u/Noneed4usernames

I have mixed feelings about this. My son just turned 5 months, and from what I’ve read online, I shouldn’t practice sitting with him. Instead, I should let him attempt to sit independently when he’s ready, since sitting him up too early could potentially hurt his spine.
For now, I mostly let him play on the floor. Eventually, he rolls onto his tummy, which he tolerates pretty well, but he doesn’t roll from tummy to back yet.
Unfortunately, we won’t see his pediatrician until his 6-month appointment, so I’m hesitant to practice sitting with him before then. I’m curious: What have you learned about this, and did you practice supported sitting with your baby or wait until they did it on their own?

Some of us have stretch marks. I occasionally get lower back pain that I think is from my epidural. What random changes or symptoms did you end up with after becoming a mom that nobody warned you about?

I’m a huge espresso martini fan and I’d love to start making them at home.
I have zero cocktail-making experience, but I do have a bottle of SKYY Vodka and a shaker. Is there an affordable espresso martini mix you’d recommend that I can find at Target, Walmart, Total Wine, or a local liquor store?
If what I’m asking is realistic, I’d really appreciate simple, beginner-friendly instructions. I’m not looking for anything fancy—just something that’s easy to find, easy to make, and tastes great.
Thanks!

Just as the title says, my LO is 4 months old, and the few hours of sleep I get have never felt as deep or restful as they did before having him. Even when he’s sleeping, my brain feels like it’s in this constant semi-awake state, always listening for him.
Does that ever go away, or is this just the new normal?

Hi everyone!
I’m a ftm to a 4 mo who has been combo-fed since birth. We recently started supplementing with Kendamil Goat, and it’s been going really well.
I’ve read the preparation instructions, but I’m curious about what people actually do in real life. Do you boil the water every single time before making a bottle?
I also came across information saying that the manufacturer doesn’t recommend preparing bottles in advance and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. I know a lot of parents use the pitcher method or make bottles ahead of time, so I’m wondering what your experience has been.
If you’ve boiled (or not boiled) the water, or if you’ve prepared bottles ahead of time despite the recommendation, have you ever had any issues? I’m especially interested in hearing from parents who’ve been doing it long-term.
Thanks

Edit: thank you all !!

How do you all fix a clogged duct?
I’ve read a few things online, but I’d love to hear what actually worked for you.
My LO has slept 6h stretches for the past two nights, and I was so excited to finally get some sleep too. 🥲and then, I woke up with a hard, painful lump in my breast yesterday, and it’s still there today. Of course, it’s in my slacker boob, too.
What helped you get rid of a clogged duct the fastest?

First-time mom to a 3-month-old here.
He’s not super clingy, but he really doesn’t like being by himself. Some days he wants to be held almost constantly. There are days when I feel so drained that, as long as he’s in a safe place, I’ll let him cry for a few minutes while I drink some water (I’m exclusively pumping) or quickly eat something when I’m home alone.
Some days I just don’t have it in me to constantly talk to him, sing songs, or be super engaging. He still wakes up every 2–3 hours at night, so I’m usually running on 4–5 hours of broken sleep.
I don’t want to become a serious, bitter mom. That’s not how I want my son to remember me. Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way sometimes. I love him more than anything, and I pray every day that I’ll become a better person for him. But some days, I’m honestly just trying to make it to bedtime.

At his 2-month checkup, I asked his pediatrician if I should let my baby sleep longer than 3 hours at night. During the day, he usually drinks 3–4 oz of breast milk every 2.5 hours. She said it was completely fine to let him sleep.
He’s been gaining weight well and has plenty of wet diapers. He rarely sleeps longer than 4 hours at a time, but when he does, I start getting anxious that he’s gone too long without eating.
Do you wake your 3-month-old up to feed in this situation, or do you just let them sleep? Part of me feels like he’s still so little, but at the same time I don’t want to get him used to waking up every night for a feeding if he doesn’t need it.
What’s the longest stretch you let your 3 mo sleep at night before feeding?

I honestly don’t even know what kind of support I’m looking for here. I think I just need to vent to some strangers who might understand.
I’m 3 months postpartum. My supply seemed to regulate around 10 weeks, and my routine has been pretty consistent ever since. I pump about 6 times a day, including one pump around 3 a.m. when my baby wakes up, and I also nurse 1–2 times a day.
For weeks, I was consistently getting around 5–5.5 oz per pump. I was even freezing a bag of milk every day. Then about 4–5 days ago, my output suddenly dropped to around 3–3.5 oz per session, and I’m feeling really discouraged and honestly a little panicked.
Nothing has changed with my pumping schedule. The ironic part is that I had always planned to stop pumping around 6 months because I constantly feel thirsty, exhausted, and I’ve lost a lot of weight. But losing my supply before I was ready was never part of the plan.
The only thing I can think of is that I came down with an upper respiratory infection about 5 days ago and I’m currently taking prescribed antibiotics. Maybe that has something to do with it?
I know people will suggest pumping every 2 hours, but realistically I just can’t do that. I’m already stretched thin mentally and physically. Part of me wonders if I should just keep doing what I’m doing, give it some time, and see what happens. Another part of me is worried that my body is simply exhausted and starting to wean itself before I’m emotionally ready for that.
Has anyone experienced a sudden drop like this around 3 months postpartum, especially while sick? Did your supply come back once you recovered?

My baby is 3 months old and usually drinks the 4 oz I pump every 2.5 hours. Is that a normal amount for his age? Will he need more as he gets older? I cannot get more than 4 oz when I pump

I know the benefits of breast milk, and I know every parent gets to decide when they’re ready to hang up the pump. I’m just curious what age others feel is a reasonable point for a baby to transition fully to formula.

My goal has been 6 months since the day my son was born, and I’m halfway there . But even though I always planned for it, I still feel guilty about stopping and switching to formula.

No judgment toward any feeding choice at all—I’m just looking to hear how others approached this decision and when they felt comfortable making the switch.

Every time a letdown is coming, I feel extremely hopeless and nauseated. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve seriously considered quitting pumping altogether.
The ironic part is that I’m always encouraging other moms to choose formula feeding if that’s what supports their mental health, yet I seem unable to follow my own advice.
I don’t know if I’m still pumping because I genuinely feel like I owe this to my son, because I was never excited about nursing, or if it’s because of the pressure from my husband and his family about the importance of breast milk.
For those who have experienced D-MER, what helped you cope? Did it get better over time, or did you decide to stop breastfeeding/pumping? I’d really appreciate any advice… currently crying as i pump.

How common is postpartum hair loss, and when did it start for you? How did you deal with it, and how long did it take for your hair to grow back?

I’m currently 2 months postpartum, exclusively pumping, and still taking my prenatal vitamins. I haven’t experienced any hair loss yet, but I’m worried it may start soon. I’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips that helped you manage it. Thanks!

I recently finished my BSN and am considering becoming a PMHNP. For those practicing in Florida, do you feel it was worth it?
How hard is it to get hired as a new PMHNP in Florida, especially South Florida? Any school recommendations or programs to avoid?
Thanks!

Literally what the title says. My main pump is the Eufy E20, and I’m wondering what signs I should look for when it’s time to replace the parts. I’ve been using it for about a month now and pump around 7 times a day.

8 weeks postpartum (first pregnancy) and contemplating Mirena as the desired IUD. 28 yo and never had an IUD placed before. How bad are the side effects ? Is the insertion painful?

First time mom here to a 2-month-old baby. I exclusively pump, so most of his bottles are breast milk, with maybe one formula bottle a day. I’m thinking about weaning off pumping when he turns 6 months old.

At what point did your babies start sleeping through the night? My LO currently wakes up twice a night for feedings, which I find pretty normal since he still eats about every 3 hours.

Also, I keep reading about the 4-month sleep regression and I’m just like… how is there supposed to be a regression if we never even had a progression in the first place?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

Edit: thank you all for sharing your experiences!!! I forgot to ask for tips, schedules or training you followed or if maybe you were just naturally blessed with a sleepy baby.

So I have a 6-week-old. At his 1-month pediatrician visit, he was gaining weight well. I’m exclusively pumping every 3 hours, and I rarely nurse him because it’s very painful for me. Once in a while, he also gets formula.

Every time I pump, I usually get around 3–4 oz, and rarely 5 oz. I know I shouldn’t compare my supply to what I see online, and most of the time he seems satisfied with 3 oz, but I still get anxious thinking about when he gets bigger.

Will this amount still be enough for him in the next few months? I’m very disciplined with my pumping schedule, but I realistically can’t pump every 2 hours.
Any piece of information?

Hi everyone. First-time mom here, currently pumping at 5 a.m. while typing this 😅 I have a 1-month-old who is thankfully gaining weight well, so I’d like to keep our current feeding routine.

He gets mostly pumped breast milk, with some direct breastfeeding. He has a short lingual frenulum, and his latch is painful for me, so pumping will likely remain our main feeding method.

My issue is that my nipples are badly damaged. I’ve been using the Momcozy M5 because it’s practical since I’m always busy and need to move around. I already adjusted my flange size and lowered the suction, but I’m still having pain and damage.

I also have a Spectra S2, but I don’t always have time to sit down and use it. My lactation consultant mentioned that she often sees this problem with the M5.

Can anyone recommend a really good wearable pump that’s gentler on nipples? I’ve read good things about Eufy.