[samsmommy]

OK, let me try this again, I posted this in the general forum by mistake... I meant to post in Kentucky...<br><br>
Hi-<br>
I'm a new mom (6 weeks) and would love to meet some moms in my area, but I've had a hard time finding like-minded people to connect with(not sure why, bc I consider myself to be pretty normal!).<br>
-I'm open-minded, but not religious, or conservative. (Unitarian Universalist if I had to pick one) To be honest, I guess I dislike organized religions.<br>
-I tried like hell to breastfeed, but it just didn't work. Bummed about that.<br>
-Love the idea of attachment parenting, but not fanatic with it --i.e. I don't think swings are evil!<br>
-I'm 30, married, this is our first, after 2 losses.<br>
-Not from here originally-- I'm a Yankee, and hubby's from NC (no family here)<br>
-After MUCH agonizing, decided to not circumcise our son, which most people around here think is really weird.<br><br>
Anyone else have any similar feelings?<br><br>
*

 

[ajmckay36]

Hey there,<br><br>
Fellow Louisvillian here, 31, married, one child.<br><br>
My son Liam is 8 weeks old...non circ'd. Yeah, I agree with you, people around here do think it's wierd, but then again most people I know think everything I do is strange. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> Breastfeeding didn't work out for us either; he sucked his tongue in utero and the musclature in his mouth was so tight he couldn't get my nipple far enough up in his mouth. After many many visits to The Nursing Station (the LC's were wonderful there) I decided to pump full time. Not being able to breastfeed was devastating for me, though. I'm still grieving.<br><br>
We are into the AP philosophy as well; I didn't know they thought swings were evil! Liam loves his swing.<br><br>
We had two pregnancy losses...January 03 at 10 weeks (missed m/c) and am early loss in June 03. I got pregnant immediately after the second loss with Liam, but the first trimester was incredibly anxious and nerve wracking, as I'm sure you understand!!!<br><br>
We have a lot in common (not into organized religion either!!!)! Where are you in Louisville? I'm off of U.S. 22, down the street from the Summit here in lovely suburbia. We just moved from Crescent Hill (about a week ago actually).<br><br>
Catch up with you later!<br>
Angela

 

[samsmommy]

I'm so glad you replied!<br>
We do have a lot in common--<br>
I've spent endless hours at the Nursing Station... I hate to admit it, but I'm glad I'm not the only "flunkie"! It's such a guilt-laden topic, you know? I tried everything, though... pumping 12x a day, Supplemental Feeding System, Mother's Milk tea, some herbal tincture, finger feeding... I even stayed there all day once, hoping that working through multiple feedings would help. ugh.<br><br>
Our first loss was also a missed m/c, at 10 weeks in May '02, and our second was at 6 months, last April. (James Xavier 4-11-03)<br><br>
We also live pretty close to each other... I'm in Crestwood-ish, off of 22 in Oldham County. We moved out here about 5 years ago (after renting in the Highlands) so we could buy a house with a big yard for our 3 dogs. I like the area, but it is definitely more conservative out here, and my husband and I feel pretty isolated.<br><br>
Maybe we could meet up some time... I was planning on going to Gymboree (free introductory session) next Thursday in St. Matthews if you're interested. Do you stay home with Liam?<br><br>
email me directly if you like: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br>
Hope to hear from you again soon!<br>
Kelly

 

[4 in 2005]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in but I wanted to say hello. I am currently a mom to 3 with #4 due in Jan.<br><br>
I am conservitiave and religous but I feel that is a personal choice and don't feel it is my job to change everyone that is not. I do not beleive in "organized religion" per say either.<br><br>
What caught my eye is seeing that you had trouble nursing. I tried really hard to nurse my oldest 2. I spent so much time talking to lactation consultants, pumping at peditrician getting weight checks and the like that it was crazy. It is nice to hear others that really did try everything and could not nurse. My kids latched well and the like I just never had my milk come in. When I tell others this they say well did you try.... or did you try that...<br><br>
YES I tried it all. I was told I had bad lactation consultants and unsupportive Drs. Neither of which is true. I am looking at having a homebirth this time and the midwife was grilling me. I know breastfeeding is best but not when your child loses over a pound and is losing at 3 weeks of age.<br><br>
I did circumise my son. I felt no option. I started researching the idea in high school honestly. Yet I kept hearing conflicting info on cleaning. So I decided that from the mixed information I would be better off to circumise him. If this one is a boy however I finally have the information that I felt I needed with DS was born. Sad thing is if I had trusted a high school life skills teacher (she taught a class called guys gals and kids it was sex ed and parenting) I would have had the information I needed. What confused me was having Doctors tell me diffrently then she did.<br><br>
I like AP but my kids LOVED their swing. I even made a sling myself for #3. SHE HATED IT <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> She would rather be in her swing then being held. that was a constant for her. To this day she hates to much touch. She actually was evaluated for Autism. Turns out she has Sensory intergration disorder. Touch to her is like sensory overload to her same with sounds.<br><br><br>
Any way I wanted to say hi from your neighboor to the north. I live in Jeffersonville In.<br><br>
Jennifer

 

[samsmommy]

Thanks for your post, Jennifer.<br>
The more I talk about it, the more and more I find people who had trouble nursing. I used to be (before I had even ever tried to bf) a bit skeptical of people when I heard that they had "tried" to bf and couldn't. I thought somehow that must not have tried hard enough, and that when I had kids there was no question. BF was the ONLY way to go. Man, was I wrong! It's a bit humbling to know that I passed judgement on those women without having a clue what they went through (and I hate that I thought I could be one to "judge" <i>anyone</i>, anyway).<br>
I feel I really did try everything. I sort of had a double whammy-- Sam never did get a good latch (and like you, was losing weight), which in turn hindered my milk supply. It was sort of a vicious cycle. I tried pumping exclusively, but I wasn't getting very much milk, not even enough for a whole feeding, and it was taking its toll emotionally. I hated the idea of giving him formula, but it was actually one of the (many) lactation consultants that said simply "feed your baby". Sam didn't care <i>how!</i><br>
We are on formula exclusively now, and even though I still am sad that it didn't work, Sam and i are much happier. And healthier, and that's the most important thing. I wasn't about to let my baby go hungry just to be able to say I was breastfeeding. --there was really no "feeding" about it! It was more like breaststarving!<br>
Anyway, you're not alone, and it's good to meet you!<br>
Kelly<br><br>
P.S. About the swing-- I never thought there was anything wrong with it either. Like anything, I suppose it could be abused, and used as a babysitter, but I think its fun, and if the baby's enjoying it, what's the problem? But I was lurking on some AP boards-- not even sure if it was on this site or not... and they were pretty militant about it, saying they wouldn't even have a swing/bouncy seat/pack and play in their house, and that the pack and play was like a "cage" and so on. I understand that those things are not a replacement for human contact, but come on! They are useful, functional and can be --dare I say-- postive things! I just put that comment in my post bc I didn't know if I was in the minority or not, and if I'd be criticized for it later on, I'd just rather be upfront and get it out of the way! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[4 in 2005]

Well yeah the swing can be abused, anything can. But my swing actually saved my daughter's life and I did not know it at the time. She got RSV (talk about guilt I thought if I could nurse she might not have gotten ill...I knwo that she would have had other problems like starving). Well we took her to a local ER (not Kosair). The Dr said she just had a cold to take her to her ped in 3 days. My instinct said to get her in sooner. The soonest the Ped would be in was the next day. I don't know why but I had her sleep in her swing and kept it going all night because she seemed more comfortable that way.<br><br>
Well the next day at the Dr she stopped breathing. I was told having her sleep in the swing saved her life. For one she needed to sleep upright to breathe better. They wanted her to sleep in her car seat/swing or the crib with the mattress elevated for 3 weeks. Also to get her to breathe again the Dr had to tap her foot, to stimulate her. Well she said the movement of the swing did the same thing.<br><br>
We got really lucky she spent 3 days in Kosair's ICU and a week there in all. After that incident I will not take my kids to anyother hospitial but Kosair.<br><br>
So I will NOT Be without a swing now! In fact that is the only thing that I have to get. I loaned my swing to my SIL, she in turn loaned it to a friend who then GAVE it to another friend. So I have to get a swing.<br><br>
Jennifer

 

[ajmckay36]

Kelly--just a quick post--I tried to e mail you and I got an error message--I put kellypowell together as one word and it sent--but I don't know if you got it! I'm at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. I saved it so I can send it again if you didn't get it.<br><br>
I'll be back later to write more about these breastfeeding issues...Jennifer, I'm sorry you've had issues too. We're a sad sorority.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Angela & Liam

 

[4 in 2005]

Angela,<br><br>
I think we have met. I think I met you and your cute little boy at a BCN meeting for getting ready for Birth in the Bluegrass. If that was you that I am thinking of your little boy is SOOO Cute.<br><br>
Jennifer

 

[ajmckay36]

Hi Jennifer! Thank you for your kind words. Yes, that was me at the BITB meeting...Kim Avera was my doula and Nicole Aldridge was my Bradley teacher. Nice to chat w/ you again!<br><br>
I heard you were expecting! Congratulations on your pregnancy! A homebirth sounds so exciting and of course you have wonderful resources at the BCN! Are you going to BITB? I am going to work for Kim.<br><br>
Talk w/ you again soon!<br><br>
Angela

 

[4 in 2005]

I am going to BITB I am going to be taking pictures most the day. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I am looking forward to that. So I will be there will all my equipment. Good thing all my stuff is really light. I am not decided on the homebirth yet but I am really seriously looking into it. I am just trying to find a midwife I like.<br><br>
I am seeing the OB till I find a midwife. I had my first appointment at the OB's office to confirm pregancy. Boy it feels "official" now.<br><br>
I look forward to seeing you at BITB.<br><br>
Jennifer

 

[samsmommy]

Okay, I give up... what is BITB?? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[ajmckay36]

It's an event that the Birth Care Network is sponsoring...you can read more about it at <a href="http://www.birthcarenetwork.com" target="_blank">www.birthcarenetwork.com</a>. It's June 5th.<br><br>
My e mail is down! I wrote an e mail and saved it, so I'll send it to you when hotmail decides to start working again, whenever that may be. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><br><br>
Night, ladies!