Things you plan to do different this time around.

[blessedonce]

Anyone who is having their second, third, fourth..you get the idea...plan on doing something different this time around?

My list:
~Eating healthier during this pregnancy
~Walking some more (I have a 2 and a half year old so excersize isn't an issue this time LOL!!!)
~Breastfeeding...I'm going to try a LOT harder this time, and I plan on getting a Boppy this time around as well. Ds couldn't handle breastmilk and most formulas, he ended up having Nutramigen for formula.
~Excersaucer...ds had a walker, but I took the wheels off it so all he did was chill out in it and play with the toys. I am going to invest in a saucer and jumper I think this time.
~No Diaper Genie. I HATED ours...cost more to use it than it saved me for time.

Things I am doing the same:
~Making homemade babyfood. I loved doing it and I plan on doing it again.
~Attachment parenting, it worked wonders.
~Binkie...pacifiers are awesome and proven to help reduce SIDS.
~Back To Sleep...def.
~In our room in a cradle until he/she is sleeping through the night so he/she doesn't disrupt ds.

Anyone else?

~Liz

[Hollin]

Hmm good question

*this baby is going to have to learn to nap alone out of necessity
*I will offer a pacifier this time probably. I feel bad I refused to give one to Alden. He had a strong need to suck but I had oversupply and the combination was not a winner with his reflux.
*I want to learn to nurse in a sling or wrap. I was never able to get the hang of it with Alden.
*I want to worry less if what I'm doing is "AP enough" and just do what works for me and the baby
*This baby willl have way fancier diapers. I just used flats and plastic pants with ds and since then I've learned about all the new types of cloth diapers.

[ilovebabies]

#5 and I want to walk more during this pregnancy and eat healthier. Everthing else will be about the same. :thumb

[baturay]

I craved junk food last time and ate too much crap! I'm going to eat healthier this time around.

Everything else will be just about the same :)

[bc1995]

#4 for me. Let's see...

Do different....
* This may be my first homebirth!
* Eat better
* Walk more
* Take more/better supplements

Do the same....
* child led weaning
* 100% cloth diapers (prefold/covers) from the start
* homemade babyfood but not until 7+ months
* wear him/her when possible including for nursing while out
* co-sleep
* no pacifier (#2 and #3 never had one)
* no vaccinations
* don't cut cord until stops pulsing
* med free birth
* no circ

[hillaryjudd]

Different:
-better diet
- more exercise, lots of yoga
- midwives instead of ob's
- attempt drug free birth (had an epidural with my twins - as a compromise with my ob since they considered me at high risk for needing a c-sec)
- no cutting cord until it stops pulsing
- delay/space out vaxing (did this to an extent with my sons)

Same :

- no circ if boy
- exclusively breastfed
- no solids till 6 months at minimum
- cloth diapers at least 80% of the time
- slings instead of strollers
- breastfeeding for a minimum of 2 yrs
- co-sleeping (this shouldn't be hard since the baby will be in our room for at least 6 months and for however long after that until we move into a bigger place!)

There is more I'm sure but other than the birth being medicate I am pretty proud of how I did things with my twins and plan on doing the same with a new baby - it should be easier with just 1 I figure :)

[baileyandmikey]

everything will be the same here, except if we have another boy, we will NOT CIRC> my dh is not, but he demanded our ds be. he cried for the entire day and i am sure the pain was awful, we WILL NOT mutilate another child of ours ever.

[blessedonce]

About the cord pulsing...I didn't get to really see my son until after everyone else had held him :eyesroll ....what happens if it isn't done pulsing? Don't ask about me not being able to hold him...I was sort of forgotten by our families in the hub bub...I was still being sewn up down there when everyone came parading into the room (men too)...so they all got to see what I have to offer....I remember practically yelling "WHO DOES HE LOOK LIKE????" because I STILL hadn't seen him.

~Liz

[liberal_chick]

Different:

-I have a new wealth of knowledge on breastfeeding and feel like I have what I need to make it work.
-Cloth diapers from the beginning.
-I'm trying my best to eat better.
-Continue to use the bike as our mode of transport until I can't do it anymore. Then I need to start doing some sort of exercise program.
-Not even worry about co-sleeping. We'll just do it from the beginning.
-I don't think we're going to buy a bucket carseat this time. I'm still researching this.
-Use a midwife for a HB if possible (I'm having trouble finding one to take me.)

The same...

-No circ for a boy.
-Lots of babywearing.

Can't think of anything else there!

[hedgewitch]

Good question!

Different:

*Breast-feeding rather than expressing for 15 months.
*Not worrying about where they sleep.
*Not believing that if my son cries for a few minutes he will literally die.
*Get out of the house if things aren't going well or schedules aren't working.
*Go full term!
*VBAC
*Nurse for at least 2 years
*No solids for the first year
*No purees (though I loved making them) just table foods when their teeth are ready
*slower vax schedule
*More confidence and less internal pressure.

Same,

*Booby milk rocks
*Baby wearing
*Cloth diapers
*Suspicion of the status quo!
*Minimum 'stuff' - though maybe a couple of additions such as a play yard so I can use the change table downstairs.

That's all I can think of for now! :wink

[DanelleB]

I'll be simplifying even more than with DS. Unless someone gives us a bucket, we'll just get a convertable car seat (and even if we get one, the bucket will stay in the car). I plan on wearing the babe from the beginning. I'm not even going to bother setting up the crib (DS never slept in it) and am just going to put a pack & play next to the bed. I'm going to nurse even longer--hopefully at least 2 years. I'm also going to research a delayed and selective vax schedule. And I'm going to cloth diaper most of the time. As far as labor, if I get stuck with a hossy birth, I will be refusing the epi, IV, monitoring, etc and now know to change positions.

[Devaskyla]

Different:
- more exercise once I feel more secure in the pregnancy
-put the baby in bed for naps instead of lying next to me in the living room it got really tiresome not being able to get up & do anything
- make dh put the kids to bed at least one night a week, starting when the baby is a newborn, I am totally worn out being the one who has to do it every single night for years on end. I love my kids but once in awhile, like when I'm sick, it'd be nice to say 'h, you take them to bed, I'm going to veg out tonight'
- better at nursing in a carrier, I only did it a few times with ds2. kind of awkward for me since my breasts are huge, but I'm sure with practice I can manage it better
- I'd like to try to ec again. I didn't try for very long with ds2 because of ppd and having to use disposables (we don't have facilities for doing cloth atm, hopefully moving before baby is born, though)
- no nipple shield this time. If this baby is tongue tied, get it cut a lot sooner so I don't need the shield.
- be prepared to have a baby earlier than I expect (ds2 was 3 weeks early & we had virtually nothing prepared, not even diapers)


Same:
- extended nursing
- no pacifier
- co-sleeping
- no circing
- no vaxing
- babywearing
- UBAC
- no solids until well after 6 months
- no buying baby 'stuff', I've got everything I need

There's probably more in each category, but that's all I can think of right now.

About the cord pulsing...I didn't get to really see my son until after everyone else had held him ....what happens if it isn't done pulsing?

The baby doesn't get all their blood back. And they're forced to breathe immediately because their oxygen supply is cut off, rather than a gradual transition when the cord is left alone. I'm certain that early cord cutting is the reason ds1 was iron deficient at 2 months. Unless you physically stop them, early cutting is standard in hospitals, despite all the research showing that it's better to wait a few minutes, at least.

[She2dancer]

Different:
- will research how to avoid another 4th degree tear (my biggest fear about the birth)
- will try and do ecological breastfeeding where the baby is free to latch/unlatch whenever they like (in the sling of course:))
- thinking about attempting EC - my half hearted attempt with DS didn't work :(

Same:
- Home waterbirth (hopefully:))
- exclusive breastfeeding, no solids until at least 8-9months, and after that self led feeding, no purees
- co-sleeping
- babywearing as much as I can
- no paci, no vax, no circ
- keep dancing and exercising for as long as I can!

[vanessab23]

i ate pretty well last time, but in the last few weeks of pregnancy I really went crazy making homemade choc chip cookies like every week-- not a good idea!

i will carefully choose my midwife, and change providers if it doesn't feel right.

my mom won't be invited (her first was an easy 6 hours hospital delivery, and the second a sweet & short homebirth, so my prolonged back labor turned her into a huge worry wart-- don't want that around), and thankfully we live so far away now that it shouldn't be a problem.

I will get weekly or at least bi-monthly massages & go for regular chiropractor appts.

I will surround myself with people who can identify postpartum depression, and let all my friends (I only have a few as we just moved here 3 mos ago) know how they can help me if it hits again.

i think that's it for now :thumb

[freestyler]

This time:

Not eat so much---I don't want another 50 lb weight gain, UGH.

Take lots and lots of time for rest during the day when I need it, and sleep much more at night.

Just take it really easy. Even with four kids to watch already.

[MamaCaveBear]

This time I will take no shortcuts.
I will make sure that I get some pictures of my belly (I don't have a single one from my daughter :().
I will try out a baby hammock.
I will start my journal for the baby much earlier.
I will (try to) eat better.
I will try to encourage the baby to take a bottle of EBM earlier and more frequently. (DD wouldn't take even a sippy cup until 11 months)
I will get a real sling (like an ergo or Mei Tai or something) and try to use it from the beginning.
I will wear maternity clothes instead of buying big baggy clothes.
No one gets an exact due date this time (actually we told everyone it was April 15th hehe, no more annoying phone calls)
Most importantly, I will listen to and trust my intuition and I WILL NOT LET ANYONE MAKE ME DO ANYTHING I DON'T FEEL IS RIGHT!!!!!! I don't CARE how pissed off or pushy they get. Tough!!!

[Malva]

Different:

- homebirth
- use the wrap from the start
- EC (my dh thinks it's the coolest thing ever)
- get chiropractic care from the start of pregnancy
- more stretches (sciatica comes back in pregnancy even thought it has otherwise healed)

[*~Danielle~*]

This will be our third child.

Differently:
~hopefully a vaginal birth
~exercise regularly throughout pregnancy
~Not give myself an excuse to eat more
~take prenatals regularly
~take more belly pics
~try to cherish every second with my newborn, the time goes so fast...I want to keep that in the forefront of my mind...enjoy this newborn phase, enjoy holding this tiny baby, remember, cherish, drink it all in...
~I pray that my postpartem depression is not as bad...learn as mush as I can about combatting it holistically...I know the exercise will help and then any herbs I can take, I will.
~delay vaxing for atleast a whole year instead of just 6 months

[Janessa]

this is my 3rd :)
different
--hoping I will actually be able to slow down and enjoy the newborness more. With my first PP was horrible I don't remember her first year, with my second I had to work alot (childcare) so I had a minimum of 4 kids under 3 (then age 4) for the first 2 years it was insane.
--debating giving EC a shot
--pregancy is not an excuse to eat whatever I want this time, this is my heaviest prepregnancy weight and it worries me.
--hoping my mom will actually make the birth this time. Watch this baby come late instead of early like my first two so we time it all wrong again.

the same
-cloth diapers
-breastfeeding
-sling
-no circ
-home water birth
-no vax
all that good stuff.

[nuwavemomma]

This is #2 for us.

DIFFERENT:

*I'd like to have a HB.
*Probably won't vax at all, for sure the first year.
*Will seek out chiro or cranial sacral for baby in first week.
*Will CD from the start, (late start with DS) maybe EC
*Will co-sleep longer (only did it for about 4 months with DS)
*will exercise more during pregnancy
*will eat meat, raw dairy during pregnancy
*won't use a doppler, maybe no u/s
*I'd also like to go straight to table foods when it's time, rather than puree. Sure will do food intro different, no freaking cereal!
*more belly pics

SAME:
*unmedicated birth with mw
*no circ
*BF >2 years.

[G&B'sMama]

This is my third and big suprise- so there are a few things I would like to have a do-over on:

What I will do differently this time:
Consciously try to reduce my stress levels during pregnancy
Water birth- I have always wanted one, and planned for one, but it never worked out
Take things easy during the newborn time (I often try to do too much)
Pick out a new pediatrician
Try to prepare my nipples in my last month of pregnancy (cracked nipples are painful)
Not have a baby on the hottest day of the year (both of my kids were born on the hottest day of the year for the places they were born)
Buy cute maternity clothes
Once my labor starts, I am not going anywhere without a REALLY good reason (my last child was born in the car)

[liliaceae]

This will be my second, and I plan on

--getting more exercise
--looking into hypnobabies or some other natural pain management
--possibly going to a birth center
--limiting ultrasound/doppler
--delaying vaccinations
--wearing the baby from the start
--cloth diapering from the start
--cosleeping from the start

Wow I didn't realize how much I'm planning on doing differently until I wrote this!

[MomtotheMAX]

Things I plan to try to do differently:

--Experience a Home Water Birth (my husband was never on board for HB, until we watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born." It totally changed his perspective, so I finally get my home birth for our last baby!)
--Allow my kids to be near for the birth
--Exercise throughout the pregnancy
--Avoid unnecessary sonograms, Dopplers, etc.--Just let my little baby grow in peace! :wink
--Avoid eating too much junk!

[MaClaire]

What I'll do differently:

-EC more full time and more proactively from birth
-Do what I can to prevent excessive bleeding after birth
-Woven wraps from the start (whoo hoo!)
-More wool and less PUL for EC backup (I'll knit some soakers, I think)
-No ultrasounds/doppler during pregnancy
-Belly cast and henna tatoo on my belly :D
-Get film and/or pics of my birth
-MAYBE take baby off breast before totally asleep...not sure yet
-Be more vigilant about food allergies/elimination diets early on
-Get help at the FIRST SIGN of nipple soreness

The same

-No circ
-No vax
-Homebirth w/midwives
-Traditional Foods diet
-Co-sleeping
-Bfeeding for at least 2 years
-Baby led solids

[My*Scorpio]

I will try out a baby hammock.


What is a baby hammock? Never heard of it.

[My*Scorpio]

Different:

Homebirth
No vaccinations


Same:
Intact/No genital cutting
BF for >2 years
Babywearing

[Motherto4]

Do different:
No baby carseat carrier. Just a convertable(evenflow triumph advance I
have one for my son and am getting another one for this baby)
Were my baby in a Mai Tei from birth
Cloth diaper from the start

Do the same:

No Vac
Breastfeed exclusivly
no co-sleeping
un medicated birth

[Mrsboyko]

This is baby #2

Different-
- CD from day one. Started with DD @ 7 months
- Homebirth with a midwife, not OB ending in C-section
- Actually use hypnobabies during labor
- Not worry if s/he won't take a bottle before going to day care, they will figure it out and s/he won't starve.
- No vacc till over 1 yr.

Same-
- EBF for 6 months and BF as long as wanted after that
- co-sleep as long as we are comfortable
- Make own "baby food"
- Love them with everything we got.

[Multimomma]

:wink Well, this is my eighth, so I have had a lot of time and many chances to get it the way I want it :wink

The same
unassisted homebirth
delayed cord cutting
immediate breastfeeding
extended breastfeeding
cosleeping

Different
cloth diapers
YES! I tried prefolds with my oldest and it was such a nightmare! But I've had really great friends who CD and I've learned a lot in the past two years. So, not only did we move to cloth trainers with Ava, we're starting with cloth diapers with this one!

[Nomadmama]

This will be my third baby, and I've "evolved" during each.
My different plans for during pregnancy is that I am planning on joining a prenatal yoga class and getting chiro adjustments in my last trimester. I may also get an ultrasound this time for peace of mind, which I didn't get last time. It took a lot of faith, but a lot of worry too.

[lanielayne]

This is our 5th:

Different:

-Plan to see a chiro for the second half of pg
-have more cloth dipes on hand
-finally learn to nurse in a sling!

Same-
- everything else!

[sunnykbird]

Different:


-I don't think we're going to buy a bucket carseat this time. I'm still researching this.


if you have ANY info on this I would LOVE to know...I always think those buckets are SOOOOO cumbersome and I haven't even had to use one...but you always see mothers/fathers walking thru stores, church, parking lots like they are carrying 10lb water buckets and it seems awful!!!

I would LOVE to know how to avoid a baby bucket!!!

[texanatheart]

Things we'll be doing differently:
--Cloth Dipes from the beginning (started with ds when he was 9 months)
--Learn to nurse in a sling!!
--Use the sling more often and be more comfortable with it...I really screwed up my left wrist just holding ds so much!
--Midwife as care provider
--Homebirth
--Delay vaxes for at least 2 years
--NOT move into a new house when he/she is 3 months old!!!! Very stressful.
--Nap when babe naps...well, that's what I would've done differently w/ds. Not so sure that will be possible with a toddler!
--Hopefully delay my return to work a little longer.
--Have a few meals stashed in the freezer before birth day.

[texanatheart]

if you have ANY info on this I would LOVE to know...I always think those buckets are SOOOOO cumbersome and I haven't even had to use one...but you always see mothers/fathers walking thru stores, church, parking lots like they are carrying 10lb water buckets and it seems awful!!!

I would LOVE to know how to avoid a baby bucket!!!

A really good friend gave us their very lightly used Britax Marathon, and we used it from the get-go with DS. I imagine there are other convertible seats that aren't so expensive that will still take a babe of 5 pounds...at least that's what the Marathon is rated for. DS was 8 pounds when we brought him home from the hospital. **daydreams** I can't believe how tiny he was in that thing!

[liliaceae]

if you have ANY info on this I would LOVE to know...I always think those buckets are SOOOOO cumbersome and I haven't even had to use one...but you always see mothers/fathers walking thru stores, church, parking lots like they are carrying 10lb water buckets and it seems awful!!!

I would LOVE to know how to avoid a baby bucket!!!

I don't see anything wrong with infant car seats (buckets); to me they seem safer for young infants than a convertible. You don't have to carry the babe around in them, you can just use them in the car. I used the Britax Companion when DS was an infant, and now he's in the Britax Boulevard. But if you want good info on car seat safety, you should check out the family safety forum: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=422

[amydidit]

#3.

I'm going to eat healthier (and not give in to my DH convincing me to drink milkshakes to get my calcium.)

Exercise more.

Be more careful about positioning so to try to avoid another posterior baby.

[MaClaire]

if you have ANY info on this I would LOVE to know...I always think those buckets are SOOOOO cumbersome and I haven't even had to use one...but you always see mothers/fathers walking thru stores, church, parking lots like they are carrying 10lb water buckets and it seems awful!!!

I would LOVE to know how to avoid a baby bucket!!!

Baby buckets are killer on your back! Learn how to wear your baby and you'll never need to use one. There are so many great babycarriers on the market now. For a newborn, I love a long stretchy wrap like the www.mobywrap.com. Visit the babywearing board on MDC or www.thebabywearer.com and find a local group (most cities have them now) to help you learn how to use a variety of carriers comfortably and safely.

Warning: it's addictive and your dp may get realllllllly steamed when the bank account starts to diminish because you HAD to get one more carrier :D

[sunnykbird]

Baby buckets are killer on your back! Learn how to wear your baby and you'll never need to use one.

oh I fully intend on wearing my kid...talk about a fashion statement!
but on another note. did you feel you had to buy a lot of slings? do they wear out easily?

i am not into those ones that wrap all around you like a mummy but then again those baby carriers that look like a papoose seem to never support babys head...(am I making any sense? I just woke up)

[nuwavemomma]

Be more careful about positioning so to try to avoid another posterior baby.

Ah, yeah! How did I forget that. I'd love to never have another posterior labor again. I so didn't pay attention to that with DS. I heard he was head down and thought we were cool. I can only imagine how much easier it is to relax in labor without back labor, and how that could take a good stretch of the marathon out of it completely.

I know about Spinning Babies, and the "normal" breech techniques: Webster, moxi, version etc... What techniques/resources will you use?

[Multimomma]

sunnykbird, those slings last forever. I've never *had* to buy a replacement, I've just really enjoyed each one! I have managed to give away all of mine except my handsewn double ring sling, but I'll be making another ring sling and hopefully getting a mei tai for those days when I don't need a lot of pressure on one side (I have arthritis, so on a bad day, slinging can be difficult)

[Motherto4]

About baby buckets. I Don't like them they are to heavy. When my son outgrew his bucket I bought a evenflow triumph advance. It is so AWSOME! It was $130 and fits from 5-50 pounds. It is so adjustable. Instead of having the little slots tha tyou have to pull the sholder straps out to make it bigger or smaller they just slide up and down and there is a little nob on the side that adjusts the tention. I can put my dd who is almost 3 in it and then the next time put my son who is one in it and it takes seconds to make it fit right. I am going to get another one for my new baby. I Have a sling and made some Mai Tei's and love them both. My son didn't like the sling but my dd did.

[MaClaire]

oh I fully intend on wearing my kid...talk about a fashion statement!
but on another note. did you feel you had to buy a lot of slings? do they wear out easily?

i am not into those ones that wrap all around you like a mummy but then again those baby carriers that look like a papoose seem to never support babys head...(am I making any sense? I just woke up)

It's not about "had to" buy, more like "want to" buy :wink It doesn't help to have a bunch of carrier-crazed friends who are always getting new stuff. :eyesroll Actually, I ended up trading a bunch just to try new ones. It's fun!

I know what you mean about the mummy thing...however, once you get the hang of wrapping, you never go back, really: they are sooooooo comfy, versatile and some are truly beautiful (I'm thinking of the expensive woven ones). Avoid the Baby Bjorn and the like--they are not useful for very long and it's not good for baby's knees to be lower than the hip joint. You might like a Mei Tai (www.babyhawk.com) or a soft structured carrier (www.becobabycarrier.com). A lot of folks like ring slings, and they can be great but I prefer carriers that go over both shoulders.

Really, the best thing to do is to go to a babywearing meeting, see what you think you'll like and then buy one or two (used on thebabywearer.com if you like). You can always sell those that don't work for you and try something else.

[amydidit]

Ah, yeah! How did I forget that. I'd love to never have another posterior labor again. I so didn't pay attention to that with DS. I heard he was head down and thought we were cool. I can only imagine how much easier it is to relax in labor without back labor, and how that could take a good stretch of the marathon out of it completely.

I know about Spinning Babies, and the "normal" breech techniques: Webster, moxi, version etc... What techniques/resources will you use?
My big thing is watching my posture. With my last I reclined a lot on the couch, would lean back in my chair while on the computer, etc. I really think that contributed a LOT to having a posterior baby. I'm really going to watch though.

[filiadeluna]

--Experience a Home Water Birth (my husband was never on board for HB, until we watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born." It totally changed his perspective, so I finally get my home birth for our last baby!)

I will be a first-time mom, so I'm just lurking in this thread, but my husband was convinced the exact same way! After watching that, he said, "Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable". Problem is, I'm not sure if our insurance would cover a Midwife at home. We'll have to see. Otherwise, it's a Nurse Midwife at the hospital.

[shanahan]

pregnancy - I'd like to eat healthier and work out more. I did ok last time, but I want to do better.

labor - I definitely want a natural birth again this time, but I would like to have a homebirth - prob. w/water. I am also consideing "hypnobabies" (did Bradley last time - but think visulaizations, etc, would have been more helpful)

pp - I plan to use our Arm's Reach co-sleeper from the very beginning, bf more, hold more, wear more (I didn't really get into babywearing until my first was much older), and take it easier. I want to cuddle in for longer - last time, I had to get ready for my SIL's wedding 2 weeks later, had lots of guests, and had to go back to work at 4 weeks. It was just too crazy and hectic - and although my son handled it all like a champ, I want to take things slower this time around.

[lila2801]

Problem is, I'm not sure if our insurance would cover a Midwife at home. We'll have to see.

Our insurance wont so that's why I'm having a hospital birth.

[peacelovingmama]

Exercise throughout the pregnancy, try B-6 for nausea, drink more water to try and avoid headaches, forego invasive prenatal testing... those are just the ones that come to mind. I'm sure I've learned other lessons along the way I'll want to implement.

[risen_joy]

Hmmm...

Different:
*REGULAR exercise
*Eat better/healthier
*Drink coffee first trimester - just one cup a day. Every time I got pregger and stopped coffee cold turkey I miscarried...so I'm not doing it!
*Try and make baby food...any good recommendations/tips?
*Have my parents or inlaws take the kids for 2 days so I can rest after baby is born
*Stay in bed for 2 days after baby is born!
*Co-sleeper

Same:
*Homebirth - LOVE it!!!
*Waterbirth - LOVE it!!!
*Babywearing
*Thumbsucking - it was great b/c she had a way to comfort herself and not "get stuffed" by overeating
*Cry to sleep once they are old enough - don't kill me mamas! We didn't do this with our first and it was so hard for him sleeping b/c he'd wake, need to nurse to go to sleep, wake 10 min later already be full but need to nurse to go back to sleep...and so on! Wasn't until I read "The Baby Whisperer" that I realized I was hurting his little tummy doing that! With dd we let her cry to sleep at 5 weeks (after making sure she was fed, changed, burped, etc) and in 5 days when it was time for bed she would just lay down and fall asleep!! ***Disclaimer: different things work for different mamas - this worked for us!
*Cloth diapers
*NO circ!!

[MamaCaveBear]

Our insurance wont so that's why I'm having a hospital birth.

And this same reason is why we're going UC. :wink

[vanessab23]

thought about another--

i will try different kinds of slings/wraps (if I can find any here) and won't be afraid to cut down my wearing time (i was wearing him, my high needs whiner, about 5 hrs/day)-- I ended up throwing my back out when DS was 5 months or so, and that was torture. i had to lay the stroller in full recline and push him (me hobbling and barely holding it together) from the bedroom to the kitchen to the bathroom just to be able to take care of us both.

and yes I had my carriers checked to see if I was wearing them right (was still relying on my pouch, custom made my a girlfriend). i have a weak lower back and an old diving injury, and this was the second time in 10 years that I'd thrown it out. (did it again last year when he was 18 mos)

[mom2tatum]

with #2,

Same:
*healthy eating in prg, lots of protein
*Prepare mentally for labor and read lots of good stuff!!!
*breastfeed immediately
*attachment parenting
*EBF, CLW
*babywearing, nursing in sling
*no circ


Different:
*be calmer about EVERYTHING
*drink more milk (raw) and hope I gain better weight and grow a bigger baby!
*homebirth, hopefully waterbirth as well
*shorter labor (last time was 3 days with no sleep and really really HARD the last two days)
*go full term (poss IUGR last time, 4 weeks early and 4 lbs. 13 oz)
*chiro care the WHOLE preg this time
*try to get some fairly reg. massages as well
*labor alone more so (I think I handle pain better alone)
*no vax from beginning (we waited till 4 mos old last time before stopping confidently)
*try to avoid paci (it helped first with bad reflux, but hoping thats no issue this time)
* no swaddling! (I know this contributed to ds' sleeping issues)
*:duck - try not to nurse completely to sleep if it feels ok doing so...
* no homemade purees this time, just straight to soft table food when ready to self-feed
*daytime cloth diapering (need advice on this though)
*not discuss anything but positives or non-controversial topics with family and friends who don't share my beliefs. This is a biggie for emotional reasons.


I didn't realize how much I really wanted to do different until I wrote this...I guess in my head I've thought about each thing at various times over the last two years, but wow writing it all down was NICE. I am so much more confident this time as I have truly become sure of myself and my beliefs as a mother.

Good thread.

[hippiemommaof4]

I dont really know but these are the things we already do and have done to a certain extent with all so

we'll be breastfeeding
natural birthing
cloth diapering
no cio
babywearing
cosleeping in room next to bed

different::thumb
delayed vaxing
having a doula