UC Post Partum Support Thread (Calling all UC Mamas!)

[KateSt.]

Hey UC mamas! We're gonna have another go at a post-birth chat since others have shown interest. This thread is for mamas -- no matter how postpartum -- that have had UC or believe in the UC philosophy. I've hated to lose touch with my UC sisters and would love to hear more about how we're raising our very special babes.

So, I thought we could talk about such things as:
*Post Partum recovery issues (both physical and emotional)
*Family Support/Opposition
*Our UC babies personalities and latest milestones and accomplishments.
*Philosophies on gentle discipline, punishments, rewards, etc.
*Our favorite books on mothering, parenting, and children.
*How we're planning on educating our babes.
*Special family rituals or traditions we follow or plan on following.
*How we deal with sick babies (homeopathics, dr visits, naturopaths, whatever).
*Anything else under the sun!

So, I'll wait for others to join and see if there's a particular topic anyone wants to talk about.

Welcome!!!

[shell024]

I'm here just over 2 weeks postpartum

[FreeRangeMama]

Yay, I'm here

I have 2 UC babies (3 kids though). My first UC babe just turned 2 last week. So hard to believe. Even harder to believe that I've had a 2nd UC since then. Dd is 4 months old now! I am still just loving her birth. It was perfect. I wish more people asked about my birth experience though, I really love the reaction I get to her birth story (solo birth, hemorage, ate placenta to stop bleeding, etc).

I am torn about whether or not I am 'done' with baby having. For some reason I just feel like I need to decide RIGHTNOW. There is no reason why I need to decide, it just feels urgent. One moment I feel done, the next I wish I was pregnant yesterday :LOL Dh thinks I'm nutty (what else is new). He thinks he is done, though he generally gets the baby bug closer to a year PP so we will see if he still feels that way down the road.

Ah well. I am just loving the 3 I have, and life is just so busy right now. Too busy some days.

Enough about me, how are the rest of you?

[gr8fulmom]

Oh, FreeRangeMamma I totally understand!! I have 3 boys and only my last was a UC and I loved it so much! Some days I desperately want 1 more and some days I think no way it would be and I do want to figure it out cause I hate using condoms for bc but I get pg very easy... but to never be pg again! I so want another uc anyway I hear you!!!

Anyway I would love to join this group

Jen

[ChildoftheMoon]

signing on.......hoping to be able to post more soon. Still trying to find time to write up my birth story!
Brandi

[majazama]

Well, here I am

My UC baby is 14months old now. She's a little screamer and back-archer, but has her extreme cuteness moments as well. Must be the cancerian aspect . She is growing up so much every day. She wants me to put various assorted clothes on her thoughout the day, which is so cute. She likes to eat tomatoes and fresh fruit, but doesn't like lots of things yet. She does like buffalo meat though, which will hopefully make her strong as she is quite the small baby (average on growing charts, but small compared with my 2 year old who has always been above the 100th percentile.) well, that's me rambling...

Glad that all you ladies are into this group

[Yummymummy74]

I am here! 2 weeks post partum tommorow! and still on the mend..
Solo UC with a bleed... would never change anything tho!

However I know I am done for sure!

[KateSt.]

nak

hey mamas! I'm going on vaca for a week but wanted to check in before I went. I'm so happy this thread is gaining momentum!

About wanting more children-- I was so sure I'd want at least 2 but now I don't know. My pregnancy and birth were so perfect, and Finn is such a happy, joyful little soul...I guess I feel I can't get this lucky twice! And I guess part of me does feel I was *lucky* to have successful UC (though if that's what other people say to me I get so !). I do think I'd have to talk myself into UC all over again. Even though I know it's the right thing for me, I'd still have some fears to work out.

Other reasons I don't know if I want more, is that I know I couldn't give another baby the total attention, devotion, and energy that I'm giving Finn right now. I literally am with him 24/7, I even lay down with him for his naps (he used to wake up every time I left and sometimes still does, so I use this time to read and actually love it.) I know I couldn't do that if I had more kids.

I'd also worry about sibling rivalry. I'd hate for anyone to feel short-changed. I never thought I'd feel this way, but I do right now. Maybe it'll change eventually. I have already dreamed a couple of times of another baby -- a little brother that looks like Finn. I've even learned his name, so I do think this a legitimate soul asking me not to give up having babies yet. So we'll see.

Marsupialmuma -- I see you have one baby, too. I'd love to know your reasons (if you want to share) why you know you're done. And congratulations to you!!!!

Brandi -- looking forward to your birth story!
Majazama -- I reread your UC story last week (I was on a birth story kick) and just want to tell you again how beautiful it was.

Babe just woke up so I have to go. Wondering though, Finn is just getting over his first cold. What do you mamas do for a cold -- any homeopathic remedies you can recommend. He DOES NOT let me near his nose without a fight and it isn't worth it to me.

One more thing! Shell and Brandi -- you two mentioned EC'ing your babes. I'm doing that too! Been doing it since 8 weeks and doing it part time. But we've really been getting the hang of it the last month or so. It's pretty neat!

Okay, see you mamas when I get back!

[amyjeans]

howdy! my Uc babe is turning 1 Oct 9! This year went by just way too fast!
Now, baby #3 (uc) is coming in March and I can't wait for labor!(most people think I am a freak or a masochist) I just looooooove the pushing stage!
I think that from my UC experience, dh and I have taking a different, more natural view with raising our babes. Most of my friends and family don't understand our philosophies of child rearing. They're just too mainstream I guess.
My sister thinks I get all my info from hippie-crunchy granola mamas! Umm, sis? I resemble that remark! :LOL

[hoppytoad]

Hey everyone.. I haven't been around much since Abel was born.. he'll be three weeks on Wed. Life has been crazy and wonderful at the same time around here. There are 7 people in the house now... but we did have 10 for 3 weeks while my sister and her 2 children were here to visit. She arrived the evening after Abel was born. It was so awesome having her here... and it will be hard to adjust without her being around. It doesn't help that my hormones are making me very emotional these days. She's the only person I know who thinks so much the way I do, and it's very hard that she lives on the other side of the country.

Our oldest (DSD) is in school again this year, but the two boys, both 7 yrs., are being homeschooled/unschooled. This is our first year doing it, and I've been really lax about any kind of curriculum. I think I may get a book like this http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846 to loosely follow throughout the year. We'll get started on that when Abel's a little older and not as demanding, though.

Abel's really catching on to EC... he fusses mainly to poop and will even hold it for a bit if his dense mama can't figure out what he needs at first. I'm looking forward to when he strong enough for me to hold him on the potty. It will be nice for when we're away somewhere and I will no longer have to let him poop in a parking lot. lol

I did EC with Emma (3) but started when she was 6 months, so she lost interest when she was crawling around a few months later. It's amazing how quickly newborns catch on to this! Abel was 8 days old when we started, and he peed the first time I cued him! Now he doesn't even need me to make the sound most times.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll check back in another time. Hope you are all doing well!

[cottonwood]

Just thought I'd check in here. We have four children ages 1, 4, 6, and 8, two boys and two girls, all born at home and the last two UC'ed.

I haven't been posting here much, as I'm done having babies so I've been mentally moving forward to focusing on us as a family and created a rich home life.

Rowan is going to be 1 in... two days! Time flies when you're having fun.

[FreeRangeMama]

We did EC with ds1 and started with ds2, but it just didn't work with ds1's special needs and such. We went back to diapers for him and ds1 "potty trained" him by 18 months though he still wets his trainers sometimes. We aren't even trying this time around. Too much else going on

I am so glad we had more than one, though I had reservations at first because my first needed (and still needs) so much from me. He has grown and learned SO much from his little brother though that it was truly the best thing we ever did. They fight like crazy, but they are close as well. They both just adore dd now. They take turns bringing her toys, talking to her, singing to her, etc. It is such an amazing thing to watch this bond between the 3 of them grow closer and closer every day.

That is one of the things that make me want one more. I have 'brothers', and I would also love to have 'sisters'. Sisters are so close (usually). I never had one and always wished I did. Someone that I was that close to. I want that for my girl, especially when I see my boys together. Different gendered children can also be very close (my bro and I were) but it just isn't quite the same.

So many things to consider.

[cathicog]

You know, you guys are all so blessed to be able to talk to each other by computer. I wish I had had this kind of support way back when. Please know that even though I am probably past childbearing age(but it is still fun trying! I enjoy every post I read, just as if you all were my daughters...This is a great group, keep up the good work and advise...

[amyjeans]

Originally Posted by fourlittlebirds

Just thought I'd check in here. We have four children ages 1, 4, 6, and 8, two boys and two girls, all born at home and the last two UC'ed.

I haven't been posting here much, as I'm done having babies so I've been mentally moving forward to focusing on us as a family and created a rich home life.

Rowan is going to be 1 in... two days! Time flies when you're having fun.

WOW Rowan is 1!?!?! It seems like just yesterday....

[2much2luv]

Hi, mamas.

My UC baby is almost 20 months now. She's a two-year-old in every way I can't believe that's my baby so grown up. *sniff* I'm just about ready to start all over again, but we'll see what happens.

[majazama]

Katest... I think marsupial momma is actually on her 9th baby:LOL (says in her siggy) What is that like, anyways, marsupial momma? Do you ever get any time to yourself? I'm impressed.

Nice to see all of you mammas here. I wonder how "sprinklepocket" is doing? I felt a real connection with her. Bet she's just lovin' being a mama.

On EC, I wish I had done that with my two. But, they do get organic velour on their bums instead.
My oldest is PT, and my baby will probably be out of dipes soon, she really hates them. I know some people that do that IRL, and it's awesome to see! I have put S on the potty a bunch of times, like after her nap, and can usually catch a pee then.

I want to have one more baby. I always wanted to have two girls and a boy... but that is hopefully not going to happen for some time:. I want my daughters to be able to help me with "him". I hope it won't happen till S is 4 years old, at least. I'd like to do a good cleanse before getting pregnant again too.

I always did want to be totally clear before having babies, but they decided to come a bit soon. I am 24 now and my first was born when I was 21.

[ecurlycue]

I'm here too!

Avery is 8 weeks old!
TIme is flying by so quickly. We are ECing too! I think it is so awesome to see them respond to cues when they are newborn.

Baby calls,
I'll be in and out of this thread though!!!
Elizabeth

[shell024]

Every is 3 weeks today. He is starting to just stare at me more and give lots of spontaneous smiles. He also seems to be taking after DP more and more each day (grouchy when not fed on time, then eats too fast & chokes, noisy eventful poops--sorry, TMI--, lots of stretching/grunting in his sleep). I'm really starting to get into this mommy thing. I want lots more!!! (Even though somehow it seems like I barely have time to concentrate on one... ) DP says he wants 12... I told him he better start researching adoption . (he says after 8 kids, you get all kinds of government assistance....is this even remotely true?? Marsupial mama, maybe you can clue me in hehe )
I have been ECing on and off, catching when I can. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to hold/position him! I have just kept to taking his diaper off on the bed and cueing him as I hold a cloth in front of his fountain. He is such a little wiggle worm and gets mad if I try to hold him a "certain way"... I do get all excited when I make the psss sound and a few seconds later I either get soaked or catch it in the cloth. I have yet to even come close to catching a poop...his are so unpredictable.
What sound do you make for poop???

Anyway, breastfeeding is going good (since my nipples stopped hurting after the 1st week).

Oh, I do have some bad news. A relative DP's on the other side of the country called the police on us!!!! I had cops knocking at my door 1st thing in the morning coming in and questioning me, demanding to see Every, calling the hospital to verify that I had taken him in, etc etc etc. : It was HORRIBLE. Now I understand why many mommas just straight out lie to their families.

[majazama]

Originally Posted by shell024

Oh, I do have some bad news. A relative DP's on the other side of the country called the police on us!!!! I had cops knocking at my door 1st thing in the morning coming in and questioning me, demanding to see Every, calling the hospital to verify that I had taken him in, etc etc etc. : It was HORRIBLE. Now I understand why many mommas just straight out lie to their families.

That's so freakin' nutz!!! .... And you gave your son the best gentle birth experience.


I looked at your pictures, shell024.... wow. you are one beautiful little family Your hubby is a hottie, and so are you. The pics were very raw... thanks for sharing.

[Rockies5]

hello mamas!!

another one here, UC baby is already over a year, other monkeys are 8,6 and 4. We're expecing another sometime in January.

I fully can relate to the "do I want more" topics I see. Can I handle more, is it fair and is there enough (of me, of us, time, money, love, breastmilk) to go around?

well, sometimes there is and sometimes there isn't but never for a second can you regret a person. They are all so special and much needed in their own ways. Our first STILL gets all of us all day and night, all the thought, all the worry, all our time, and the rest do as well. You become strangly able to meet it all because they all need it.

One baby at the breast, or two...it doen't matter as babyhood passes so fast. Only now as they are becomming these largely independent beings with their own friends, sports, music lessons is it noticable how MANY people live with!

we're homeschooling #2-#4 at the moment, ds (#1) wanted to try the school across the street. They already moved him a grade, and still the work is nonsense.

Love reading here and hearing about all the babies! Our baby is mostly over his reflux. Though he dropped off the chart, looked like hell and such, we didn't do the drugs. We finally did do a Barium Study while he was about 9mos, which found no damage. still, I can't believe we made it through that year. It was awful to have such an ill child. From 3 weeks he vomited 10-30times a day. He'd nurse 3 minutes and vomit purple faced for 5. At 6 mos he could finally spend some time lying down. He was a stressed baby, I think. Very serious. From 10mos he blossomed and the reflux started to abate (down to 4 fluxings a day). Now it's only 1-2x a week, and he doen't empty his entire stomach anymore. He's slowly become an absolute imp. He's got a great smile and is talky and busy, busy. there is no telling him no, or distracting him from anything he's decided to do, ever. (17mos) he's back up to a small, but average weight, after being zero for quite awhile (our children are typically off the TOP of the height and weight charts).