u/ballofsnowyoperas

I am calling an IBCLC in the morning for a consult but I also wanted to consult this group and see if there’s any hope for me. I just don’t think I’m making enough. I really don’t want to switch to exclusively formula because I cherish our nursing relationship and because formula is so damn expensive. Baby girl is 7w today. I hate pumping and don’t do it as often as I should, and I think I might have the wrong flange size. I’m tired and I just wish I was making enough to feed my child.

So I’ve gotten good with the ring sling and feel comfortable with that as my primary form of front wearing, especially since my 7 week old is still so little (~6lbs). I will eventually get a woven wrap and learn to use that for front wearing too. But i know I eventually want to back wear, but I don’t know anything about how to do it safely.

When (weight, milestones etc) is it safe to back wear baby?

How do you load baby into the carrier to wear on your back?

Do you like a woven wrap or an onbuhimo for back wearing?

What other tips and tricks do you have?

Thank you, I’ve learned so much from this group and had my sling fits corrected in such a kind and gentle way. I’m looking forward to learning more.

I love my ring slings so much but I want to start back wearing with a woven wrap when baby is big enough. Where do you get your beautiful woven wraps from? I collect ring slings like art pieces lol so I would love some recommendations for gorgeous woven wraps. Baby girl’s color is dusty rose also if anyone knows of a shop that has a woven wrap in that color!

Sorry this is going to be long. I just want to write out my thoughts after a 4:30am feed.

I became a mom of two on Monday. I was induced at 37 weeks and my daughter was born at 8:55pm. I’m also NOT a freebirth/wildbirth girlie - no judgment to those who are, but I’m very much a doctors/hospitals/trust the medical system type of person. However, the birth and immediate postpartum I just experienced and am currently experiencing are making me feel like I’ve accessed a primal maternal part of myself that I didn’t know I could access.

My first induction was at 39 weeks because my son was estimated small for gestational age. It was a 16 hour induction from start to finish, I had a successful epidural with one small hiccup at the beginning, I pushed for 30 minutes, two small tears requiring a stitch or two. I didn’t think labor and delivery could get smoother or easier than that. Postpartum, I suffered from PPD and struggled a lot. However, raising my son (now 3.5) has been the greatest joy and love I’ve ever experienced. He is my angel baby and has been since day one. I went into the idea of giving birth to my second with confidence and empowerment from the success of my first. But I never imagined it could be this good.

I went in on Monday morning at 37+0 for my weekly NST (daughter was also measuring SGA, both my husband and I are very small people and I just grow small babies), just barely failed. Got sent up for an ultrasound to finish off the BPP. Got points off on the ultrasound for no breathing practice. Sent up to L&D for more extended monitoring. At this point my husband, on his first day of the paternity leave he took early so we could prepare for baby, came to the hospital to be with me, since normally I went to the NSTs alone because they were quick. After about 2 hours on the monitors, the resident came in and told us she was having some occasional heart rate weirdness - not enough to actually alarm them or cause any immediate intervention, but enough that since we were now full term they wanted me to stay and be induced. It was almost like she was asking politely if she could come now. And after a miserable pregnancy, I was ready too.

At this point my husband left to take care of family logistics since this was not the original plan for the day, and I prepared to begin laboring on my own for the first little while. When they checked me I was already at a 3 and the doc said we could skip the foley balloon! I was so relieved as that was one of the toughest parts of my first labor. So they started me on the pitocin with my plan being to get the epidural when my husband got back. Induction started just after 3pm. My phone died and I didn’t have my charger so I had no distractions from labor. They turned the pitocin up from 1 to 3 to 5 and then to 7 all before I even felt like I wanted the epidural. I sat on the yoga ball, looked out the window at the beautiful New England spring afternoon, and breathed through increasing contractions. It was with the greatest intention and no fear that I embraced each contraction, and as woo woo as that sounds it really made all the difference. By 4:30 my husband still wasn’t back (not his fault, he had a lot of logistics to take care of and there was crazy paving construction in front of the hospital) so I decided to go ahead and get the epidural alone. Luckily he got back in time to comfort me through the anxiety of placement. The anaesthesia team was incredible and so was my nurse, Ashley, angel from heaven.

From there it only became even more peaceful. I labored quietly, painlessly but still feeling the pressure of contractions. I began to feel her head really coming down after a little while, and was told it was time. My delivery felt primal, ancient. The lights were dim and the room was warm. For my first, they had the NICU team standing by and a bunch of nurses and the doc. The only people in the room this time were the attending, the resident, a med student, and a nurse, all women. It felt like I was in a cave surrounded by my elder women, encouraging me and coaching me through breaths and pushes. Eight pushes later my beautiful girl was born and I felt her come out of me. She had a nuchal cord and it was wrapped around her neck twice, but it was dealt with so calmly and quickly that I never even had a chance to worry. She cried, I cried, my husband cried, I think even the attending was in tears. It was the most beautiful experience.

And I think it’s affected my postpartum, in the best way. I feel so deeply bonded to my daughter, to both my children. Hormones have come and gone in their regular waves, my milk has come in, and we are adjusting to the nights of broken sleep and feeds and snuggles. It’s all been so easy to ride. I’ve had no anxiety, no depressive feelings, I feel like the best version of myself. I feel more human than I have in my entire life, and I love being a mother more than any role I’ve ever had.

If you actually read this, I wish you the same beautiful birth experience and postpartum bliss. Parenthood is the most beautiful and joyful thing.

Hi! I just had a baby on Monday at 37 weeks. She’s healthy and thriving but tiny at 5lbs 1oz. What natural material baby wraps might I find for a little tiny girl? Also looking for natural material nursing bras. I still have my Victoria’s Secret nursing bras from my first kid and I love them but they are getting old and saggier than my actual boobs. Thanks for any recommendations!