We've had both carseats installed since early second tri and found out it's not the best idea because if any accidents were to happen they'd have to be replaced, even if someone just bumped us or something happened to one of the cars while parked. Packing a delivery bag is free game though! Just got our diaper bag and I'm planning to pack that immediately with PP essentials!
We've had both carseats installed since early second tri and found out it's not the best idea because if any accidents were to happen they'd have to be replaced, even if someone just bumped us or something happened to one of the cars while parked. Packing a delivery bag is free game though! Just got our diaper bag and I'm planning to pack that immediately with PP essentials!
This. Most car insurances will cover a replacement (either the exact same, or one just like it), but it is something that you have to check with your insurance plan. My mom was tapped by someone going less than 5mph, and we had a carseat in there, so her insurance told us just to buy another and send them the receipt. They then reimbursed her. It is a headache though, if you cannot afford to pay for another carseat up front, before insurance reimburses you.
@sboston06 we had the opposite experience from PPs with DD. When she was three months old we traveled for BIL's wedding. Baby girl was a dream on the way, slept decently at the hotel (for a three month old), and was pretty flexible with us. We might not be the rule and be the exception instead, but we took DD with us everywhere we went: out to eat, grocery shopping, visiting friends/family, hunting trips, etc. every child is different. I have no preconceived notions that this baby will be like DD. We'll just have to see how she is and adjust accordingly.
Thats how we are with DD. We have always just taken her places with us and never made a big deal out of it, and she has always been really flexible. But we were also the type that were never like "lets get this baby on a schedule!" or "the baby needs to be in the crib sleeping at exactly 7!" I guess we kind of figured that if we made a big deal out of doing things out of the norm, then we would either make ourselves fearful of ever doing it, or we would stress ourselves out so much that none of the trip/event would go over well and be miserable. Sure things came up here and there, but we just always rolled with the flow, and it wasn't that big of a deal. Our plan is to do things the same, and see how they go this time around, but our first trip with this baby is when baby is between 2-4 weeks old.
I didn't think about this at the time but that's true for us as well. We never pushed a schedule. She nursed on demand, slept when she was tired, etc. Everyone around us told us we needed to get her on a schedule but we never really did until recently and her current schedule is based more on when she usually gets tired. That might have something to do with why she's flexible.
We were the exact same way @TattoosandLace ! I remember when DD was around 7 months old, were we at a annual BBQ our friends had. About 6:30pm, it was like everyone with kids under the age of five disappeared, and I found out they all went home because their kids bedtime was 7pm. MH and I always said "our kid is coming into our life, not the other way around....." and kind of went off of the rule that as long as DD was happy, we would continue enjoying ourselves. If she was starting to get tired or cranky, then we would go...but we wouldn't go just because of the time. We did the same with nightly feedings, while my friends with babies the same age were waking them at night for feedings, I just waited for DD to wake on her own. Granted, we didn't have any weight problems with her, so we didn't really worry about the need to wake her. By 3-4 months, she was sleeping 12-13 hours a night and sometimes I wonder if that is because she didn't get into the habit of waking every few hours on a nightly feeding schedule.
It will be interesting to see how this baby differs from DD, since I know that some kids thrive on a strict schedule. It would be awesome if we could be as flexible with this baby as we were with DD, but it will have to be a wait and see type of thing.
I'm waiting until about 36 weeks to pack a hospital bag. I'll also have to pack DD an overnight bag. I packed way too much last time and realize now that almost everything I need is stuff that has to be packed at the last minute—clothes and toiletries. Even at 36 weeks, most of my "packing" this time will be writing a list of things to pack and putting the list in my hospital bag in case someone else had to help me pack.
So even though I am a STM, I was induced the first time around and never got to go through the whole oh-my-gosh-this-is-it moment. My question is to those STMs who worked up until they went into labor the old fashioned way:
How did you prepare/plan for going into labor when you still were working every day? I know we need to have the go-bag ready, but there are so many items that wouldn't be packed until the last minute and would still be at home. What if home is in the opposite direction of the hospital? Should I bring a change of clothes to work "just in case"? Should I plan on going home or stick around laboring at work to make sure it's really labor (I work in an office and not on my feet at all).
I know you can't plan everything, but I'd like to try to be as prepared as possible.
I work 25 minutes north of where we plan to deliver and my house is 10 minutes south of the hospital. So my husband and I have game planned this out. My plan is to have what I can packed around 36 weeks with a list of what else needs added and where it can be found. I'm going to keep an extra outfit with me or in the car towards the 36 week mark just in case my water were to break while out and about and I felt inclined to change. Honestly though, hospitals have just about everything you need for delivery (just make sure to have your insurance card in your wallet if that's not a normal thing you carry) if you have to go straight there without getting your bag.
People are always more than happy to help if your husband can't be the one to stop at the house, so just have a key hidden somewhere and someone can bring you all your stuff.
Also, most of my friends and myself, did quite a bit of laboring at home (Labor got consistent with contractions every 20 minutes at 11pm and I didn't need to go to the hospital until 330 am) before heading to the hospital. Your doctor will let you know at what point to head in. With my first it was when my contractions were 3-5 mins apart consistently for 30 minutes. So you very well may be able to get your bag yourself. Unless you have one of those crazy movie scenes rapid fire fast births
@LadyFleck My OB told me that the majority of women who go into labor, normally do so at night. I had been having contractions on and off for about 3 days and when I went to my very last check-up, my OB stripped my membranes and told me that I was already dilated a centimeter or two. I had an inkling that it would probably happen fairly soon. Regular contractions started around 8 pm so I hopped in the shower, grabbed my bags and off to the hospital we went. There was no rushing or stressing out. I timed my contractions until they were about 5 minutes apart and decided that I needed to be clean if this was it. I was sort of disappointed that it wasn't more exciting! That's just my experience, though. Everyone is different, of course, so if you feel that you need to bring your diaper bag and a change of clothes with you then go for it. Once the baby was born, husband was free to go home and grab any essentials that we needed, too.
@elenabrent don't forget to bring a baby hat to the pediatrician's office. Like a PP said, you'll be waiting with baby stripped down to a diaper. So have blanket and hat to keep the baby warm
We just used the one the hospital put on DD. I'm not sure if birth centers give those out or not, though.
@buttermybiscuit and @ldsjm123 Thanks for the advice! Thankfully, I have keyless entry to my house so all I'd need to do is shoot a text to my mom/sister with the code to let them in. I'll be sure to leave a copy of the packing list with the bag in case someone else has to finish the job for hubby and me. I'd LOVE it if I go into labor at night, except DH works overnight and has no access to a phone. I'd have to call his commanding officer, so I'd better be damned sure it's the real deal! Haha!
Okay I've got another for those cloth diapering- do you wash clothes and cloth diapers together? I've read mixed feedback on whether you can throw your baby's clothes in with the diapers after you do a cold pre-rinse. It makes sense to do it all together especially at the beginning when they're peeing/pooping/throwing up on multiple outfits a day. But will the clothes get gross?
Okay I've got another for those cloth diapering- do you wash clothes and cloth diapers together? I've read mixed feedback on whether you can throw your baby's clothes in with the diapers after you do a cold pre-rinse. It makes sense to do it all together especially at the beginning when they're peeing/pooping/throwing up on multiple outfits a day. But will the clothes get gross?
For me, I did diapers by themselves because I did more cycles with them so it didn't make sense to throw clothes in there that only needed one cycle.
Looking for advice about what I can expect in the first 3 months PP. I know that every situation and baby is different but I want to get somewhat of an idea. I will be on maternity leave for 12 weeks, so I'm expecting that could last from early July until mid/late October depending on when baby decides to arrive. DH and I love to travel and he is already itching to plan something for the summer and/or fall. We usually try to go to another city for a Patriots away game for a long weekend. I personally think it is a terrible idea to take a < 3 month old newborn to a loud football game. I'm not opposed to the idea of traveling in the first 3 months but I think we should leave ourselves as flexible as possible so if baby is colicky, has frequent feedings, nap times, etc, we can accommodate. I was thinking of a long weekend in Portland, ME or Portsmouth, NH (we live near Boston). Something about an hour or two drive.
Of course I could be the unreasonable one here since I've never done this before. Any ideas from BTDT moms? When did you take your first out of town trip and what kind of things were you able to do with a newborn? I figure once I go back to work I may not be able to get any time off for awhile, so I want to take advantage of maternity leave if I can.
edited: autocorrect
@sboston06 DD's first big trip was at 2 months old. I took two flights alone with her (both under 2 hours) and then my parents picked me up at the airport and we drove 2 hours to their house. DD slept the whole way. Then DH met me at my parent's house a week later and we drove 8 hours to his parents, and a week later drove 13 hours back to our house. The only hiccup at all was the last hour of our 13 hour drive, she cried most of the way and it was super stressful. Other than that she was fine. I sat in the back seat with her as it seemed to keep her calm to be able to see me, and she fell asleep more easily if I was holding her hand or rubbing her tummy. Plus it reassured me as I was neurotic and paranoid about her stopping breathing and us not noticing in time. The drives took longer than usual because we stopped every 2 hours or so to breastfeed, change diapers, and let her kick her legs for a bit.
I think it totally depends on your baby though - my nephew would not have done well on a trip like that, and neither would my BFF's daughter who hated the car. DD was/is really easy going and didn't cry much as a baby, so we were lucky.
If I was you I wouldn't book anything expensive/non-refundable until after you have the baby and feel our his/her temperament and personality, but just know it's definitely possible to do a bigger trip in the first 3 months with minimal stress!
What kind of clothes would you suggest for recovery? I can't afford to spend a lot but what we're your favorite things to wear? What was comfy?
@TM14 I got myself a couple of loose sweat pants that pulled up over my incision and wore those for the first week or so until the staples were out. After that I wore either sweats or maternity pants, because any pants that sat right over my incision were really uncomfortable and they rubbed. I know other people who preferred to wear dresses but I personally wanted pants to help keep the big pads in place and avoid leaks.
Okay I've got another for those cloth diapering- do you wash clothes and cloth diapers together? I've read mixed feedback on whether you can throw your baby's clothes in with the diapers after you do a cold pre-rinse. It makes sense to do it all together especially at the beginning when they're peeing/pooping/throwing up on multiple outfits a day. But will the clothes get gross?
For me, I did diapers by themselves because I did more cycles with them so it didn't make sense to throw clothes in there that only needed once cycle.
Same. I used different soap with my diapers than her clothes (only because I liked how her soap smelled), plus the diaper cycle was longer. Also, yes, I thought the clothes might get gross (but probably wouldn't).
Okay I've got another for those cloth diapering- do you wash clothes and cloth diapers together? I've read mixed feedback on whether you can throw your baby's clothes in with the diapers after you do a cold pre-rinse. It makes sense to do it all together especially at the beginning when they're peeing/pooping/throwing up on multiple outfits a day. But will the clothes get gross?
For me, I did diapers by themselves because I did more cycles with them so it didn't make sense to throw clothes in there that only needed once cycle.
Same. I used different soap with my diapers than her clothes (only because I liked how her soap smelled), plus the diaper cycle was longer. Also, yes, I thought the clothes might get gross (but probably wouldn't).
I forgot about the different detergent, too. Good point.
I thought of some "wish I had known" things yesterday while talking with a friend. So, I'm going to stick them here.
1. My feet never swelled during pregnancy. But, for a week after delivery, my right foot ballooned up. Totally normal. Who knew?
2. My vision was all messed up after delivery for a few days also. Trying to read the paperwork the hospital sent home was difficult. Reading print was very blurry. Also totally normal.
3. If you have a baby on the small side, the Gerber newborn size is awesome. Carter's newborn was too big for a couple weeks.
4. Vaseline on baby's bum at each diaper change is really going to help with an easy clean up - especially with the meconium.
5. Breastfeeding: Everyone will tell you that a good latch doesn't hurt. And that is true eventually. But for the first week or so, your nipples are probably going to hurt/bleed even with a good latch. No one told me that. I was so devastated for the first week and almost gave up. But, it does get better! Find a local breastfeeding support group. My first goal was to make it to a month, then to three months, then to six months. We ended up nursing until my son self weaned at 17 months. It was amazing. If you asked me that first week how long I was planning to nurse, I would have slapped you. It gets better. (Formula is awesome too.)
"The cleaning, the scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
I thought of some "wish I had known" things yesterday while talking with a friend. So, I'm going to stick them here.
1. My feet never swelled during pregnancy. But, for a week after delivery, my right foot ballooned up. Totally normal. Who knew?
2. My vision was all messed up after delivery for a few days also. Trying to read the paperwork the hospital sent home was difficult. Reading print was very blurry. Also totally normal.
3. If you have a baby on the small side, the Gerber newborn size is awesome. Carter's newborn was too big for a couple weeks.
4. Vaseline on baby's bum at each diaper change is really going to help with an easy clean up - especially with the meconium.
5. Breastfeeding: Everyone will tell you that a good latch doesn't hurt. And that is true eventually. But for the first week or so, your nipples are probably going to hurt/bleed even with a good latch. No one told me that. I was so devastated for the first week and almost gave up. But, it does get better! Find a local breastfeeding support group. My first goal was to make it to a month, then to three months, then to six months. We ended up nursing until my son self weaned at 17 months. It was amazing. If you asked me that first week how long I was planning to nurse, I would have slapped you. It gets better. (Formula is awesome too.)
Re: Number 1 - I've never heard of this being normal but I'm definitely no expert. Just an FYI - if you have swelling in only one leg/much worse in one leg, particularly if it's accompanied by pain, see your doctor ASAP because it could be a blood clot. Maybe it is normal, but not something to brush off without getting checked out.
Number 5 - I agree with you. Breastfeeding was harder than I anticipated, but once I got over the hump of the first few weeks it got so much better. Getting support is crucial, and knowing that it will get easier.
@DobbysSock Yikes, thanks for pointing that out. I had checked with the visiting nurse when she came and now that you mention it, she did ask if it was painful (it wasn't). Definitely don't want to encourage anyone to brush off concerns.
"The cleaning, the scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
Okay. I know I'm a STM, but I wasn't looking at going back to work after having DD1. What's a reasonable amount of time to expect to be down? We're looking at me going to work quickly if I get the position I applied for.
@tattoosandlace I would say minimum 8 weeks so you can heal properly and bond with baby. I went back to work at 13 weeks and only had the extra week because DD had RSV and wasn't approved for daycare yet. I was hysterical about going back to work (which I was not expecting). You might experience some emotions that you're not ready for (I don't think you worked after having your daughter...). However, YOU CAN DO IT.
@tattoosandlace I agree with @quartz02, 8 weeks should really be the very minimum. I went back to work at 6 weeks and I was a hot mess. Physically I was fine (I had a vaginal delivery and luckily I no longer had any more bleeding or anything) but mentally I didn't have it together. I feel like as soon as we were JUST STARTING to get the hang of BFing I had to go back to work. I didn't respond well to pumping and my supply immediately dropped. I managed to nurse/pump until DS was 5 months old, but I had to supplement with formula due to low supply. Plus I was still suffering from the baby blues and crying all the time (eventually it developed into PPD. . .I think partly this was due to me having to go back to work so soon). It takes about 3-4 months MINIMUM for you to fully adjust to having a new baby. I hate to beat a dead horse but, I really wish we had leave policies in this nation to support that.
Oh and another thing. . .I was thinking about having a real newborn photo shoot this time (with DS we did at the hospital. . .photos came out great but there just weren't as many shots as you would get from a private photographer I think). BUT, I was wondering, what the heck would I wear to something like that?? Since most newborn shoots are done when the baby is about a week old, I know I'm not going to fit into my pre-pregnancy outfits. Definitely wouldn't want to wear maternity clothes to something like that either. I guess I need to get on pinterest and actually see some examples. But any advice would be appreciated. Ugh. Not sure why I've chosen this to freak out about.
@rnyland1 The photographer we are using for our newborn shoot does boob(ish) up shots of moms. I looked at all of her work to get a feel of what poses she does and what clothes would look/work best. I was very thankful that she is mindful of a new moms body that early postpartum. For ours my husband will be in khaki shorts and a light blue gingham button down, our 9 year old daughter will be in a white (casual) dress, I'll be in a coral knee length maxi, and I am still deciding on my top. But something white I am guessing. Either a tank or simple tee. I have no issues still wearing a maternity shirt at that point if it feels and looks good. The "4th" trimester to me is all about what can make me feel good mentally, physically, and emotionally.
@LDSJM123 It's just hard to shop for new clothes right now. This is my second pregnancy so my maternity clothes are going to be fairly ratty by then. Maybe I'll pick up a flowy nursing top or dress so I can get at least some use out of it. Last time I definitely had an awkward transition period where I was between maternity and pre-pregnancy clothes and didn't want to buy too much new stuff.
I wore a black t shirt and leggings with a big flowy grey sweater. I was more of a backdrop to the baby in most of the photos, and the photographer stayed focused mainly on my face and upper body.
@Cosmic+Love I agree about the latch. For the first few weeks the latch was so painful, like worse then I would have imagined, but it got so much better as time went on. After the initial first two months of random issues and getting used to things, breastfeeding became second nature and I would just whip out the boob with no problems. I just want to encourage women who think its going to be hard based off the first month or two, that it DOES get much better!
I have this flows blue maternity shirt from motherhood that I love. I don't think I'll be able to wear it for much longer this pregnancy but I think it's going to be my friend post partum. I was planning on wearing that and a pair of black maternity leggings. Comfortable and casual without being frumpy or restricting is what I'm shooting for.
@rnyland1 I wore a black maternity shirt, but it wasn't meant to be fitted it was banded on the hips, so you could wear it not pregnant and it would just be a loose fitting top.
@cosmic+love I had heard so much that BFing will hurt in the beginning. Not to mention I have a high pain tolerance and am stubborn, so it took me like 5 weeks to realize DD had a terrible latch. The nurses at the hospital thought she looked good and all my research showed she looked good, but she would position her lips properly and then firmly clamp her gums down on the very tip of my nipple. I had cracked, bleeding nipples and blood blisters within 24 hours of her being born and I thought that was the normal BFing pain, especially considering she was gaining weight well. DH finally made me go to an lactation consultant because I would yelp every single time she latched on. She also had bad reflux and colic resulting in her never wanting to eat/me not knowing if she was hungry, along with several nursing strikes, but we made it a year BFing with all that.
@whataboutscience So glad that it worked out for you and big kudos to your proactive DH! Meeting with a LC was huge; we were lucky to have free access to one. She even helped us realize DS had a dairy intolerance and not colic. That was a game changer.
"The cleaning, the scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
I probably already mentioned this somewhere but I'd recommend anyone that plans on BFing to read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I'm not crunchy and I rolled my eyes at a few things in the book. But I also felt empowered and prepared for BF-ing.
I probably already mentioned this somewhere but I'd recommend anyone that plans on BFing to read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I'm not crunchy and I rolled my eyes at a few things in the book. But I also felt empowered and prepared for BF-ing.
@quartz02 I read it last time and still had a hard time in the beginning. I think it's great to know as much as you can, but seeing an LC is almost essential sometimes.
@quartz02 I read it last time and still had a hard time in the beginning. I think it's great to know as much as you can, but seeing an LC is almost essential sometimes.
Agreed. Hands on help from someone who can actually SEE your baby's latch and your positioning is invaluable. I took a breastfeeding class before DD was born but it's a whole different ballpark with the actual baby. I didn't see an actual Lactation Consultant but I did see a registered nurse and public health nurse both with training in breastfeeding, and they helped me figure out what was wrong with DD's latch and troubleshoot the problem. Her latch seemed fine to my untrained eye, and it was a very minor adjustment to fix it, so I doubt I would have figured it out myself
Postpartum girdles were mentioned on the weight loss after baby thread but I don't care about the weight loss side of them. Did anyone think they helped with, well whatever it is they are supposed to help with besides weight loss?
I've been reading up on the benefits of delayed baths for the LO and am considering delaying it 24 hours. My only concern is having the baby be "icky" for 24 hours. Had anyone done this?
Re: Ask a BTDT mom questions about birth/recovery/breastfeeding
It will be interesting to see how this baby differs from DD, since I know that some kids thrive on a strict schedule. It would be awesome if we could be as flexible with this baby as we were with DD, but it will have to be a wait and see type of thing.
So even though I am a STM, I was induced the first time around and never got to go through the whole oh-my-gosh-this-is-it moment. My question is to those STMs who worked up until they went into labor the old fashioned way:
How did you prepare/plan for going into labor when you still were working every day? I know we need to have the go-bag ready, but there are so many items that wouldn't be packed until the last minute and would still be at home. What if home is in the opposite direction of the hospital? Should I bring a change of clothes to work "just in case"? Should I plan on going home or stick around laboring at work to make sure it's really labor (I work in an office and not on my feet at all).
I know you can't plan everything, but I'd like to try to be as prepared as possible.
I work 25 minutes north of where we plan to deliver and my house is 10 minutes south of the hospital. So my husband and I have game planned this out. My plan is to have what I can packed around 36 weeks with a list of what else needs added and where it can be found. I'm going to keep an extra outfit with me or in the car towards the 36 week mark just in case my water were to break while out and about and I felt inclined to change. Honestly though, hospitals have just about everything you need for delivery (just make sure to have your insurance card in your wallet if that's not a normal thing you carry) if you have to go straight there without getting your bag.
People are always more than happy to help if your husband can't be the one to stop at the house, so just have a key hidden somewhere and someone can bring you all your stuff.
Also, most of my friends and myself, did quite a bit of laboring at home (Labor got consistent with contractions every 20 minutes at 11pm and I didn't need to go to the hospital until 330 am) before heading to the hospital. Your doctor will let you know at what point to head in. With my first it was when my contractions were 3-5 mins apart consistently for 30 minutes. So you very well may be able to get your bag yourself. Unless you have one of those crazy movie scenes rapid fire fast births
edited: added extra stuff.
July BMB May Signature Challenge
@elenabrent don't forget to bring a baby hat to the pediatrician's office. Like a PP said, you'll be waiting with baby stripped down to a diaper. So have blanket and hat to keep the baby warm
We just used the one the hospital put on DD. I'm not sure if birth centers give those out or not, though.
July BMB May Signature Challenge
What kind of clothes would you suggest for recovery? I can't afford to spend a lot but what we're your favorite things to wear? What was comfy?
I think it totally depends on your baby though - my nephew would not have done well on a trip like that, and neither would my BFF's daughter who hated the car. DD was/is really easy going and didn't cry much as a baby, so we were lucky.
If I was you I wouldn't book anything expensive/non-refundable until after you have the baby and feel our his/her temperament and personality, but just know it's definitely possible to do a bigger trip in the first 3 months with minimal stress!
July BMB May Signature Challenge
I thought of some "wish I had known" things yesterday while talking with a friend. So, I'm going to stick them here.
1. My feet never swelled during pregnancy. But, for a week after delivery, my right foot ballooned up. Totally normal. Who knew?
2. My vision was all messed up after delivery for a few days also. Trying to read the paperwork the hospital sent home was difficult. Reading print was very blurry. Also totally normal.
3. If you have a baby on the small side, the Gerber newborn size is awesome. Carter's newborn was too big for a couple weeks.
4. Vaseline on baby's bum at each diaper change is really going to help with an easy clean up - especially with the meconium.
5. Breastfeeding: Everyone will tell you that a good latch doesn't hurt. And that is true eventually. But for the first week or so, your nipples are probably going to hurt/bleed even with a good latch. No one told me that. I was so devastated for the first week and almost gave up. But, it does get better! Find a local breastfeeding support group. My first goal was to make it to a month, then to three months, then to six months. We ended up nursing until my son self weaned at 17 months. It was amazing. If you asked me that first week how long I was planning to nurse, I would have slapped you. It gets better. (Formula is awesome too.)
Re: Number 1 - I've never heard of this being normal but I'm definitely no expert. Just an FYI - if you have swelling in only one leg/much worse in one leg, particularly if it's accompanied by pain, see your doctor ASAP because it could be a blood clot. Maybe it is normal, but not something to brush off without getting checked out.
Number 5 - I agree with you. Breastfeeding was harder than I anticipated, but once I got over the hump of the first few weeks it got so much better. Getting support is crucial, and knowing that it will get easier.
July BMB May Signature Challenge
@LDSJM123 It's just hard to shop for new clothes right now. This is my second pregnancy so my maternity clothes are going to be fairly ratty by then. Maybe I'll pick up a flowy nursing top or dress so I can get at least some use out of it. Last time I definitely had an awkward transition period where I was between maternity and pre-pregnancy clothes and didn't want to buy too much new stuff.
@cosmic+love I had heard so much that BFing will hurt in the beginning. Not to mention I have a high pain tolerance and am stubborn, so it took me like 5 weeks to realize DD had a terrible latch. The nurses at the hospital thought she looked good and all my research showed she looked good, but she would position her lips properly and then firmly clamp her gums down on the very tip of my nipple. I had cracked, bleeding nipples and blood blisters within 24 hours of her being born and I thought that was the normal BFing pain, especially considering she was gaining weight well. DH finally made me go to an lactation consultant because I would yelp every single time she latched on. She also had bad reflux and colic resulting in her never wanting to eat/me not knowing if she was hungry, along with several nursing strikes, but we made it a year BFing with all that.
Married: October 2014
TTC #1 since September 2015
Agreed. Hands on help from someone who can actually SEE your baby's latch and your positioning is invaluable. I took a breastfeeding class before DD was born but it's a whole different ballpark with the actual baby. I didn't see an actual Lactation Consultant but I did see a registered nurse and public health nurse both with training in breastfeeding, and they helped me figure out what was wrong with DD's latch and troubleshoot the problem. Her latch seemed fine to my untrained eye, and it was a very minor adjustment to fix it, so I doubt I would have figured it out myself