Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Yes. Yes they do.

Dash ate every 2-3hrs so it was necessary to have the pump even if I wanted to go shopping sans baby for a couple of hours or get my hair cut. I never used it to build up a stash, I just used it if I needed to give a caregiver something for him to eat and if I was going to be away from him for 4+ hours I would need to pump because my boobs would feel like they were going to explode. It's definitely helpful to have on hand even if you think you're not going to need it often.

i never did have a pump after the first 2 months when we were transitioning from bottles onto the breast after getting out from the NICU. i guess it would have been helpful a few times but i never really found myself able to get away longer than she would go between feedings anyway. by the time she was 6 months i was able to go to the grocery store and get my hair cut without her needing to nurse, and that's just what we did... i would nurse right before i left, and usually get a solid 2-3 hours (once she was able 5 months). but i dunno... it seemed like an awful lot of work to pump a bottle for an extra hour or two per excursion.

The Emperor ate every 2 hours or less round the clock until he was like ten months old. Really that often. I pumped a lot in months 2-4ish but almost never ended up going anywhere without him anyway. It was nice to be able to occasionally give him a bottle when I felt like I seriously just needed him to leave my boobs alone for a bit though.

Thank you everyone!!!

Lower back pain. Any ideas?

low back pain-

pelvic tilts (a mild version of yoga's cat/cow). 50 in the morning. 50 before bed.

Other than that, regular stretching/yoga and warmth (either from a bath or rice sock, etc.)

Thank you so much. <3 That helped.

I'm having middle back pain and ice is really helping. Just for 5-10 minutes a couple times a day. Also look into getting a pregnacy support belt. I got one but haven't used it much yet. They are really supposed to help with lower back pain.

the belly band/ postpartum wrap things were awesome after my second. I felt so floppy and my back was weak. They helped a ton.

Definitely take the pump!!

I'm a stay at home mom and Miles is only 3 weeks old, exclusively breastfed and I've used my breast pump quite a bit already. He will sleep a good 4-5 hours at night and then only eat off of one side so I HAVE to pump the other breast when he's done because they feel like they will explode! It's also helping build up a small stash for those few times I'll be away. I think it's definitely worth getting one especially if friends are going to give you theirs.

A good pump is worth its weight in gold. Take it.

For back pain yoga, stretching, and walking saved my life.

Babies are eating and pooping machines.

Can you gals share what support belt you have? I know I would like one, but I can't figure out what will work under clothes and not look/feel like I'm in the WWF.

After my c/s, the hospital gave me this heavy duty support belt that had I swear industrial-strength velcro on it. I loved that thing. It took me, my husband, and my nurse to get that sucker tight enough - I felt like I was in the victorian era, but that's the only way I felt comfortable and like I wasn't going to fall apart.

Once I recovered more and got home (month postpartum), the bella bands that I used through the pregnancy worked great. Lightweight but still gave that extra bit of support. They were great for covering the belly while breastfeeding too!

I got my support belt from a medical supply store. It is pretty heavy duty though. 3 different parts to it. I had to get fitted for it. Some insurances pay for it and medicaid pays for it too.

That sounds so good. I started doing the tilts, and felt better today.

Has anyone bought a fetal doppler? Can one buy them in brick and mortar stores - I want to try one out before purchasing, as our little Houdini seems very good at evading our MW's.

I used a belly bandit I think it was called. I got it off craigslist. Target has workout ones in the fitness sections that I reckon would work the same.

I thought the belly bandit was for post-partum bellies?
http://bellybandit.com/HowItWorks.aspx

Yes! I was talking about postpartum back ache and general floppiness.

I've been hoping to find a belly bandit on our craigslist, but haven't seen very many in our area. I may have to spring for the full price one, but I'm concerned about the sizing.

I want a baby bag, nothing too girly, too expensive but good and I do not just want to use a purse, any recs?

On Belly Bands...
I have not used or felt I needed a bally band, however, I think after Mini B is out I will want one to make the jiggle more subtle.

I got a woven wrap (Hoppediz) - any thoughts on it? It seems so daunting and big.

Assuming you want something vegan... Not sure how easy all these brands are to find in the UK, but I wanted something that LOOKED like a purse, but had the features of a diaper bag. I liked:

- Storksak, a few nonleather bags. I ended up getting the Alison in Chocolate.. I liked the flip-open bottom compartment for the changing mat and supplies, which I thought would keep it separate from my purse stuff. I do wish, though, that the whole thing was faux leather instead of just the details, I think it'd be a nicer looking bag.
- Timi and Leslie. As far as I can tell all their bags are nonleather (though verify yourself obv). I have a pewter Charlie II. It's HUGE, but beautiful. It does seem like a few people have had issues with the quality of stitching, but I haven't noticed any problems yet.. As a caveat I haven't used this day to day yet, it's packed as my hospital bag. The main downside is that to me the size feels more like a weekend bag than a day to day purse. The Timi & Leslies definitely have the most complete accessory set I've seen, including an interior clutch/mini you can grab with your valuables.
- Nest diaper bags. Not all are vegan, but those that are are clearly identified on their website. I liked the Bleecker in gray and was tempted by it. Some of the Nest models, like some of the Storksaks, have that flip-down compartment on the bottom.
- Matt & Nat has one diaper bag. It wasn't my tastes but maybe it will be yours!!

If you like stuff that is more diaper-bag-looking/colorful, there are tons of options out there in bright vinyl. I was really looking for something I could use as a purse, though.

I bought a belly bandit last week on a whim, I am glad to hear some good reviews I wasn't sure if it was just some marketing ploy.

Which kind did you get? I was looking at the BFF vs. the original design; I have a waist-to-hip ratio that would please Sir Mixalot, so the BFF seems like a better choice but the reviews I found of it seem much less enthusiastic than the original. And so at this dithering step I remain... They seem so expensive for what they are!

Thanks Annak, I will shop right now! I have family that will send me US stuff if I order it to their homes...maybe not in time for baby, but if I love it, I do not mind the wait!