Postpartum Mammas's topics - tribe.net

the incredible beef out baby

2008-05-13T22:34:26Z

i just took little darla to her 2 month appt (she is 2 months old TODAY!) and she gained 2lbs in less than a month. i'm in shock! she's still long (24") and lean (9lbs) but HOT DAMN! my baby is growin'!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

reallllllly sore nipples (x-post)

2008-05-13T22:05:49Z

hi moms, do any of you get really sore nipples right before your period, and then when bf-ing, it feels really uncomfortable like you just wish they would stop?? i am 15 months pp, and still nursing......and man, its been tough these last few months....trying not to be too discouraged and to remember that "this too shall pass," but its sure making me feel like its time to wean, cause man, it hurts!!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

hi ladies! sick babe!

2008-05-13T22:03:34Z

hi all

missing you all.

stuck under todler one hand typing (again!)

she's sick, maybe bladder? gotta go to doc. any home remedies?

love

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

Portland Tribe Picnic

2008-05-13T20:47:02Z

Hi Ladies!

I'm thinking of arranging a picnic for Tribe mamas in Portland. Of course if you don't live here, and are coming up for some reason (ahem... LOLA) that would be awesome too. It would be open to all of us, it would just be located in Portland.

Memorial weekend would be cool because of the above mentioned mamma being in town, but I realize that alot of people try to take off for that glorious three day weekend, so maybe June?

Think of it, blankets, food, babies and US!!

Any takers?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 14 replies

Before I was a Mom...

2008-05-13T18:26:33Z

I got this in an email from my mom. Thought I would share with my fellow mammas.
Happy Mother's Day, Ladies!!!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down..
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

East Bay this Sunday

2008-05-13T18:23:30Z

For anyone else who was all geared up for the SF Bay area meet-up this Sunday, want to do a small meet-up in the East Bay? I'm thinking a park, maybe by Lake Merritt, or Tumble & Tea if the weather's not so good.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 1 reply

bay area mamas meetup -- let's choose a date!

2008-05-13T14:56:53Z

i thought i'd start a new thread so everyone can chime in on the dates that work best for them. i guess we'll have to see what date the most mamas can make it to and go from there.

the two that stuck out in the last thread were:

saturday, may 16th

AND

saturday, may 30th

for those mamas that would be interested in a meetup, please respond as to whether both are okay or if it would have to be one or the other for you to join us.

wahoo!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 38 replies

Crazy Crawly Climby Sleeper!

2008-05-13T03:35:02Z

Ok,

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who's gone through this - I nurse PK to sleep. She's been tired when I put her to bed, but she's been ridiculously crazy as of late. She wiggles and climbs over me, she stands up (!) and bends down to nurse, she flips, and twists and keeps latched the whole time. I *know* she's tired, but she does this and it almost seems like it's involuntary thing, and she totally cannot get to sleep when she's in this state.

So, can anyone offer some advice (please!) or can at least tell me that I or my little one is not crazy?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 4 replies

so frustrated

2008-05-13T00:47:25Z

and i know this is going to sound lame to you mamas who are holding onto way more excess weight, but i have been working SO HARD to drop those last few pounds and i have nothing to show for it. i literally work out 2 hours or more a day (i take the kiddos for a 60-90 minute walk along the ocean path which is very hilly in our area) and at night i go to the gym and work out there for an hour keeping my heart rate at 150 or higher for pretty much the entire time.

since i'm nursing i am eating my 3 square a day but definitely minding my portion sizes and what i put into my body in general. i used to partake of cocktail hour each day as a way to decompress, but i have been foregoing that as well since alcohol (especially beer which is a fave) is so full of empty calories.

so yeah, i've been doing this for weeks and while i really do enjoy the workouts for the endorphin rush and head clearing effects, it really is frustrating to see no change in my figure. it seems like if i'm burning so many calories through exercise on top of breastfeeding a newborn i should be seeing SOMETHING. and not compare, but last time i did NOTHING post partum and the pregnancy weight simply fell off within 4-6 weeks.

i'll be 6 weeks pp on thursday and i have an appointment with my midwife. what i'm wondering is if it could be a thyroid problem as others have mentioned in other threads. i do have a family history of thyroid problems -- my mom had to get hers removed and takes medication. would i be exhibiting other symptoms if that was the problem?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 22 replies

Do you make fun baby or new mom items?

2008-05-12T19:51:15Z

Well I know a few of you mamas do! Here's an opportunity for you. A friend of mine co- created a shopping site for new moms called Chicks-n- Chickens. It's really cute and I'm sure they are interested in new and creative items. Please contact her by email and say you were referred by Thea. Jennifer's email is jennifer@chicks-n-chickens.com. FYI they are located in the SF Bay Area.

ALSO: check out "Lullaby Excercises" their new mom and baby workout video!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

speaking of birth control pills...

2008-05-12T17:07:50Z

(this is probably a question for lizzer, our resident bc expert, but in case anyone else down the line needs the info i thought i'd post to all)

i'm taking the mini-pill and i accidentally forgot to take it one day. i doubled up the next day but i'm not sure if this was the right thing to do. since i did that i would assume that it's not safe to engage in any activity w/o using a backup method for a while. is that right? and if so, for how long?

AND

what is the proper thing to do when you miss a dose of the mini-pill?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

goodnight...

2008-05-12T01:52:59Z

Hi mama's

How do you put your baby to bed at night? What's been working for us isn't working as well and I'm not sure what to do. Now that babe is getting older and heavier (6months), it's harder to pat him to sleep over my shoulder. Plus whenever I start to pat his back, he arches his back and stiffens up. We do have a bath and nursing bedtime routine and i'm looking for other ideas.

thanks.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

bike trailer / stroller

2008-05-11T23:13:16Z

I swear I saw it here...but after searching through this tribe I can't find it. We want to get a two-seater bike trailer that converts to a stroller - any recommendations? Does anyone have one that they love? Hate? Where did you find yours?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

Insecticide and breast feeding question

2008-05-11T23:08:39Z

So, this is probably me being REALLY paranoid, but...

This morning, when I sat down at my desk, I smelled insecticide. Like someone had sprayed with Raid. I wasn't sure where they had sprayed, but I almost felt like I was going to get high off of it. I've had to use alot of Raid before in my life when I lived in a Roach Motel, 'er, I mean an apartment. :P

So, I emailed/called facilities, asking them if they'd actually sprayed insecticide in my part of the building. And my co-worker kindly turned the fan on in the huge room we shared (it's divided up into cubicles), and I propped the door open.

I promptly decided to pump and dump, and only give my son formula tonight.

Facilities called me back to let me know they just had gotten back to their desk, and would have to check on if anything was sprayed on Tuesday.

So, the late night feeding and the morning feeding will both be formula.

I don't know if it was a scheduled spraying, or if maybe the cleaning people saw a column of ants on my desk and "did me a favor" by spraying. Don't know if it's on my desk itself, where I rest my arms. So, don't know if maybe I absorbed any on my skin or just inhaled the leftover fumes. :P

Or I could just be smelling things that aren't there.

So the actual question: if I never get a sure negative answer, or if I get a positive answer on the insecticide, how long should I pump and dump before I start breast feeding again?

Personal messages preferred... I'm horribly behind on reading Tribe.

BTW, doing a google search for insecticide exposure and breast feeding did NOT help me. Except now I know that babies can get malaria from breast milk, and that it's recommended in malarial places to have a mesh sprayed with insecticide protecting your children at night. Uhm, I think... I didn't read too closely on those items. Not in a place with Malaria. May eventually have West Nile over here, but that's probably it.

Thanks for responding to my paranoid post. :)

Oh, how ironic... I think I just got a mosquito bite on my shoulder while typing this, LOL!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 7 replies

happy mamma's day!

2008-05-11T19:20:24Z

... to the amazing mothers of this tribe.

thank you for being there for me as we raise our daughter in this crazy world.

((((((((((love))))))))))))

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 9 replies

If i were birth control pills

2008-05-09T20:24:46Z

where would i be?

That is the Question i posed last night at 11pm on my blog, a friend mentioned that i should join her here in the PPM tribe, and this was a typical post. So here i am being lazy, copying and pasting my whining.

----

i just got a 4 month refill on Friday, did not need them until last night, could not find them then, and can not find them now.

My partner got cut, so that is not what i am worrying about. i have auto-immune issues that flare everytime i have a cycle, which equates to significant joint pain and weakness. This also makes my work day, picking up the baby, trying to exercise; all unpleasant.

i never know how long it will last. if i can just find the stupid bcp's, i can put it off for a few more months. now is a bad time.
My joints already hurt, i have been taking a super low dose of plaquinil, so it is not really working. It is not a good thing to take if you are nursing. We have tapered way down on nursing though, so thats why i gave myself permission to take the low dose. Like i said though, it does not seem to be making a difference.

i know that this is not helping me find them. i just feel like i have looked everywhere 5 times already, to include the kitchen floor, cabinets, baby toy box, spare bedroom, dining room chairs.

Everyone else is in bed and i am feeling pretty defeated. i don't want to go to bed and fixate about how i can't find them, and wonder how bad i am going to hurt tomorrow, and next week.....

i should try and get some sleep, didn't get but a few hours mon and tues, secondary to teething, stuffed up nose, unable to breath baby... only able to sleep when being held upright.. we have given in to medicate her, so i have a few hours window i could sleep.

ack.

i even went out to my car in my bathrobe and bare feet and cleaned out it looking for the stupid baggie that holds my Rx. no luck, but cleaner car.

Put away some dishes, in case they were hidden underneath a pot or pan.

Wonder if they ended up in the recycling.

Will have to check that tomorrow. it will be too late to stop the inevitable then.

just feelin pouty now, vs the crazy anxiety when i started.

feelin the need to cry, pms is already setting in.

pathetically annoying

.. i went on another round of searching after i logged off.

bookshelves, entryway shoe rack, upsstairs bathroom medicine cabinet, drawers, and cupboards. Then downstairs bathroom medicine cabinet, drawers, and cupboards. All for the 3rd or 4th time. They were in the downstairs bathroom under "my" sink, in the cupboard. With the TP and cleaning supplies.

My search patern was all wrong. If you have ever been to costco for an Rx, don't they always give you a white bag? It has always been a white bag that they staple closed with the receipt. Well this was a little brown bag...

it was good to find. A combination of relief and feeling like an idiot.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

date night? (couple activities?)

2008-05-09T17:06:33Z

hi ladies!

well, my partner and i have committed to doing more "date nights." thanks to our new mom's group babysitting circle, i think we'll have some coming up regularly, maybe even biweekly!

so, what d'ya do besides go for a movie? we have also gone for frozen yogurt and walk. i'm especially interested in anything that could help me get exercise and be talking friendly.

duracel pointed out this great spa:
http://www.zensprings.com/
it's great, but a bit pricey for us to do frequently.

and on a tuesday night, co-ed night, i think we'll go here:
http://www.kabukisprings.com/content/2/
i went for the first time recently and LOVED it. hope co-ed night isn't too "meat markety."

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

SF Mamas trust Dr. Lande to care for their pregnant bodies & newborns

2008-05-07T05:52:57Z

Dr. Lande, DC** utilizes his expertise in Chiropractic & Craniosacral Technique to address the whole newborn in issues related to:
*Breastfeeding
*Sleeping
*Digestion
*Crawling
*Vaccines (adverse effect of)
*Birth trauma

A large part of Dr. Michael Lande's private practices is focused on improving the health of Pregnant Women, Infants and children.
The father of two girls born at home he is personally drawn to educating pregnant mothers to trust and take care of their bodies.

SEE HIS WONDERFUL YELP REVIEWS http://www.yelp.com/biz/inner-mission-chiropractic-san-francisco

Inner Mission Chiropractic* Dr. Michael Lande *3331 17th St. S.F.* 415.252.9338

**DC: Doctor of Chiropractic. Chiropractors are licensed physicians with expertise in neurology, anatomy and physiology. To learn more about Chiropractic care during the Childbearing years www.icpa4kids.org

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

waterproof mattress pad?

2008-05-06T23:57:13Z

i'm looking for a Queen sized non-toxic (i know some materials are better than others) waterproof mattress pad..... any recomendations?

our little one sleeps next to me and a few times a week he pees out of his diaper and leaks all over our bed and me : )
since he is just a little baby now it's not such a big deal but i can imagine as he grows the pool of pee will too...

please help me i don't want a water bed....even if my 8lbs baby is doing his best to make it one...

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 5 replies

Intro and a question :-)

2008-05-06T17:46:41Z

Hi all!!
I'm glad to be eligible finally to be part of this tribe ;-). Logan Michael was born on his due date of 2/2 at 11:11PM :-). The birth definitely didn't go as planned...but that shows me for planning! :-)

Anyway, I have a question regarding postpartum bleeding. My first week of bleeding was pretty heavy. During the second week, it started taporing off...and then one day during that second week, I had a HUGE gush that scared the crap out of me. We went to the hospital and they did an exam and ultrasound and basically found nothing. So they sent me home with methergine. While I was on the methergine, the bleeding completely stopped. Then 1 day after the medication was done, the bleeding came back...but only for about an hour. Then it was gone for 3 more days...and it's been back ever since (for about a week now). But it comes back lightly for most of the day...by night its gone again.

So my question is...IS THIS NORMAL? I have no idea what to expect and the midwives couldn't really tell me what was going on either. I'm just dying for this bleeding to stop so that I can start exercising again and not worry about having another pseudo-hemorraging attack.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 17 replies

Intense PMS

2008-05-06T11:36:46Z

Ever since the red tide has returned I have been having extremely emotional, intense pms. I never really had it before but now I get frustrated easily, overwhelmed, cry on a whim and am just plain ole' angry for no good reason. Help! I have some sage tincture that helps some but it is not enough. Combined with Anaya feeling frustrated over not being able to communicate as well as she would like it has been hard the past couple of days.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

Transition from crib to toddler bed?

2008-05-06T00:10:49Z

Hey ladies,

Just wondering when most people transistioned their baby from crib to a toddler bed?

-thanks for any input

Squirrel

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 1 reply

baby and daddy

2008-05-04T03:38:21Z

Dear Moms,

Two weeks ago a started a much needed group therapy/women's group, leaving my four month old with his dad from 5:45-8:15 PM on Tues PM.
Ronan usually never refuses the bottle from his dad and is usually not fussy when I leave during other hours of the day for an ocassional massage, dental appoint, etc.
The two evenings I have gone out, Ronan has cried for an hour or more without stop. Hubbie has tried all the tricks-baby refuses bottle, resists pthe pacifier, and cries and cries with increasing vigor. He eventually stops and gets a glassy eyed stare for a while unjtil I get home to nurse him.

Any ideas on how I can make a change for the two of them in this trying time? Should I just take baby to therapy? Should I call it off?
I'm not sure hubbie will be willing to try it again....but just in case you have any ideas..

Thanks,
Jade Moon

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

Hey Jude!!!!

2008-05-04T02:22:51Z

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29222505

kid cuteness.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

Morning nap times

2008-05-04T02:19:35Z

Hey Mamas, I am trying to put together a Mommy and Me sensory play and art group for infants and toddlers at my home on Thursday mornings. I was thinking about doing it at 10:00am but another mother pointed out to me that many kids have their morning nap around then. So now I am trying to figure out when most moms put their infants and toddlers down to nap. I would love it if you could share your nap times with me. Maybe it will help me figure out when is a good time to do this thing.
My son has only taken one nap after lunch (around 12:30) since he was about 8 months old but I don't think that is the norm.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 14 replies

Too funny

2008-05-03T23:46:34Z

Ewan thinks pulling the tabs on his diapers is hilarious. Now and then he whips off his diaper and runs around the house naked. A few minutes ago he did that and then peed on the floor and the bean bag where the cat was sleeping (the cat was not happy) and then yelled "No!"
LOL! I don't know if shouting that meant he was reprimanding the cat for sleeping in his chair or letting me know that he knows pee doesn't go on the floor!

He then went and got a towel and tried to help clean up! Man that kid cracks me up!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

OMFG!

2008-05-03T06:12:43Z

Thank GOD Im not Indian....could YOU imagine?

http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1532911139

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 9 replies

help

2008-05-01T12:02:52Z

i posted about this in the bf'ing tribe so sorry for the x-post but i am desperate and it's too late in the day for me to call the doc's office.

my allergies have started totally kicking my ass -- swollen, scratchy throat and super itchy eyes so far.... i really want to take something but i don't know what is safe while nursing. i definitely don't want to fuck with my milk supply. all i've been able to find in the archives on the bf'ing tribe is homeopathic stuff and i am looking for something more readily available as there is one health food store down here and it doesn't have much.

anyone know of any OTC allergy remedies that are safe while bf'ing?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 12 replies

LA/IE/OC mamas!

2008-05-01T01:58:23Z

PM me your email and I'll send you an evite to PK's first birthday.. It will be at Cabrillo Beach on May 18th, so bring your swimsuits!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 4 replies

Mwahahah

2008-04-30T21:48:49Z

ah, i love my sister (she passed this along)

http://colitz.com/site/3216423/3216423.htm

Sooooo- anyone ready to plan their next pregnancy? Take a moment and read the 2nd paragraph about civilized versus primitive women

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 7 replies

Oh dear. It's starting already.

2008-04-30T16:45:24Z

My husband taught Max how to say Star Wars.

:)

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 6 replies

calling all caesarean mommas!

2008-04-30T12:02:11Z

my sister delivered her twins ( william & nina ) by emergency cesarean last wednesday at 34 weeks. the babies & momma are doing very well, considering the circumstances. she's been discharged, but as you can imagine is necessary, the babies are still in the NICU, doing well and gaining strides everyday.

did any particular website, book or bit of advice from someone who had been there before you help you post-belly birth, whether it was a planned or unplanned event? i don't want my baby sister to struggle too much with the trauma that sometimes is felt after such a dramatic and abrupt end to an otherwise healthy pregnancy.

thanks, in advance ...

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

SLEEPING SAFELY WITH YOUR BABY by Dr. Sears

2008-04-30T02:15:52Z

SLEEPING SAFELY WITH YOUR BABY by Dr. Sears

There has been a lot of media lately claiming that sleeping with your baby in an adult bed is unsafe and can result in accidental smothering of an infant. One popular research study came out in 1999 from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that showed 515 cases of accidental infant deaths occurred in an adult bed over an 8-year period between 1990 and 1997. That's about 65 deaths per year. These deaths were not classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), where the cause of death is undetermined. There were actual causes that were verified upon review of the scene and autopsy. Such causes included accidental smothering by an adult, getting trapped between the mattress and headboard or other furniture, and suffocation on a soft waterbed mattress.

The conclusion that the researchers drew from this study was that sleeping with an infant in an adult bed is dangerous and should never be done. This sounds like a reasonable conclusion, until you consider the epidemic of SIDS as a whole. During the 8-year period of this study, about 34,000 total cases of SIDS occurred in the U.S. (around 4250 per year). If 65 cases of non-SIDS accidental death occurred each year in a bed, and about 4250 cases of actual SIDS occurred overall each year, then the number of accidental deaths in an adult bed is only 1.5% of the total cases of SIDS.

There are two pieces of critical data that are missing that would allow us to determine the risk of SIDS or any cause of death in a bed versus a crib.

How many cases of actual SIDS occur in an adult bed versus in a crib?

How many babies sleep with their parents in the U.S., and how many sleep in cribs?

The data on the first question is available, but has anyone examined it? In fact, one independent researcher examined the CPSC's data and came to the opposite conclusion than did the CPSC - this data supports the conclusion that sleeping with your baby is actually SAFER than not sleeping with your baby (see Mothering Magazine Sept/Oct 2002). As for the second question, many people may think that very few babies sleep with their parents, but we shouldn't be too quick to assume this. The number of parents that bring their babies into their bed at 4 am is probably quite high. Some studies have shown that over half of parents bring their baby into bed with them at least part of the night. And the number that sleep with their infants the whole night is probably considerable as well. In fact, in most countries around the world sleeping with your baby is the norm, not the exception. And what is the incidence of SIDS in these countries? During the 1990s, in Japan the rate was only one tenth of the U.S. rate, and in Hong Kong, it was only 3% of the U.S. rate. These are just two examples. Some countries do have a higher rate of SIDS, depending on how SIDS is defined.

Until a legitimate survey is done to determine how many babies sleep with their parents, and this is factored into the rate of SIDS in a bed versus a crib, it is unwarranted to state that sleeping in a crib is safer than a bed.

If the incidence of SIDS is dramatically higher in crib versus a parent's bed, and because the cases of accidental smothering and entrapment are only 1.5% of the total SIDS cases, then sleeping with a baby in your bed would be far safer than putting baby in a crib.

The answer is not to tell parents they shouldn't sleep with their baby, but rather to educate them on how to sleep with their infants safely.

Now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association are launching a campaign based on research data from 1999, 2000, and 2001. During these three years, there have been 180 cases of non-SIDS accidental deaths occurring in an adult bed. Again, that's around 60 per year, similar to statistics from 1990 to 1997. How many total cases of SIDS have occurred during these 3 years? Around 2600 per year. This decline from the previous decade is thought to be due to the "back to sleep" campaign - educating parents to place their babies on their back to sleep. So looking at the past three years, the number of non-SIDS accidental deaths is only 2% of the total cases of SIDS.

A conflict of interest? Who is behind this new national campaign to warn parents not to sleep with their babies? In addition to the USCPSC, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is co-sponsoring this campaign. The JPMA? An association of crib manufacturers. This is a huge conflict of interest. Actually, this campaign is exactly in the interest of the JPMA.

What does the research say? The September/October 2002 issue of Mothering Magazine presents research done throughout the whole world on the issue of safe sleep. Numerous studies are presented by experts of excellent reputation. And what is the magazine's conclusion based on all this research? That not only is sleeping with your baby safe, but it is actually much safer than having your baby sleep in a crib. Research shows that infants who sleep in a crib are twice as likely to suffer a sleep related fatality (including SIDS) than infants who sleep in bed with their parents.

Education on safe sleep. I do support the USCPSC's efforts to research sleep safety and to decrease the incidence of SIDS, but I feel they should go about it differently. Instead of launching a national campaign to discourage parents from sleeping with their infants, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission should educate parents on how to sleep safely with their infants if they choose to do so.

Here are some ways to educate parents on how to sleep safely with their baby:

Use Co-Sleeper Bassinet

Take precautions to prevent baby from rolling out of bed, even though it is unlikely when baby is sleeping next to mother. Like heat-seeking missiles, babies automatically gravitate toward a warm body. Yet, to be safe, place baby between mother and a guardrail or push the mattress flush against the wall and position baby between mother and the wall. Guardrails enclosed with plastic mesh are safer than those with slats, which can entrap baby's limbs or head. Be sure the guardrail is flush against the mattress so there is no crevice that baby could sink into.

Place baby adjacent to mother, rather than between mother and father. Mothers we have interviewed on the subject of sharing sleep feel they are so physically and mentally aware of their baby's presence even while sleeping, that it's extremely unlikely they would roll over onto their baby. Some fathers, on the other hand, may not enjoy the same sensitivity of baby's presence while asleep; so it is possible they might roll over on or throw out an arm onto baby. After a few months of sleep-sharing, most dads seem to develop a keen awareness of their baby's presence.

Place baby to sleep on his back.

Use a large bed, preferably a queen-size or king-size. A king-size bed may wind up being your most useful piece of "baby furniture." If you only have a cozy double bed, use the money that you would ordinarily spend on a fancy crib and other less necessary baby furniture and treat yourselves to a safe and comfortable king-size bed.

Some parents and babies sleep better if baby is still in touching and hearing distance, but not in the same bed. For them, a bedside co-sleeper is a safe option.

Here are some things to avoid:

Do not sleep with your baby if:

You are under the influence of any drug (such as alcohol or tranquilizing medications) that diminishes your sensitivity to your baby's presence. If you are drunk or drugged, these chemicals lessen your arousability from sleep.

You are extremely obese. Obesity itself may cause sleep apnea in the mother, in addition to the smothering danger of pendulous breasts and large fat rolls.

You are exhausted from sleep deprivation. This lessens your awareness of your baby and your arousability from sleep.

You are breastfeeding a baby on a cushiony surface, such as a waterbed or couch. An exhausted mother could fall asleep breastfeeding and roll over on the baby.

You are the child's baby-sitter. A baby-sitter's awareness and arousability is unlikely to be as acute as a mother's.

Don't allow older siblings to sleep with a baby under nine months. Sleeping children do not have the same awareness of tiny babies as do parents, and too small or too crowded a bed space is an unsafe sleeping arrangement for a tiny baby.

Don't fall asleep with baby on a couch. Baby may get wedged between the back of the couch and the larger person's body, or baby's head may become buried in cushion crevices or soft cushions.

Do not sleep with baby on a free-floating, wavy waterbed or similar "sinky" surface in which baby could suffocate.

Don't overheat or overbundle baby. Be particularly aware of overbundling if baby is sleeping with a parent. Other warm bodies are an added heat source.

Don't wear lingerie with string ties longer than eight inches. Ditto for dangling jewelry. Baby may get caught in these entrapments.
Avoid pungent hair sprays, deodorants, and perfumes. Not only will these camouflage the natural maternal smells that baby is used to and attracted to, but foreign odors may irritate and clog baby's tiny nasal passages. Reserve these enticements for sleeping alone with your spouse.

Parents should use common sense when sharing sleep. Anything that could cause you to sleep more soundly than usual or that alters your sleep patterns can affect your baby's safety. Nearly all the highly suspected (but seldom proven) cases of fatal "overlying" I could find in the literature could have been avoided if parents had observed common sense sleeping practices.

The bottom line is that many parents share sleep with their babies. It can be done safely if the proper precautions are observed. The question shouldn't be "is it safe to sleep with my baby?", but rather "how can I sleep with my baby safely." The data on the incidence of SIDS in a bed versus a crib must be examined before the medical community can make a judgment on sleep safety in a bed.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

moll-nah

2008-04-29T22:33:24Z

We have two syllables! Our dog Molly has been "Mah" for forever, but after spending an afternoon with grandpa, Cam now calls her "moll-nah". :) And then this morning suddenly he says breakfast: "beck-tass" too cute!

What new things are your little ones up to?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

sleepytime help

2008-04-29T22:09:16Z

i am in need of some sleepytime advice/ help. my daughter is almost 15 months. she is breastfed and we co-sleep. her nursing has slowed down a little bit during the daytime, but not much. at night she wakes to nurse every 2 hrs., sometimes less. she is teething right now so for the past couple of weeks it has been much more frequent, like every 30min-1 hr.. she has never slept for more than 2.5 hrs at a time. we have always had the same bedtime routine... dinner, play, read books, bath time, nurse, sleep.. over the past few months she has become gradually more difficult to get to sleep. nursing is no longer making her go to sleep, and if boobie wont do it, the only other way to get her to go to sleep is to put on reggae and dance/ rock her to sleep, which is quite tiring and time consuming. at nap time it is the same thing--no longer falling asleep with boobie, hard to get to sleep any other way. sometimes we'll lay down and nurse for a while, and kaya will be just about asleep, then her eyes will pop open, she jumps up running, yelling, "bye-bye mama!" as she's blowing me kisses trying to book it out of the room...
how and when do babies learn to self-soothe?
how can i help her to learn to self-soothe?
is it possible to help her sleep longer at night? (i am so sleep deprived!!)
how do your toddlers fall asleep (bed and nap)/ how long do they stay asleep?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 17 replies

childproof yard

2008-04-29T18:59:49Z

hi....wondering if any of you have had to fence in your yard yourself, for your lil one. and if so, what did you use? i just bought a roll of picket fence and when i went to set it up....well, lets just say that my cat could knock it down if he wanted to....so wondering what some of you expert moms (or your men) have done to make a sturdy barrier around your yard.

ps i cant have something too high because the lawnmower man has to be able to get over it (or through it) to mow the lawn.

pps im looking for a way to do it that is both inexpensive and doable. im doin it myself. rrrawwwwwr!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

night sweats

2008-04-27T16:43:11Z

anyone have them PP?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 6 replies

Recall and Product Safety Blog

2008-04-26T03:53:11Z

It's called Safe Mama, and It contains safety information on all sorts of products, and has a few nice handy cheat sheets on cosmetics, bottles, sippys, and pacis. It's makes for an easy read, and works as a very handy reference.

http://safemama.com/

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

sooo tired....

2008-04-25T10:17:52Z

I had a meltdown at work today.....I bursted into tears in my bosses office....I was just so tired, frustrated....I took my code test for my promotion and I failed MISERABLY..only got 3 right out of 30...luckily, I have one more shot on Saturday. then the lock on my locker wouldn't open until my lunch hour was half over, so I was pissed I couldn't get any paperwork done I wanted to or eat anything...plus I hadn't eaten anything substantial in about 34 hours......when I got home, I played with JJ for a while, watched about 10 minutes of a movie my hubby downloaded for me, and I CRASHED!!!! that was at about 7....just woke up about an hour ago to JJ telling me he needed a new diaper and he was hungry. OH, I have to share this. He fell asleep about 30 minutes before I did, and from what I could tell, didn't wake up either until an hour ago!!!! He's had it rough too....with his shots, and he was pretty fussy all day yesterday and today....I think he just wanted his mommy...I wanted him too...
OH, and I missed the new episode of Grey's Anatomy.....I guess I'll have to watch it online later....
anywho, I'm still tired, so I'm gonna go curl up with the hubby.
goodnight ladies..

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

go!go!go! bayareamamas, take 2

2008-04-24T21:07:12Z

hi all!

i mentioned in another thread that i'd love to have a bay area moms get together sometime.

i'd love to meet you all in person.

maybe we can meet at some place like pris pris cafe or tumble and tea...?

here are some possible dates:
may 17 or 18
may 31 or june 1

anyone else available or wanna make this happen?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 23 replies

Natursutten?

2008-04-24T20:25:48Z

Has anyone tried these new enviro-friendly pacifiers? What did you think? Did you scald them every day like you're supposed to?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

wanted:

2008-04-24T19:43:35Z

some of you might have read this in the jan/feb issue of mothering magazine. i think of it from time to time, and wanted to share it with you moms cause i think its so right on....

"would you sign up for this job?"

"WANTED: men and women volunteers. no experience necessary. no predictable schedule. situation often out of control. long hours. unpaid. no training. no praise. will be expected to work to an incredibly high standard with little support. everyone else will think they know how to do your job better than you, yet you will be the only one blamed if something happens. a totally improvisational position."

your answer is probably, "HELL NO!" mine was when i first read this. most of us would probably respond this way if we just read this ad somewhere. but being a parent, we make huge sacrifices, and we experience firsthand, the joy that comes with all of the hard work. the article is a great one, and it ends with this.....

"you may feel unequal to the task of being a mother. in realizing your lack of experience, you may feel that you dont know what to do. but you dont have to know. in fact, the world reinvents itself with each new mother and child. being a parent is one of those things, like making love, that doesnt have to be taught. you learn it from the experience itself."

"whether youre smart, pretty, witty, or have no idea at all what youre doing, you are the one in charge. you are the expert witness. would you volunteer for this job?"

"WANTED: men and women volunteers. develop the mental and emotional capacity of an entire generation. potential to inexorably affect the quality of life on the planet. potential to improve the environment, ensure world peace, eliminate nuclear war. job is like no other yet will prepare you for anything. may hasten enlightenment. value of job is beyond money; payment is made in memories, self-esteem, personal transformation. individuals are handpicked for the position."

the author says, "this is the job of being a parent. this is the job i signed up for. i know you did, too."

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

Camping with your little one?

2008-04-24T05:06:00Z

Ok, so we went camping with PK for the first time this weekend - and found that having a extra large tent with happy baby safe stuff in it (including clothes, bedding, etc.) was very handy.

Anybody else have any other camping suggestions? I'd love to hear what everyone else experiences are, since we're planning on doing more camping this summer!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 17 replies

therapists/psychiatrists

2008-04-24T04:19:47Z

i'd like to have a discussion with you all about whether or not, if you're a mama, it makes a difference if you see a practitioner who also has kids.

i have a feeling that it does, based on two visits with a psychologist now and one with a psychiatrist. the first admitted to not having kids, and the second said she would not answer the question because she thought it shouldn't matter. i apologized for asking, but a friend said it was a perfectly fine question to ask someone, considering that i was seeing her bc of issues with kids. (not sure what's right here?)

it has showed up in just a couple comments made by the psychologist ("oh wow, i didn't realize how many little decisions went into a mom's every moment") and in a general lack of warmth on the part of the psychiatrist when i was late due to runny poop/car seat issues. (haha). given, that comment by the psychologist that i listed could just have been her trying to validate my experience and make me feel better about my stress...?

i fear i'm just an overly critical person, who isn't satisfied easily, and i'm just finding some reason to rationalize why i left feeling unsatisfied... and saying that makes me think i have too much of a guilt complex and that i am perfectly justified in my response.

ieeee!

other ideas on this topic?

i have asked for a second opinion/reference for a new psychiatrist, as an aside. not sure if i'll try to go to a different therapist, as the one i've seen seems fine. i don't have a negative reaction to her as i did to the psychiatrist today. more neutral. she can at least keep up with me! (fast talker/processer, too)

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

do not read while you're eating your breakfast : post-stomach virus food suggestions?

2008-04-23T13:13:41Z

abigail is just recovering from a four day (!!!) bout with some nasties in her tummy .. projectile vomiting & liquidy breastmilk diapers for three days+ included. blechblechblech.

today could be her first day of substantial food intake. i was thinking oatmeal, apple slices, toast, cucumbers, avocado, banana ... water, tea, breastmilk.

anything else that's worked for your kids post bellyache?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 8 replies

i love nap time...

2008-04-23T05:38:03Z

yep, thats all.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

For Mamas also in the AP Tribe

2008-04-23T04:37:41Z

I just want to let you know that Alex has posted there and made a comment that might ruffle some feathers. I wanted to warn you so we might be able to find a way to keep the peace. This is what I sent to him in a pm, I didn't want to do it in the forum itself, I highly recommend doing the same if you feel the need to comment on his comment. Hopefully he will get the message. Here is what I wrote:

Alex,
It sounds like you have a lot of great things to say. I am happy for you to found a tribe that you can be in peacefully, let's keep it that way by excluding such comments as "I say this with a slight sore experience over this sort of attitude in other baby-related tribes--I won't mention names)." They only serve to ruffle feathers and distance people. Many of the women that felt uncomfortable with you in PPM Tribe are also in AP Tribe. So in the interest of my friends, you and myself, please let's move on and not bring up past events unnecessarily.
Thank you,
Hilary

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 1 reply

rainy day baby shoes

2008-04-22T22:28:17Z

she's walking...and it's raining...
uh..hm...
has anyone found some good rainy/ all weather shoes??

she's a big outdoor explorer and none of her current shoes totally do it...

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 6 replies

Lactation Specialist - Yay!

2008-04-22T21:46:12Z

I just found out that I made it into a Lactation Specialist class in June. I am super excited, and think it will be a great resource for my patients.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 4 replies

diaper rash and monistat

2008-04-22T01:12:40Z

so it seems to me Jake has a yeasty diaper rash. i was wondering...

do you think i could use some monistat or something like that on him?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 7 replies

6 week checkup

2008-04-22T00:02:55Z

JJ got his shots today, and we found out he's 10lbs and 21 1/2 lnches long!!! Afterwards we went to Sears and got took some pictures. :-) I added some of them on my profile.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

yo pdx bitches!

2008-04-21T20:18:06Z

i'm *this* close to talking paul into taking a family road trip to portland over memorial day weekend.

please tell me you'll be around for the long weekend and interested in hanging -- and recommending places to stay!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

pediatrician, kaiser oakland

2008-04-21T18:37:28Z

anyone out there know of a good oakland pediatrician? i'm not happy with mine, as she is not sympathetic in the least to natural medicine approaches.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 0 replies

Don't you lick that socket!

2008-04-21T18:00:10Z

So Rocco is crawling. And of course he goes after anything terribly dangerous. I have everything baby proofed. Except for power cords. I can't seem to find I way to hide them from him!! I tuck them under shelves. Disquise them under throw pillows. But he finds them!!! And they can't be removed. We have a home business, and one area is the cords for the computer and fax.

Any suggestions? I was looking around for some sort of container or something I could put them in but that had holes for the wires to poke out of. Does anyone know if something like this exists?

I try to distract him with toys or "dangerous" kitchen tupperware and pans. But he knows what he wants!

His other but less dangerous favorite is tearing up paper. And he knows where the book shelf is now!! :(

Thanks! Katie

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

sunscreen?

2008-04-21T15:59:44Z

Anyone know the deal?
At what age is it safe? (and what kind?)
or do you just really limit sun exposure with your little one?

Amelie is one now...so I'm wondering if it's ok to put some on her...
cause then she could run around and play longer!

any thoughts?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

issues with formula

2008-04-21T15:57:36Z

my milk supply dried up after I unwisely went on depo...I think some of you told me to be cautious too...bah. anyway, JJ started on Enfamil Lipil but was spiting up and was really fussy so we went on the Gentlease but within about 2 weeks he began spitting that up even MORE than the regular stuff and was almost colicky...we thought he may be lactose intolerant, so my hubby called the pedi while I was at work today and talked to one of the nurses. She said to try him on a soy based formula...he had his 1st bottle at about 8, and he burped like a champ and fell asleep. hehehe
I just HOPE this works out. His next check up is on monday, so we're gonna talk to the doctor on monday about it...
wish me luck!!! If he can't handle the soy I don't know what we're gonna do!!! :-/

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

bad doctors

2008-04-20T18:18:33Z

I've been partly holding my doctor responsible for the fact that I didn't know about JJ's condition in utero. I should've been given ultrasounds, and she should have checked him more thoroughly than just external poke checks...She was so mad that my fluids were low because it's proof that she wasn't doing her job, and her license and her husbands license could've been forfeit. I've been bragging about JJ to my regulars at work as all moms do with friends. Many of them have had experiences very similar to my own with my doctor. If I knew that, I would've gone somewhere else. From what I've heard, I'm very lucky they're backup performed the c section, because my OB has horrible bedside manner. I didn't know that, because I've only had 2 appointments with him, the rest have been with his wife, the CNM. I'm trying not to think about the fact that JJ wouldn't be here right now if we didn't have that accident, and I wasn't forced to go to the hospital to be checked. My husband's mom passed away about a month after JJ was born....we could've had 2 funerals....I can't think about that, because here. It just makes me really mad when those thoughts do enter my mind.
Needless to say, I'm getting a new doctor.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

PP troubles

2008-04-20T14:23:05Z

I was wondering if any of you had any one that I can go to for help. I am 5 months PP and recently started to experience awful symptoms of dizziness, god-damned sweating and feeling hot almost constantly, nausea, headaches, debilitating depression, confusion, weakness, anger fits.

I cannot go on like this and I feel so helpless. The only answer is stop breastfeeding and go on powerful medications. This is something I don't want to do. Right now, I can't be a whole mother and my DF is very worried about me and is considering checking me in somewhere. I literally cannot function. Anyone know where i can turn for help. thank you

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 9 replies

go!go!go!, bay area mommas!

2008-04-20T14:19:29Z

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89750298&ft=1&f=1001

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 2 replies

Stepping back

2008-04-18T03:13:11Z

Hello ladies.

It has come to my attention that I am spending too much time on the internet and I need to step back from Tribe for a while. I thank you all for your love and support, and hope we can all meet in person some day. I'm not deleting my account, and I'll check in occasionally if you want to stay in touch.

love to the mama and the babies,

and blessings to all,

Fin

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

sage advice on potty training needed from experienced mamas

2008-04-18T00:45:26Z

in addition to all the other excitement over here lately, cookie is TOTALLY ready to use the potty. she's been telling me when she is wet and is pooping but i can't seem to get her to tell me BEFORE she is going. i've been putting her on the potty anyway even after she has gone, and telling her that if she tells me before she has to go, she can go in the potty like a big girl...

will she eventually understand that she should tell me before she needs to go or do i need to do something differently?

many many thanks in advance. i can't WAIT to only have one kid in diapers!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 9 replies

When Vomit Attacks

2008-04-16T19:16:08Z

Every day since this past Saturday, Max has vomited once per day. He has no fever, and other than a slight cough, seems completely well. He acts like his normal happy-go-lucky self before and immediately after the vomiting. Has this happened to anyone else? He's eating and drinking his normal stuff and amounts. I haven't called his doctor yet.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 6 replies

poop finger

2008-04-16T02:56:54Z

yeah, gross. Apparently poopy diaper = stick your fingers down in there and get those hands covered in poo, then smear it all over, including your face and *gag* mouth. I swear, he's getting two to four baths a day because of this, which is irritating his skin condition. *groan* Any ideas on how to make him stop? I've tried keeping him in onesies so he can't stick his hands down his pants, but he's outgrown just about all of them, and his jammies are t-shirts and pants. I've even had the discussion with my husband to be extra careful that *he* isn't doing the classic guy thing and setting a bad example. It's not like it's going to fall off, you don't have to hang on to it. Seriously.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

Sign Language for babies.

2008-04-15T19:02:19Z

My friend at work told me about his 18 month old using sign language quite well about a few months back. I really listened and hoped I could teach Caidy whern the time was right. I started in the moment I got home. I continually motioned "hungry" when I was feeding her or when she had become fussy and I knew it was probably feeding time. This week we saw our first sign, literally. With the cutest little infant lips she started motioning liek she was chewing and stuffing her hands to her mouth. Ok, her translation was a bit string but I was so over joyed. Now it is a regular thing for her. I went to work and told my friend and he said "wow, that's a bit early". And he wasn't the first to say so. How can it be early? Caidy is no prodigy. I told him it may seem early to him because his son was taught in preschool and Caidy of course is too young for that. I reminded him that maybe people don't usually start so soon?

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

Baby orajel

2008-04-15T00:15:37Z

A friend of mine passed her tube of orajel down to me when she deemed "It didn't work well for us". I tried it one evening last week. I opened the tube, placed the lid down on my ottoman and proceeded to swab as prescribed. The next day I noticed that the lid bleached a round circle on my leather ottoman. What the heck is in that junk and OH MY GOD I PUT THAT IN MY BABIES MOUTH!!!!!!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 18 replies

Baby in NICU for a few days.

2008-04-15T00:11:13Z

My baby was born early and had a partially collapsed Lung, so she has to stay in the NICU for about 5 days total...so hopefully she will come home tomorrow or Monday.

I just feel SO SAD. I want her home right now and am having such a hard time. I am there for most feedings during the day and my milk has come in and she is nursing great. I decided tonight to come home and rest because I am SO TIRED...but I will pump all night and take in my milk for them to give her tomorrow night if necessary. But, that means tonight they will have to give her some formula. I am feeling scared that she won't want to breastfeed after. But, my husband thinks that since she has been doing so well on the breast during the day that she will be fine once we are home.

GAH. I just wish she could come home now. They are taking so long to discharge her. She is so much better. I am very hopeful she will come home tomorrow or Monday.

Okay, I am starting to ramble. I am going to go pump again and get some sleep so I can see her in the morning.

Her name is Georgia Ruth. :) And she is AMAZING.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 18 replies

postpartum belt?

2008-04-14T23:27:06Z

are they beneficial in any way? has anyone used them? if you did use one how long per day did you have it on?

http://www.amazon.com/Post-Partum-Support-Belt-Maternity/dp/B0002UE3OM

this is what i'm talking about....

thanks!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 7 replies

Wahoo!

2008-04-14T15:02:44Z

It's official - I have a toddler! Cam finally decided to start walking yesterday (at 16 months) and now there's no slowing him down! I'm such a proud mama...He's also just going through a major growth spurt, where suddenly none of his clothes fit anymore, and his face has even changed - I swear he grew up in the last three days. Tonight he enjoyed playing in the dirt and gravel by my parent's patio while we played games after dinner - he's such a little boy! And then his priceless impression of my sister doing Dane Cook's bit on kids hopped up on the "Q" (quik) truly hilarious!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 4 replies

she's back

2008-04-13T21:40:01Z

well in two weeks it would have been two years.....

but anyway, my period is back. and i am actually happy about it. looking forward to the monthly ritual, and to my body chemistry evening back out again. oh, and i hope the pigment on my face will disappear now......

two years w/o a period was amazing....but i welcome it back nonetheless.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 12 replies

study links sleep to weight gain in babies & toddlers

2008-04-12T16:41:23Z

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89457935&ft=1&f=1001

NPR, Morning Edition, April 8, 2008 · A new study found that infants and toddlers who slept less than 12 hours a day were more than twice as likely to be overweight by age 3, further evidence that how much we sleep affects how much we weigh.

Researchers from Harvard University interviewed moms and weighed 915 babies — beginning at birth and then again at 6 months and 3 years of age.

"Infants and toddlers who slept less than 12 hours a day were twice as likely to become overweight at age 3 than children who slept longer than that," says Pediatrician Elsie Taveras, who led the study.

"Longer" meant about 13 to 14 hours of sleep a day. Other studies have produced similar findings with school-age children and adolescents. They found that the longer they slept, the less likely they were to be overweight. Taveras acknowledges that may seem counterintuitive.

"When we started looking into this relationship, we actually thought the same thing you just mentioned: We thought it would be the opposite — that children who sleep more weren't as physically active, and maybe that would be one way in which they would be overweight," she says.

Instead, Taveras says, it seems that a healthy night's sleep produces the right amount of appetite hormones. That's evident from research done with adults.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 10 replies

how much is too much...MIL

2008-04-12T04:05:12Z

what if you had a friend who was really rude...?
ok, now what if it was your MIL.
I feel stuck.
She's really seriously rude...and it's escalating!
She sulked and made rude comments the entire weekend she was in town (and through out Amelies birthday party)
because she didn't get things 'her way'. She demands things constantly...the woman has never heard of ASKING.
She came last minute w/out asking and demanded to stay in our house all week, for example...
(which didn't happen to her great upset /we had no room because we're moving thank god...
but in any case...my point is she demands things constantly...)

We won't leave her alone with my daughter, the woman doesn't pay attention.
(and did I mention she drinks A LOT and often...yeesh)
She even picks Amelie up when she doesn't want to be picked up and tries to kiss her...
(I gently rescue her each time saying "she's not too eeling cuddly" and take her and put her down)

She brings plastic toys and videos to us that we've already told her we don't want more of...
When I, as politely as I can, say..."Thank you...amelie doesn't watch TV at this point, we'll save it for her"
she replies "I raised MY kids with TV and these kind of toys, are you saying my kids are stupid?"
I could go on and on about this woman..

My husband has confronted her twice about her behavior (many more things than I've listed)
and she sort of listens and then says "I'm too old to change...where did you learn to be so intollerant"
Shit.
I feel for her that she's causing her own suffering...
but if this keeps going we'll only be willing to see her in public places.
(to which she'll freak out about anyway)
then if she's rude or aggressive I can pack my child the hell up and GO.

thanks for listening to my rant... *few*!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

autism & the placenta

2008-04-11T23:32:56Z

wow...i went down the rabbit hole for a while ... and it just never ends. links to links to links ... my head hurts but i am still paying attention.

<< ...the group designed a study to see if the placental abnormality, specifically the presence of trophoblast inclusions, was a marker for ASD. The multidisciplinary team of Yale researchers compared placentas from 13 children with ASD to those from 61 unaffected children for the presence of trophoblast inclusions.

They found that the placentas from ASD children were three times more likely to have the inclusions. Kliman and the team identified trophoblast inclusions by performing microscopic examinations of placental tissues. >>

http://autism.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=autism&cdn=health&tm=92&gps=254_946_1276_523&f=00&su=p726.4.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.yale.edu/opa/newsr/06-06-26-01.all.html

<< ...What we think is happening is, the brain is a complex folded tissue. Whatever is abnormal in the placenta is likely what's abnormal in the brain. Something is wrong with the way the brain is folded -- and we may see the same thing in both the placenta and the brain."

The Yale study is just a start, and additional studies will be required to confirm its findings. >>

http://autism.about.com/od/causesofautism/a/placenta.htm

hmm.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 4 replies

going back to work...

2008-04-11T23:01:56Z

I start back at work tomorrow and I am not looking forward to it AT ALL. I already miss JJ...I've been having my DH take him more and more to get him used to caring for JJ and to get me used to being away from him....I feel like I'm abandoning him....he's only 7 weeks....he needs his MOMMY! Please tell me this is normal, and every new mom goes through this....For the first time since I had him I'm really upset....it doesn't help matters that I HATE the job I'm returning to.... :-(

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 11 replies

how would you approach this?

2008-04-11T18:16:52Z

when we are out in public, sometimes solomon throws tantrums when he wants to walk, but i pick him up, or he wants to carry something but i need to put it back. when it's just the two of us, i hold him until the storm passes, always keeping a calm demeanor. i don't look around to see if people are staring because, quite honestly, i don't care. i'm sure there are a sprinkling of sympathetic strangers as well as some who might be muttering to themselves that someone ought to raise my kid better. whatever. the issue i'm having difficulty approaching is dh's habit of explaining ourselves to passersby. like, "when he gets like this, you just gotta hold on to him" or something of the like. i don't feel it's necessary to let strangers in on how we deal with the toddlerisms. how can i ask him, without sounding like i'm trying to control him, to not do this? it embarasses me & makes me feel like i need to apologize to people for something that is so normal.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

Starting dairy.

2008-04-11T18:05:08Z

What are the rules about starting dairy? I have a 8 month old. I know I shouldn't start him on cow's milk until 1 yr, but what about yougurt and some of the soft cheeses? What did you start your baby on when it comes to dairy? Thanks.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 3 replies

AF returning and feeling like CRAP

2008-04-11T18:03:12Z

I had my beautiful LO in November and yes, I got AF 6 weeks pp. It was a very light period as I thought it was still part of the PP bleeding. I have had a period every month on time since then. I noticed some of the periods might have been anovulatory because I had the worst PMS symptoms Now, I am 8 days late, going on CD40? What is going on, is this normal? I feel like TOTAL CRAP! I am dizzy, have heart palps, extreme anxiety, confusion, hot all the freaking time! I went to my OB last month and she ran some basic thyroid tests and while my thyroid appears within normal lab values, it was showing a bit hyperthyroid. I don't know if this is the case, but is is normal to skip or be this delayed during PP period? I HATE the way I feel!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 1 reply

Code Adam

2008-04-11T18:00:50Z

While this *story* may not be true...the alert is a real thing. I have seen "CODE ADAM" on several store entrances. Just thought Id pass it on.

Forwarded from a Sam's Club employee . . .

Wanted to share something that happened today while shopping at
Sam's Club. A mother was leaning over looking for meat and turned around
to find her 4 yr. old daughter was missing. I was standing there right
beside her, and she was calling her daughter with no luck.

I asked a man who worked at Sam's to announce it over the loud
speaker for Katie. He did, and let me say he immediately walked right past
me when I asked and went to a pole where there was a phone. He made an
announcement for all the doors and gates to be locked, a code something.

So they locked all the doors at once. This took all of 3
minutes
after I asked the guy to do this. They found the little girl 5 minutes
later in a bathroom stall. Her head was half shaved, and she was dressed
in her underwear with a bag of clothes, a razor, and wig sitting on the
floor beside her to make her look
different.

Whoever this person was, took the little girl, brought her into
the bathroom, shaved half her head, and undressed her in a matter of less
than 10 minutes. This makes me shake to no end. Please keep a close eye
on your kids when in big places where it's easy for you to get separated.

It only took a few minutes to do all of that-another 5
minutes and
she would have been out the door. I am still in shock that some sick
person could do this, let alone in a matter of minutes. The days are over
when our little ones could run rampant all over the place and nothing
would happen to them.

The little girl is fine. Thank God for fast workers who didn't
take any chances.

BE SURE TO FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE, SO THEY KNOW JUST HOW
SICK PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE!!! (This happened at the Sam's
Wholesale Club in Omaha, Nebraska.)

This message has been added to the story above:

I received this e-mail from one of my friends today. Let me
first
tell you that I work at the Sam's club in Lincoln, NE. The code that was
spoken of is called a 'Code Adam'. It is named after John Walsh's (host
of Americas Most Wanted) son Adam who was kidnapped and murdered many
years ago. It is used in all Sam's Clubs, Wal-marts, and Wal-mart super
centers to locate lost children.

This is how it works. If by some means you have been separated
with your child tell the nearest employee! The employee will page a 'Code
Adam' (missing child in the store) over the intercom system followed by a
description of the child (height, weight, hair color, age, name etc).

When that page goes out all the exits are immediately guarded,
and/or locked in some cases, also every employee will stop whatever they
are doing no matter what it is and help look for the missing child. This
will continue until the child is found.

If the child is not found within a reasonable time then the
police
are notified and the store will conduct an isle by isle search. So if ever
you are separated from your child now you know what to do.

Missing children pictures hang by the exits of all Wal-mart and
Sam's Club stores, please take a few minutes to look these over as you
leave, you just might have seen one of the children on them and you might
be the one to give their parents hope and give the police a new lead in
finding them.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Rudy Magee Sam's Club #6413

Even if you do not have little kids, pass this one on to
everyone
you can think of. You never know who you might save by sending this email!

Please take the time and forward this to any friend who has
children & grandchildren!

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 9 replies

inspiration for our Tribe

2008-04-11T02:21:45Z

lord,
thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful life, family and friends.
thank you for giving me the strength to wake up everyday to nourish and nurture my family with food and love

lord,
Id like to thank you for this wonderful group of women I have bonded with over the years and the ones I will come to bond with in the future.
Id like to ask you to shine some light upon this Tribe as it seems we have hit a bump with our recent dilema.

thank you.

amen.

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 14 replies

bad birth control....bad

2008-04-11T00:09:19Z

I went on depo 3 weeks ago and have been bleeding non stop since. I called my doctor today and he suggested I go on the pill instead. So he gave me Loestrin 23. We'll see how it goes. :-)

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 16 replies

Baby Food Warnings

2008-04-10T23:07:15Z

No this isn't about the content in the jars. This isn't about FDA reports. I hope this post will lead to Mothers/Daddies reporting about those jar foods that your children hate/d.

No one told me that every kid in my life (meaning all of my girlfriends children) hated butternut squash. No one warned me. No one even hinted what was to come.

I bought it. I don't even know it it was Gerber, Natures Best, Beech Nut, or... I gave it to baby Caidy and she gagged. Then she gagged again, and then the projectile vomitting followed. It was neevr ending. Her eyes were bulging with fright the whole time, and Momma was overwhelmed. I started screaming for Daddy.

The friends...

laughed at me.

So please, ladies..fellas if your there.... share the word. Tell other postpartum new mothers all about the nastys lurking on the shelves in wee little baby jars.

All I can say is... Tread softly when you try to spoon a goop of butternut squash to your little one. Have a bucket ready just in case.

Most Momma's thus far have said their wee ones loved Sweet Potatoes

posted in Postpartum Mammas - 13 replies

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