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Nov. 18th, 2010 12:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I so wish I had read this article pre-baby. It would have probably saved me a lot of angst, though ultimately I'm glad I stuck it out on breastfeeding long enough to be at the point now where our mix of daytime formula/night nursing works well for us. But the guilt! I could have been saved a boatload of formula guilt! Now I just have "I don't spend enough time with our baby" guilt. Poor kid gets nonstop enrichment while he's home.
West is starting to figure out his hands, and also starting to explore everything by very clumsily putting things in his mouth. It might just be the cutest thing ever.
Also, apparently there's a name for the excruciating pain in my wrists: De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Or "New Mom Wrist." Ladies who may have babies, heed my warning: do not pick up babies exactly the same way all the time, you will kill your wrists until you feel like you have two useless claws for hands.
Also, I love it when research that sounds really hard turns out to be pretty easy thanks to the power of books! I always tell my attorneys "why reinvent the wheel when someone has probably written about your topic before." Don't start doing case research until you've checked the books!
West is starting to figure out his hands, and also starting to explore everything by very clumsily putting things in his mouth. It might just be the cutest thing ever.
Also, apparently there's a name for the excruciating pain in my wrists: De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Or "New Mom Wrist." Ladies who may have babies, heed my warning: do not pick up babies exactly the same way all the time, you will kill your wrists until you feel like you have two useless claws for hands.
Also, I love it when research that sounds really hard turns out to be pretty easy thanks to the power of books! I always tell my attorneys "why reinvent the wheel when someone has probably written about your topic before." Don't start doing case research until you've checked the books!
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Date: 2010-11-18 05:48 pm (UTC)Also: have some baby pandas.
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Date: 2010-11-18 07:09 pm (UTC)Yeah, that was my position until the baby popped out. It's really hard to ignore the ceaseless mommy advice on the interwebs.
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Date: 2010-11-18 07:57 pm (UTC)You are doing just fine, lady. Don't let judgmental busy-bodies make you doubt yourself! West is a lucky baby. :)
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Date: 2010-11-18 09:46 pm (UTC)I didn't know about the Mommy Carpal - it is amusing to imagine one of those hyperbole and a half style cartoons with a mommy with little claw hands trying to lurch over and pick up a baby. Surely not amusing to have the pain esp with a job where you are typing and computing all day.
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Date: 2010-11-19 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-19 03:04 pm (UTC)My mom breastfed me for a LONG time. I had TONS of allergy issues as a child, have a chronic illness and have struggled with my weight since I was a kid. I'm thinking genetics play a stronger role in these things than breastfeeding can.
That said, I still think it is worth trying but I am not going to freak out if I need to make the decision to stop.
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Date: 2010-11-19 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-19 04:20 pm (UTC)Who knows what will happen when I go back to work... Hopefully I'll be able to manage pumping for another 6 months.
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Date: 2010-11-19 05:21 pm (UTC)Are you going to be up this way any time for upcoming holidays? We'd love to meet your little guy!
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Date: 2010-11-20 01:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-20 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-19 09:19 pm (UTC)Bottom line is... only *you* can decide what is best for *you*. We all know that statistics and studies can be found to support whatever we want. Do your own research, decide which sources you trust, reflect on your own circumstances, and make the decision that is best for you. And then own it.
(From my perspective, a lot of the "mommy wars" comes from people a) not respecting other women's choices and b) not taking ownership of our own choices.) To paraphrase Marshall Rosenberg (Non-violent Communication guru): what other people do/say may be the *stimulus* but *we* are ultimately responsible for our feelings and reactions.)
I'm glad that you've found peace and balance that works for you guys. :D