January Chit Chat - Page 6 « Back to Group Discussions

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I'm so sorry, Katie. Hugs.
Ash, dd1 and dd2's dad is 6'5 also. Dd1 is 9.5 and is close to 5 ft tall. She also wears a woman's size 6.5 shoe! My husband is 5'9 and my stepdaughter is only 5'1. She's full grown. So we are going to have some very different sized kids! I expect dd1 to be 6' tall like her grandma.

 Ive been wondering about DD1.  She seems to be on the shorter side, I'm thinking she will be about like your stepdaughter at 5'1".  Neither of us have tall husbands, lol.

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

I'm so sorry, Katie. Hugs.
Ash, dd1 and dd2's dad is 6'5 also. Dd1 is 9.5 and is close to 5 ft tall. She also wears a woman's size 6.5 shoe! My husband is 5'9 and my stepdaughter is only 5'1. She's full grown. So we are going to have some very different sized kids! I expect dd1 to be 6' tall like her grandma.

 Ive been wondering about DD1.  She seems to be on the shorter side, I'm thinking she will be about like your stepdaughter at 5'1".  Neither of us have tall husbands, lol.

Yep! Ha! Also, I love Bill Murray.

[IwannaBanRN]

I'm so sorry, Katie. It's never easy to lose an animal. My mom will have to put another family dog to sleep soon. She isn't doing well.

[Abraisme]

It's really lovely..  Question though..  Your tattoo artist will tattoo you while you're breastfeeding?  Many reputable places that I've talked to don't want to tattoo a women while she's breastfeeding because of the risk of infection.  I did get a tattoo when my DS was 2.5yo, but I had to refrain from telling the artist that he still nursed..
 

Originally Posted by IwannaBanRN 

I'm getting my kids' birth flowers tattooed on me on Saturday. Here's the sketch my artist did.

Just weighed my ds and he weighs 51lbs fully clothed.  He's on the very small side, but his bio dad is 6'1, I'm 5'7 and we have a lot of other tall people in our family.  I expect him to grow at some point.  He'll probably be small until high school and then shoot up.

Originally Posted by seraf 

Your 8 year old is 50?  I couldn't toss mine far, but I used to be able. I move adults around a lot so I'm way stronger than I look. No, I USED TO BE way stronger. Now I feel like I'm so week. 

[birdhappy85]

My DH has been out of town since Monday morning and is returning on Friday night. I'm halfway through this time alone with the baby and have handled it well thus far but I'm beyond exhausted now tonight and am screaming inside for alone time! I've literally been holding or wearing the baby since 5:00am this morning with the exception of a few hours when she was asleep in her swing. I've probably bounced her on the exercise ball at least 10 different times today to make her happy. I took her out this afternoon on a very successful walk in the Baby K'tan (yay!) but now I'm so dead it's not even funny. I texted DH for moral support. Sora is sitting in her swing crying right now. Night times SUCK. I hate night times with the baby; she is so fussy and that's when I'm most tired. I used to so look forward to the evening, kicking back and relaxing. Now every.single.night I'm counting down the minutes until 10:00 when she'll go to bed. I want to pass out and my back is killing me. UGH!!!!! DH is going to have a lot of work to do when he gets back to make up for leaving me alone with her all week with zero help. 

Vent over. I need a hug.

[TalkToMeNow]

Hugs, Joanie. I sort of know how you feel. I have Jasper alone five days out of the week. It helps to try to adjust your perspective. For example, J usually doesn't go to sleep until 10 pm either. Being my third baby, I know this will pass so I am okay with that. I know it will be so quick and he will be big and sleeping at 7 or 8. So thinking like that helps.

Also, I totally changed what I do in the evenings. I used to try to fit him into my schedule, meaning I'd try to stay downstairs in the living room and watch tv, etc. This resulted in a very fussy baby. I'd have to wear him, walk around, bounce, etc. Finally, I just gave up. Now, when he starts to get tired and fussy, I go to the bedroom. The lights are dim and we are in a calm place that he associates with sleep. The difference is amazing. He will just sit and relax. He will lie on the bed and gaze around. No crying! When he starts to fuss, it usually means he's really ready to sleep. And since he isn't overstimulated, it's much easier to get him down at that point. A lot of times, I fold laundry/ do dishes/ make lunches after 10.

Again, with perspective: I relax more during his morning nap then I do at night. I try to stretch that nap out so I can read and drink my coffee. It's like I switched my day around.

Of course, all that said and it might not work for you. And I'm guessing you want to spend time with your dh in the evening rather than sitting in bed with Sora. But my advice might help on occasion!

[LunaLady]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

Hugs, Joanie. I sort of know how you feel. I have Jasper alone five days out of the week. It helps to try to adjust your perspective. For example, J usually doesn't go to sleep until 10 pm either. Being my third baby, I know this will pass so I am okay with that. I know it will be so quick and he will be big and sleeping at 7 or 8. So thinking like that helps.
Also, I totally changed what I do in the evenings. I used to try to fit him into my schedule, meaning I'd try to stay downstairs in the living room and watch tv, etc. This resulted in a very fussy baby. I'd have to wear him, walk around, bounce, etc. Finally, I just gave up. Now, when he starts to get tired and fussy, I go to the bedroom. The lights are dim and we are in a calm place that he associates with sleep. The difference is amazing. He will just sit and relax. He will lie on the bed and gaze around. No crying! When he starts to fuss, it usually means he's really ready to sleep. And since he isn't overstimulated, it's much easier to get him down at that point. A lot of times, I fold laundry/ do dishes/ make lunches after 10.
Again, with perspective: I relax more during his morning nap then I do at night. I try to stretch that nap out so I can read and drink my coffee. It's like I switched my day around.
Of course, all that said and it might not work for you. And I'm guessing you want to spend time with your dh in the evening rather than sitting in bed with Sora. But my advice might help on occasion!

I have to do a similar thing. When Rhyko starts to fuss in the evening (sometime between 8-10pm) I just have to go to bed with him. He needs to nurse himself to sleep, so we snuggle up in bed and nurse side-line. Once he's asleep (sleep nursing) I can read or surf the net on my phone, just something quiet until I'm ready to fall asleep. 

Same goes for his three naps a day. I am enjoying all the sleep (making up for those weeks where I got seriously NONE) and we get lots of cuddles and comfort nursing in! And I'm not having to physically hold him, so my back doesn't hurt. 

Although I know every baby is different, so what works for us might not work for you!

Hugs, Joanie!

[Abraisme]

I totally know what you mean.  Only Coralie doesn't fall asleep for the night until 11:30!  Talk about uhg..  I've tried taking her into my bedroom earlier, but she just ends up grunting, fussing and wanting to nurse non-stop until 11:30.  I decided that I'd rather just stay awake and watch tv (while bouncing of course) than lay in bed waiting for 11:30.  I was on my own for a few days last week and I just found out that my DH is going to be gone for 6 days next week.  I literally get no break (between the baby and my toddler), but like Amanda said, it's all about perspective.  It just is what I have to do, my DH doesn't want to go, so we're both doing things that suck.  I'll spend more time at my friends houses, watch some TV that only I like and push on through.  ::hugs::

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

My DH has been out of town since Monday morning and is returning on Friday night. I'm halfway through this time alone with the baby and have handled it well thus far but I'm beyond exhausted now tonight and am screaming inside for alone time! I've literally been holding or wearing the baby since 5:00am this morning with the exception of a few hours when she was asleep in her swing. I've probably bounced her on the exercise ball at least 10 different times today to make her happy. I took her out this afternoon on a very successful walk in the Baby K'tan (yay!) but now I'm so dead it's not even funny. I texted DH for moral support. Sora is sitting in her swing crying right now. Night times SUCK. I hate night times with the baby; she is so fussy and that's when I'm most tired. I used to so look forward to the evening, kicking back and relaxing. Now every.single.night I'm counting down the minutes until 10:00 when she'll go to bed. I want to pass out and my back is killing me. UGH!!!!! DH is going to have a lot of work to do when he gets back to make up for leaving me alone with her all week with zero help. 

Vent over. I need a hug.

[IwannaBanRN]

Originally Posted by Abraisme 

It's really lovely..  Question though..  Your tattoo artist will tattoo you while you're breastfeeding?  Many reputable places that I've talked to don't want to tattoo a women while she's breastfeeding because of the risk of infection.  I did get a tattoo when my DS was 2.5yo, but I had to refrain from telling the artist that he still nursed..
 

http://www.llli.org/faq/tattoos.html

Is it safe to get a tattoo while breastfeeding?

Tattoos are created by injecting ink into the dermal (second and third) layer of the skin. Tattooists use a hand-held electric machine that is fitted with solid needles coated in the ink. The needles enter the skin hundreds of times a minute to a depth of up to a few millimeters. The ink that is used in tattoos in the United States is subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics, but none are approved for injection under the skin. However, the ink molecules are too large to pass into breastmilk.

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by TalkToMeNow 

Hugs, Joanie. I sort of know how you feel. I have Jasper alone five days out of the week. It helps to try to adjust your perspective. For example, J usually doesn't go to sleep until 10 pm either. Being my third baby, I know this will pass so I am okay with that. I know it will be so quick and he will be big and sleeping at 7 or 8. So thinking like that helps.
Also, I totally changed what I do in the evenings. I used to try to fit him into my schedule, meaning I'd try to stay downstairs in the living room and watch tv, etc. This resulted in a very fussy baby. I'd have to wear him, walk around, bounce, etc. Finally, I just gave up. Now, when he starts to get tired and fussy, I go to the bedroom. The lights are dim and we are in a calm place that he associates with sleep. The difference is amazing. He will just sit and relax. He will lie on the bed and gaze around. No crying! When he starts to fuss, it usually means he's really ready to sleep. And since he isn't overstimulated, it's much easier to get him down at that point. A lot of times, I fold laundry/ do dishes/ make lunches after 10.
Again, with perspective: I relax more during his morning nap then I do at night. I try to stretch that nap out so I can read and drink my coffee. It's like I switched my day around.
Of course, all that said and it might not work for you. And I'm guessing you want to spend time with your dh in the evening rather than sitting in bed with Sora. But my advice might help on occasion!

This works for me too.  My older DS wouldn't go to sleep until nearly midnight when he was itty-bitty- but I just wasn't giving him the opportunity to sleep.  Dylan has always gone to bed earlier- but we are quieter, lights are dimmer, and we are trying to get him to sleep earlier.  With Owen we weren't doing that- we were just going off his cues and he was wound up and fussy late into the night.... but he was just tired!  Once we started trying to get him to sleep earlier he went to bed easily at 8pm- sometimes 7. 

[seraf]

Like the other girls, my baby is much calmer if we are in a dim room laying down than if we are in the bright lights. He will also sleep on someone's back if that's not possible. I don't know if you can get Sora on your back, but that feels like me time to me because he's so calm its like he isn't even there. And I guess I have different standards. 

Shay took 26 ounces yesterday while I was at work. Wow. He ate right before i left then he ate when I got home. 

[Jaimee]

My babies have all gone to bed "late"... usually somewhere between 10pm-12am.  With Avery, we are experimenting with getting him down much earlier like at 7 or 8 and seeing if he'll stay asleep.  Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  But any way you look at it, it's exhausting and Joanie, I'm sorry you're solo- it's so, so hard.  Big hugs!!

[Abraisme]

Yes, I've done that research too.  The potential risk comes from the possibility of infection, not from the ink.  Anyway, I've met with several tattoo artists that didn't want to tattoo a breastfeeding mother.  The odds are that it'll be fine, but you might have to refrain from telling the person doing the tattoo.  I would also like to get a new tattoo, but have been holding off until I'm not pregnant or nursing a tiny baby.  At this rate I might never get there!  ;)
 

Originally Posted by IwannaBanRN 

http://www.llli.org/faq/tattoos.html

Is it safe to get a tattoo while breastfeeding?

Tattoos are created by injecting ink into the dermal (second and third) layer of the skin. Tattooists use a hand-held electric machine that is fitted with solid needles coated in the ink. The needles enter the skin hundreds of times a minute to a depth of up to a few millimeters. The ink that is used in tattoos in the United States is subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics, but none are approved for injection under the skin. However, the ink molecules are too large to pass into breastmilk.

I highly doubt that Coralie would go to sleep and stay asleep before 11:30.  From about 8-11:30 she will fall asleep, but only takes cat naps and wakes up super easily.  If we lay down in bed before that she'll fall asleep, but continues to wake up every 10 minutes until 11:30.  After 11:30 she'll sleep in 3-4 hour stretches.  I have no idea why there is some magical time at night that babies sleep, but it seems normal.  My DD1 went to sleep at 10:30 for a few months and then her schedule started to change on it's own until she slept at 8:00.  I know that it's short lived, so we'll manage until then.  I must say that it is a serious drag on the sex life though!  We've tried several times to put her down before 11:30 and sneak into the spare room.. She's always awake again in minutes.  Sigh..

[birdhappy85]

I'll take some of the tips suggested here to try getting the baby settled down better at night. I do notice a little difference in her if the TV and lights are off and I have white noise around. It's really hard to go into the bedroom and call it a night early with her when that's the only time I see my DH since he is awake on nights and sleeps during the day.  And DH seems to disagree that having the TV on at night would bother her at all. It's so ungodly frustrating. I tell him that even if the lights are off and the TV is muted, the TV still has flashing lights bouncing off the walls and that alone can bother the baby. He just doesn't get it because he likes to sleep with the TV on all of the time. So maddening.

I'm so shut down right now. Mornings are usually the best time with the baby but this morning she decided to be crying and screaming like she does at night! I hardly got any sleep since she was up every 2 hours to be changed or fed, so now I'm running on empty and have no patience left to handle this... After making sure every possible need I could fulfill was met and she was still crying, I had to just set her in her swing for a few minutes so I could sit and bawl my eyes out alone. I've been getting dizzy and feeling like passing out, I'm that exhausted. I had actually reached out to some family this week to see if they could help me with her and it was a complete bust anyway. My mom had the flu and ended up in the ER seriously ill from complications, so that was a no-go. My mother-in-law agreed a few days ago to drive up this morning to help me out, but then she flaked out on me RIGHT WHEN SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. What the hell is wrong with people?! I don't get how anyone can have the indecency to do that. I was waiting here impatiently for her to arrive, feeling like any second longer alone and I was going to go sit in my car and scream my head off. Then she texts me within minutes of when she was supposed to be here and tells me she decided not to come because of weather warnings for later (mind you, it hasn't snowed at all yet, she could've come for a few hours). How does anyone not give advance notice for something like that? I'm not even responding to her, it's so inconsiderate to me. My friend who was going to visit tonight gave me advance notice and cancelled last night, so my MIL has no excuse. I hate being so negative right now, but this whole situation has made me feel even less comfortable reaching out for help. It is SO hard for me to ask people for help, and when I finally did, the person I was counting on flaked out on me.

To make matters worse, I don't know how I'll be able to get my car out and pick up my DH from the airport tomorrow if it snows as much as they're saying it might tonight. I'd never be able to shovel the driveway in the weak state I'm in.

I'm so done being the sweet happy supportive wife for my DH while he's in Vegas. He didn't have to go, it's not a normal work function he went to, it's a convention for a side unpaid job/hobby thing he does. It wasn't fair to leave me like this. The stress has stirred up some of my health problems again and now I'll be paying for it for a while. 

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by LunaLady 

I have to do a similar thing. When Rhyko starts to fuss in the evening (sometime between 8-10pm) I just have to go to bed with him. He needs to nurse himself to sleep, so we snuggle up in bed and nurse side-line. Once he's asleep (sleep nursing) I can read or surf the net on my phone, just something quiet until I'm ready to fall asleep. 

Same goes for his three naps a day. I am enjoying all the sleep (making up for those weeks where I got seriously NONE) and we get lots of cuddles and comfort nursing in! And I'm not having to physically hold him, so my back doesn't hurt. 

Although I know every baby is different, so what works for us might not work for you!

Hugs, Joanie!

It sounds like you and Rhyko are doing much better lately than a few weeks ago when you were feeling so overwhelmed

Re:  Tattoos and peiricings-  we recently had a LLL leader in our area educate some artists on the risks of tattooing/piercing a breastfeeding woman, and it led to a lot of them changing their policies regarding breastfeeding mothers getting work.  They will now gladly allow nursing mothers to get pierced, and allow them to get tattooed as long as they sign an extra consent form and are specially warned and educated about infection and cleanliness.

I personally have gotten both done while breastfeeding and never had issues.

[LunaLady]

.

Edited by LunaLady - 6/29/12 at 4:34pm

[TalkToMeNow]

Speaking of tattoos, I'm going to continue to tell dh there is a risk, anyway.  We actually went to get matching tattoos in Nov of 2010 when we were TTC Jasper. I found out then that you can't get one if you might be pg, so just dh got it. Then I realized that I really, really don't ever want a tattoo (I don't have any). So breastfeeding is a good excuse for now. 

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 
I'm so done being the sweet happy supportive wife for my DH while he's in Vegas. He didn't have to go, it's not a normal work function he went to, it's a convention for a side unpaid job/hobby thing he does. It wasn't fair to leave me like this. The stress has stirred up some of my health problems again and now I'll be paying for it for a while. 

Yeah... I have a really, really hard time with this, too.  My dh goes to conferences several times a year and they are not required for work.  However, they are excellent networking opportunities and sort of something academics have to do to keep moving up in the field.  So he goes and I sit at home crying over how overwhelmed I am.  I don't know how some parents do it so effortlessly, but with my intense kids, things are always crazy and doing it alone is pretty much a sentence for insanity.   Last week when I was sick with that intestinal bug and dh had to pretty much take care of the kids by himself while I was passed out in bed, he saw first hand just how difficult it is to handle the kids, the cooking, the cleaning, and the laundry at the same time and he didn't have to also nurse the baby.  I was immensely grateful for all the work he did and also validated that it's not just me being weak or something, but that handling our family alone is no easy feat.

[MrsKatie]

Joanie - Oh god I am SO SORRY.  I wish I were next door and could come over and relieve you.  I wouldn't flake!  I've gotten to that intense fatigue state a few times since KJ's birth, and it's pretty damn serious.  It skews everything, too.  Doesn't your MIL remember what it was like taking care of babies???  She needs to show up!
 

It's super frustrating doing night-times solo.  DH is a bartender/bar manager and he's gone from like 3 or 4pm till 2 or 3am.  Then he has to eat, wind down, etc after he gets home and before he actually goes to sleep.  Then he sleeps till at LEAST noon the next day.  Then I get him for maybe an hour or 2 before he showers, gets ready, mentally preps for the day, etc.  He's not available for some time before he actually physically leaves the house.  So it feels like I don't see him from Wednesday - Sunday.  I hate it.  Especially night time.  It's grueling.

Re: tattoos... ugh, I'm in the middle of getting one removed right now.  SO expensive.  SO painful.  Make sure you REALLY REALLY want that damn tattoo, ladies!

We had a crappy night last night.  I had bad insomnia.  It had been a long day, with the death of my beloved Nikki and KJ's 2-month appt where the doctor scared me talking about sick babies when I said we weren't gonna vaccinate yet.  Really rough day.  So my mind was racing and I couldn't fall asleep till a little after 3am, then KJ was up at 5:45, then was just kinda restless and grunty the rest of the morning till I finally just got up with her.

[jbk21]

ha yes!  I need to get a tattoo removed.  It's expensive, and I know it's ridiculously painful.  Argh.