If you want another LO, what will you do differently?

Ms5586 · February 2012

Granted, we're averaging about 5 months in and have a lot more to learn, but what will/won't you do with your next LO?

JKGymnast · February 2012

Oy, where do I start. ;-) I'm going to EBF again for sure, but I think I would have built up a stash earlier on... Not having a stash now bums me out. I have freezer stash envy. Haha. I will swaddle from day 1 (didn't realize swaddling was my friend until a month into DD). I will not ask for so much advice but I will trust my instincts. I will not tip toe around, so LO gets used to noise. I will also get a babysitter more often than 4 times in 5 1/2 months. Momma needs a break.

That's good enough for now... ;-)

Ms5586 · February 2012

- No paci unless absolutely necessary - it hindered his sleep so much.

- I will try to BF the next one, but not stress so much about it. If BF works, great. If not, I'll try to pump again. If it doesn't work, I won't stress about it the way I do now.

solsburyhill · February 2012

My c-section messed me up mentally for like 2 weeks. The first two weeks were a total blur and by the time I came to, a lot of bad habits had been established.

I won't bedshare.

I won't tummy sleep. Which means I'll swaddle from the start.

Baby will sleep in crib from day 1.

I want to give CDing a better chance.

Too much time passed before I got the hang of A and being a mom. I think with #2 I'll have a LOT more confidence. I didn't even have instincts much less the ability to trust them. I regret a lot about A's first 2 weeks of life. I mean nothing was bad or anything, I just gave up all control of everything that was happening, I never spoke up, I never questioned how things were done, I just sat there and watched everyone else take care of my baby. I carry a lot of guilt about it.

SusieBW · February 2012

Like JK said, I wish I had started pumping sooner to build up more of a freezer stash. I'd also love to take more time off work, but who knows whether that will be possible or not.

Otherwise, I feel pretty good about everything we've done so far, and I don't think I'd change anything.

missbrightside10 · February 2012

If we have another child, I'll put him/her in the crib from day 1. When I put LO in his crib we all started sleeping better!

Malin22000 · February 2012

Not tip toe around them when they are sleeping so that they get used to sleeping through noise. Get professional pictures taken sooner. Not give birth standing/squatting to hopefully minimize damage done which greatly impacted how I felt the first 3 months after LO's birth.

sunflwr0911 · February 2012

Like pp, I'll start swaddling from day one. Also, I would see a LC sooner if my latch was bad instead of waiting till it hurt so bad I was crying and breaking out in a sweat just thinking about latching. And being consistent about giving a bottle so lo would be used to it.

All in all, I think things have gone pretty well, but bf was super rough starting out with all the issues we had. I think the second time around will go much better since I now know so much more!

solsburyhill · February 2012

Malin22000:
Not tip toe around them when they are sleeping so that they get used to sleeping through noise. Get professional pictures taken sooner. Not give birth standing/squatting to hopefully minimize damage done which greatly impacted how I felt the first 3 months after LO's birth.

Oh yes, this too! We did newborns but I wish we would have done 3mo too.

CMheart1011 · February 2012

I will definitely spend money on a good pump. I have a $68 pump that doesn't do very well. LO doesn't want to nurse much anymore-she prefers bottles now. And I pump as much as I can, but I get more out by hand expressing. My supply is dwindling.

At the same time, I will not beat myself up about giving the next one formula, if necessary. My goal with this one was to EBF until 6 months, and I felt horribly guilty giving her formula. I know now that formula will not hurt her, and that I should feel good about the fact that she still gets some BM.

sunflwr0911 · February 2012

solsburyhill:
Malin22000:
Not tip toe around them when they are sleeping so that they get used to sleeping through noise. Get professional pictures taken sooner. Not give birth standing/squatting to hopefully minimize damage done which greatly impacted how I felt the first 3 months after LO's birth.

Oh yes, this too! We did newborns but I wish we would have done 3mo too.

Yeah, we haven't done any yet and I really regret that, especially not having any newborn photos.

T&HLove · February 2012

Hands down what I will do differently is lay her down drowsy but awake from the start!

ermaderma · February 2012

I am going to try much harder to get the next one to latch. DS wouldn't latch and the LCs in the hospital weren't much help. I ended up EP'ing and never had a good supply. I stopped at 8 weeks.

As much as it may suck, I will probably put the baby in the crib from day 1. DS still doesn't sleep in his crib (then again, we haven't pushed the issue really) and he is now in our bed. he sleeps so much better, but DH is on the couch for now.

MamaAllison · February 2012

Honestly, the thing I regret the most is not getting better newborn pictures. They did them at the hospital but I hate them, they did NOT do a good job!

E is a pretty easy baby for the most part and if the next one goes as smoothly I'm going to have a heck of a time convincing DH that two is enough!

songbird421 · February 2012

If we have another one, I want us to have enough money that I can take the full 12 weeks off of work to spend with the new baby. For everyone's sanity, DH won't be much help - he simply can't handle newborns, and I don't think I could stand going through this with him all over again. In that same thread, I'd ask my mom to stay with us for a week or so while I get adjusted to having 2 kids.

I'd try breastfeeding again. It was something that I really wanted to do, and DD would just fall asleep everytime she got near me. I only got her to nurse twice in the hospital, and the LC's were no help. I hear all of these stories from moms who had their boobs and baby man-handled to get them together, and while I don't think it sounds particularly pleasant, no one ever touched either of us. And when we had to offer her formula or pumped breastmilk to make sure DD ate, I felt like the LC's looked down their nose at me. I'd also try to be more forgiving to myself if EBF doesn't work out again. DD was born at 39 weeks and was a whole pound smaller than they estimated - she was in the 5%. Now, she's almost 5 mos, and she's in the 50th. I pumped and she got breastmilk supplemented with formula until she was 5 weeks old, and then my supply gave out and we switched to forumula. She's thriving, and that's what is important.

aveeh · February 2012

Ditto all the BF comments. I will try again but if it doesn't work I won't freak out about like this time. Formula is not poison and it took me awhile to come to terms with that.

Also just really cherish the cuddle time with a newborn. B is not a cuddler at all and I miss when she would fall asleep on me.

BeachBlondie456 · February 2012

oh lots of things...

swaddle from day 1

no tummy sleeping

giving a bottle in the first month (didnt try till 3 months and my LO WILL NOT take a bottle to this day.)

pumping and building a freezer stash

getting professional photos done sooner

get those onesie stickers! (im SO upset i didnt do this.)

WeWearCombatBoots · February 2012

With the pregnancy I will exercise more and eat healthier, so I won't end up going through a bad pregnancy and gaining a ton of weight and be in such bad shape trying to work out now. I think I will have a lot easier time BFing and be able to actually EBF instead of EPing. If my husband is higher ranking and we are doing better financially I am seriously thinking about separating from the Air Force and being a SAHM, at least for the first year. I wish I could do that with my son now. As far as parenting, I don't know if I will do anything different, I feel pretty good with the things I have done so far. DS is healthy and happy, sleeps well on his own, I feel like I'm doing things right so far.

SarahSmile23 · February 2012

I won't gain as much weight during pregnancy.

I will get newborn pics.

I will not let them keep my little one in the nursery and feed them formula their first night.

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