and to communicate better with DH.

 

TJ1979

Suebee8:

You get 2 today:)

The serious:

and the happy, playful:

GTKY: My biggest challenge has been patience. We went through a lot early on and I know things will continue to be challenging and changing all the time. I just have to remember to be patient and to communicate better with DH.

 

Suebee, she is standing so well!  Is she walking yet?

TJ1979

mrskitton:

I am going to piggyback off of TJ and say my biggest challenge has also been breastfeeding.  My milk never seemed to come in.....I guess the doctors said this can be normal for a 5 week early preemie.  *Sigh*

She just has the sweetest face!  Sorry BFing has been a challenge for you too

Suebee8

TJ1979:

Suebee8:

You get 2 today:)

The serious:

and the happy, playful:

GTKY: My biggest challenge has been patience. We went through a lot early on and I know things will continue to be challenging and changing all the time. I just have to remember to be patient and to communicate better with DH.

 

Suebee, she is standing so well!  Is she walking yet?

Not yet. She is still doing her crab-crawl all over the place and getting faster and faster. She can also pull herself up to a stand like a pro. She hasn't experimented with cruising yet, think she isn't quite confident enough to try. I am sure it will happen all of a sudden like the constant rolling, crawling, sitting up on her own and pulling up did!

BabyRN2006

She turned 2 months yesterday! Time is flying by way too fast!

 

Biggest challenges so far: I've really struggled with postpartum anxiety. I've started on meds so it seems to be starting to get better but it was pretty awful for a while. The other biggest challenge was the fact that all three of us were sick the past two weeks, and we had no help because my parents were out of town. We were miserable.

ccam

My new favorite from his bath the other night

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Our attempt at an 8 month picture last Thursday

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GTKY: There have been plenty of challenges so far, but the biggest one has been breastfeeding for me, too.  I wanted it so bad for DS but I feel like we were destined to fail at it.  I lasted 4.5 months pumping.  I tried my hardest and did what I could.   

Ruthie04

I love the GTKYs!

I'll say BFing as well. I knew twins would be a challenge, but I'm super stubborn and thought I'd just power through and be one of the success stories. I've been very lucky in that I haven't battled the typical BFing infections (mastitis, thrush...), but I have struggled with supply and pain from day one. We tried everything short of prescription meds (shields, syringes to help them learn not to bite, catheters through a shield since DS2's mouth was too small, non stop pumping, fenugreek actually kills my little supply...) with no real results. I've never BFed without pain and multiple LCs have told me to give it up. I'm SO JEALOUS of women who can EBF/ EP for their babies. I've spent so much time crying over this! 

Last week, DS2 bit me so hard I bled and he continued to vomit/ poop blood all day. Even the pedi was shocked with the amount of blood. It was awful and this has happened multiple times.  I have an autoimmune disorder that has been flaring in post partum and I really need to resume my meds. I've been weaning over the last month and I'm now down to two pump/ nursing sessions per day. I'm really struggling with the thought that these could be my last days of nursing, as these may be our last LOs. 

Wow- that was a downer. Anyway, I'm so excited to see all of the adorable little ones!! 

srveatch

srveatch

srveatch

srveatch

Sorry about the tripple posts!  The Bump or my computer or I went crazy :0 

The hardest part about parenting for me so far was definitely when A was collicky.  I just remember crying along with her.  I couldn't stand the thought of her being in pain.  Thankfully she grew out of it quickly.

The pic this week is of her peeking over my shoulder at her baptism this weekend.  Her Godmother snagged the shot.  I love this pic because it captures her silly personality and love for attention all in one

srveatch

TJ1979:

My pic today is E exploring a tunnel at the children's museum.

My biggest challenge so far has definitely been breastfeeding.  It seems to always be something... low supply, cracked bleeding nipples, vasospasms, thrush, clogged ducts, thrush, low supply, in a vicious cycle.  We just had thrush again, and now here I am again with low supply.  It breaks my heart to not be able to pump what she needs the next day at DC.  Everyone keeps talking about how it gets better and easier the older they get.  I wish I could just relax and enjoy it without constantly worrying.

TJ- I too seem to have low supply when pumping. Do you have to supplement with formula or do you just give her what you pump and let her have unlimited nursing when you are with her?

srveatch

ccam:

My new favorite from his bath the other night

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Our attempt at an 8 month picture last Thursday

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GTKY: There have been plenty of challenges so far, but the biggest one has been breastfeeding for me, too.  I wanted it so bad for DS but I feel like we were destined to fail at it.  I lasted 4.5 months pumping.  I tried my hardest and did what I could.   

I love the 8 month pic, it is perfect!

TJ1979

srveatch:

TJ1979:

My pic today is E exploring a tunnel at the children's museum.

My biggest challenge so far has definitely been breastfeeding.  It seems to always be something... low supply, cracked bleeding nipples, vasospasms, thrush, clogged ducts, thrush, low supply, in a vicious cycle.  We just had thrush again, and now here I am again with low supply.  It breaks my heart to not be able to pump what she needs the next day at DC.  Everyone keeps talking about how it gets better and easier the older they get.  I wish I could just relax and enjoy it without constantly worrying.

TJ- I too seem to have low supply when pumping. Do you have to supplement with formula or do you just give her what you pump and let her have unlimited nursing when you are with her?

This just randomly started back up for me.  Right now I'm adding more mother's milk tea, started more milk plus again, and added an extra pump at night.  I still have a small freezer stash, so I haven't had to supplement with formula yet.  I'm going to make lactation cookies this weekend too, so I'm praying I can get it back up before I have to resort to clearing out my freezer stash or using formula.

Robeano

Here is Hannah at 3 months. I finally got a picture of her smiling!!

The hardest thing has also been breastfeeding. With tongue tie, flat nipples and low supply it was very hard. Hannah was a slow weight gainer, hitting the bare minimum requirements, and even losing weight sometimes. And then b/c she wasn't getting enough food she wouldn't poop for like 10+ days. I felt like I was failing her. But at 3 months we've finally figured it out!!

srveatch

TJ1979:

srveatch:

TJ1979:

My pic today is E exploring a tunnel at the children's museum.

My biggest challenge so far has definitely been breastfeeding.  It seems to always be something... low supply, cracked bleeding nipples, vasospasms, thrush, clogged ducts, thrush, low supply, in a vicious cycle.  We just had thrush again, and now here I am again with low supply.  It breaks my heart to not be able to pump what she needs the next day at DC.  Everyone keeps talking about how it gets better and easier the older they get.  I wish I could just relax and enjoy it without constantly worrying.

TJ- I too seem to have low supply when pumping. Do you have to supplement with formula or do you just give her what you pump and let her have unlimited nursing when you are with her?

This just randomly started back up for me.  Right now I'm adding more mother's milk tea, started more milk plus again, and added an extra pump at night.  I still have a small freezer stash, so I haven't had to supplement with formula yet.  I'm going to make lactation cookies this weekend too, so I'm praying I can get it back up before I have to resort to clearing out my freezer stash or using formula.

My pumping experience has been dissapointing.  I pump three times a day and only get 3-4 oz in the morning and then 2-2.5oz during the afternoon pumpings giving me a total between 8-9oz.  I am giving her 4oz bottles every three hours.  Since I am able to breastfeed her at 8:30 right before I leave and am able to be home by 5 to feed again, she is only getting two bottles. I am just barely keeping up with an added pumping session.  It seems like every Monday I have to retrain my body to pump and on the weekends I feel engorged.  She gained a little over a pound from 3-4 months and now looks like she is on track to gain a pound between 4-5 months.  I am concerned I am not giving her enough to gain more weight.  Breastfeeding is so hard.

mdiblasi10

Grayson has decided he would rather play than nap. He was resting his head while standing at the table

 

GTKY: I think the most challenging aspect of being a parent has been the worrying. I am sure it is everything I see in the news and the horrible things people do that scares me so much. I know you can't spend your life worrying about things you cannot control, but this little guy is everything to me and the thought of anything happening to him is so overwhelming.

mystic_J

QOTD: The most difficult aspect for me has been breastfeeding/exclusively pumping. I feel no one prepared me for how hard it truly was going to be, and I feel my LC sucked and left me high and dry with little to no moral support. After having oversupply issues, plugged ducts galore, mastitis 4 times and being hospitalized for it the last time, I am in the process of slowly weaning, with a goal to be done by July, which is also extremely challenging.

TJ1979

chiwifey:

Love all these lil cuties!!!

Here's C enjoying some grub

I think the hardest part for me (other than not being able to breastfeed) is lacking the confidence to trust my instincts. But I'm getting better every day at trusting my gut. 

What a cutie chi!  I am right there with you on the confidence.  Even when I do start to feel some confidence, MH will disagree with me about something and I'll get all shaken again.  He loves to correct me in public, we're working on that behavior.

Robeano

TJ1979:

chiwifey:

Love all these lil cuties!!!

Here's C enjoying some grub

I think the hardest part for me (other than not being able to breastfeed) is lacking the confidence to trust my instincts. But I'm getting better every day at trusting my gut. 

What a cutie chi!  I am right there with you on the confidence.  Even when I do start to feel some confidence, MH will disagree with me about something and I'll get all shaken again.  He loves to correct me in public, we're working on that behavior.

Ouch, I would hate that!!

I have the opposite problem, my DH sometimes is so self conscious about what to do with a baby that he is always asking me, and doing things in a very strange way. I keep trying to encourage him to figure it out for himself but I think he's afraid to make a mistake.

Saraevh

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My baby boy is 11 months old today!

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My diva not wanting to get wet at the waterpark (she's nothing like her mother

ccam

mg0202:

 

We spent a long time last night trying to get an 8 month picture. Finally got one that is decent, but I love yours it totally fits how they are at this age. Love the shadowbox you posted yesterday, I am going to look for something like it!

Aw, thanks!  It was either that or DS trying to eat his chalkboard! Either one is very fitting for 8 months   And the shadowbox was so much fun to put together.  I think it's nice to have those things out rather than packed away somewhere.

ccam

srveatch:

 

I love the 8 month pic, it is perfect!

Thanks

byrne15

toughest thing for me was the fact that ds#2 and ds#1 are complete opposites.  I thought I somewhat had things figured out after ds#1, but I was so wrong.  I feel like a FTM all over again....at every stage.