I'm a FTM almost 10 weeks pp and an overproducer, pumping 6-8 times a day on average. I just spent two days with the most excruciating clogged duct. My left breast had swollen to almost twice the size of my right, so painful and full that even a loose cotton t shirt grazing against my nipple made me wince. I couldn't lie on my left side, let alone nurse comfortably. My baby was getting frustrated trying to feed, and after trying sunflower lecithin, Advil, ice packs and pumping with no relief, I was seriously considering urgent care because I was worried about mastitis.

Well, this morning my husband offered to try sucking on it himself to unclog the duct. I was initially embarrassed but I was so desperate that I agreed, and within about a minute milk started flowing. I immediately felt the pressure releasing and after two pumping sessions, my breast eventually softened and returned to its normal size. I literally cried from relief!

Postpartum is a crazy time. Never thought I'd be able to say my husband has tried my breast milk, but here we are

I am so upset. My baby was crying hard this morning and I checked the Nanit cam because my husband was in there with her to feed and change her and I was curious if she was eating or not. She was on the floor so he could make a bottle and then I saw him lean down and grab the front of the sleep sack to pick her up and he did it FAST. No head support. No butt support. Just picked her up by the sleep sack fabric (a thin one at that). I ran into that room and was really upset. He kept saying "the sleep sack was supporting her". Absolutely not. Not her head! She is 3 months now and gaining better head control but isn't that strong with it. I told him to imagine that happening at a daycare and seeing the video. Idk what to do. I am just shocked and upset he would do that.. He's not the abusive type or concerning in that regard but like... why would he do something so stupid? And why do I have to tell him this? He has been very lax about the baby in terms of safety/positioning.. It seems abusive to me whether he believes it or not. He said he won't do it again but I am just so sad he'd treat our baby that way.

My daughter was born in January ‘25. So last year she had all of her first holidays. And they were all quite terrible.

Easter, my close family member had a bit of a mental episode and it threw off the whole day (they’re ok.) Halloween, my daughter and I had COVID. The only photo I have of her is in a second hand costume and she is Screaming. Thanksgiving so much ridiculous family drama went down with my siblings and we just wanted to leave. Christmas we went to my in-laws and stayed in a hotel and our girl cut her first tooth and it was all around bad.

All this say. At the end of that holiday season I felt fully defeated. I was disappointed and sad and just felt bad about it all. And 99% of it was fully out of my control, but what was in my control were my own expectations of how it would go. I really should’ve lowered my expectations.

And this year, she’s almost two and I’m already SO much more at ease and know things won’t go to plan but I’m anticipating that.

Anyhow I’ll get off my soapbox.

But, I do hope everyone’s full holiday season this year is wonderful and if it’s not it’s ok. They’re not going to remember being sick on Halloween or their aunt causing drama at Thanksgiving. They’re going to look back on the pictures on day and you can tell them the little moments of joy you found in that year’s holiday season. And they’re a part of it all and that’s what matters.

which companies repeat the same pattern(s) each year, so I just have to rebuy the kid sizes and not the adult?

I am a SAHM with a 10 month old so we get out of the house as often as we can. Every time that I go to one of these “mom groups” I always feel like I’m an outsider breaking into an exclusive club. The one we went to today is specifically to get new moms together so they can talk and socialize and their babies can play together. There was six other moms and the organizer of the event I was the only one that nobody talk to. It felt like everybody else had already had made all these connections and I was the new kid. I’m sad for myself but I’m also sad for my baby that he is not getting the socialization.

What the title says. As a FTM I’ve been so worried about her getting sick and we’ve had the no kissing rule since she was born. Shes almost 6 months and is going to be around family more with the holidays coming up and I was hoping to continue minimizing germ sharing like that but my baby’s started to put her hands in other people’s mouths and now I’m sure she’s going to do it to anyone holding her 😂 so what’s the point?

Anyone been in a similar position? I’m thinking we pretty much say screw it and if she gets sick, she gets sick but I’d love to hear some advice!

I brought our 4mo downstairs this morning to see that my husband had filled all my water bottles and placed them strategically around the living room. It made me feel so loved.

What are some small ways your partner makes your life easier?

We have an easy baby 6m, but like most babies she is only happy playing for a bit before she gets bored. She chews on everything so what toys I can leave her with is limited. She always slept on the lowest side of charts so there isn’t much time in a day when she sleeps. She has also been waking up every two hours at night for three months now.

I honestly don’t know where to get the energy to sit with her and play and chat all day long. I am so tired. Where do people get the energy or what is it that they do when they are thriving baby caring?

My baby is 3 months old and has not been gaining enough weight for the past month. She only weights 10.4 lbs.

Today we had a follow up doctor appointment and he told us we would have to switch her to formula entirely. She was pretty much exclusively breastfed except for a bottle once in a while when we were out of the house.

She was taking the bottle well until a month ago, then we went a few weeks without giving her one. We happened to try giving her a bottle Friday and she wouldn’t take it at all, she gags when I put the bottle in her mouth and she screams and cries. Saturday my husband tried giving her one and same thing happened. Sunday my dad tried with a different bottle and same. Now today I learn that we have no choice but to switch to bottles only.

Has anyone else been through this? Does anyone have tips for how to try switching her to bottles?

I’m really sad that I can’t breastfeed anymore I haven’t stopped crying since we came back from the doctor. :(

My daughter is 6 months old, and OH MY GOD. This shit is so fucking hard, I don’t know how anyone does this. All she does is cry and scream ALL DAY. Bath time, screams and cries. Getting dressed, screams and cries. Eating, screams and cries. Chilling, screams and cries. Going out in public, screams and cries. DOING LITERALLY FUCKING ANYTHING, screams and cries. How does literally anyone do this?!! I’m so tired, I’m so defeated, I’m so exhausted, I’m constantly angry, sad, drained, anxious. I cannot do this anymore. The pediatrician says she’s teething, but at this point, is it really supposed to be this miserable this has been the “reason” given from the pediatrician since she was 4 month, and not a single tooth has come in. We give Tylenol, Orajel, tablets, Camila drops, wet washcloths, green onion, celery, every teether ever made. Nothing ever works, I’ve taken her to the ER, they checked her ears, mouth, nose, lungs and nothing is wrong. She was always a good baby, she has been sleeping through the night since she was 5 weeks old, now she wakes up 4-5 times a night. She refuses a bottle often and sometimes will only eat 10oz a day. So then she wakes up hungry in the middle of the night. She refuses to nap, she’ll take 10-15 min naps twice a day, and she’ll be so exhausted but won’t sleep. We can’t even walk in the room or get into bed without her waking from the creek of the bed or the sound of footsteps. I’m so tired and I feel like such a piece of shit mom because I’m so angry and defeated that she won’t stop crying. I often just cry with her cause I don’t know what else to do. Please has anyone else gone through similar? What did you do to help. I want to help her cause I hate seeing her cry, I’m trying my hardest and I just feel like a failure. I see women with many kids and I think to myself “am I just a bad mom?” “Do I not have what it takes?”

I am sorry if this gets asked a lot, but I am curious how only children felt growing up. Were you lonely? Did you wish you had siblings? I ask because my husband and I would like to adopt our next child, but it's expensive. In the event we can't afford it, I don't know if I am willing to go through another pregnancy.

Today was my LOs first day of daycare. My daycare doesn't have cameras in the room that I can access and instead they send updates by app. I showed up to do a drop in on my lunch break and it was terrible.

My baby was propped in a bouncer next to another bouncer baby just sitting there staring at nothing. She was screeching (not crying) like I've never heard before, looking so overwhelmed and bored and sad.

There was another baby on the floor being propped up to sit with cushion blocks all alone (she looked far too young to even be sitting).

Two other babies were crying and not being tended to.

Then if all of that wasn't overwhelming enough there was another baby <6 months asleep in a bouncer. I don't know how long they had been sleeping but they were not moved for the 5 ish min I was visiting and a sound machine had been moved next to them. I was devastated because I had asked so many questions about safe sleep beforehand and was assured that they follow the guidelines and if a baby falls asleep anywhere they will be moved to the crib as soon as they notice.

I left to go back to work and called my husband crying to go get her.

Im just so sad. I couldn't find one bad review of this place when we were researching daycares, even friends of friends said they loved it and everything about it just seemed great. The sleeping bouncer really got to me. Is that something that I should report/to who?

I'm not trying to be dramatic but as a FTM with gnarly PPA I feel traumatized, I really don't think I can do daycare anymore

Want to know if anyones ever gone on vacation while they were breastfeeding?

My son just turned 5 months old and I’m starting to consider weaning him off. I always worry about my supply and if its enough for him, or if I’ll have enough milk to let my husband give him a bottle at night or have a grandparent help out if I want to take my toddler out. I’m quickly burning through my freezer supply.

We’re supposed to go on a vacation as a family of 4 the second week of January and I’m not sure if I should wean him before or after. We’re going to the caribbean so I’m just not sure the logistics of being all hot/sweaty/sunscreened up and having to nurse him on the beach out in the open, and if its “easier” to be able to nurse him, or have formula instead?

It’s so strange, it’s like I crashed as soon as my baby started consistently sleeping through the night about a month ago. I should be feeling better but it’s like the adrenaline and everything wore off and I’ve been starting to feel easily overstimulated, feelings of extreme distress and just wanting to break down every time she gets into a crying fit. Like right now she wouldn’t go down for her nap and kept crying and crying and I wanted to cry while trying to comfort her. This age just feels really difficult with the separation anxiety, starting to see some tantrums, big feelings, everything’s a battle. It’s becoming difficult to cope.

I had really bad anxiety and panic attacks the first month or so PP, and got it under control with a great postpartum therapist. I thought I was cruising along until recently. Last week I finally got a prescription for Zoloft from my doctor but I’m just so terrified to take it because I’ve never been on an SSRI before. I feel scared to admit that I might need it. I’ve always been someone who’s prided herself on healthy habits - strength training, taking supplements, healthy eating, getting outdoors. I’m still doing all those things but it’s just…not helping. I got my bloodwork done and my iron is low so I’m taking supplements for that but everything else is fine.

I’d love some words of comfort and positive experiences with taking an SSRI later in postpartum.

Listen, I know Halloween ain’t even over yet and it’s October lol don’t come for me. 😅

My husband brought up randomly that we should get a Christmas tree and celebrate Christmas as a family this year. Before our baby, we never really celebrated at home because we go to 3 family Christmases and over the years we’ve always been too busy or didn’t have the money. We wanted to do it, but never prioritized it.

Now we have a 1 yr old and have the means and would love to celebrate with her. Problem is, she’s a climber and I can quickly see her pulling down a Christmas tree seconds after it’s put up. I feel like putting it somewhere gated off kind of ruins the sentiment for me. So how do you keep your 1 yr old from pulling down the tree?

Hey everyone, I’m 12 weeks postpartum and feeling pretty overwhelmed, just looking to hear from anyone who has navigated something similar.

My delivery involved a big baby (almost 10lbs), and since then my recovery has been a rollercoaster. I was diagnosed with a Stage 2 cystocele (bladder prolapse) and a hypertonic (overly tight/guarding) pelvic floor. Because of the prolapse pocket and the muscle spasms, I developed significant urinary retention—my post-void residual has consistently been over 200 mL.

Because my bladder never fully empties, I got caught in an awful loop of back-to-back UTIs (most recently a confirmed E. coli infection). I’m currently on antibiotics, but between the lingering inflammation, lower back ache, and heaviness, my bladder just hasn't been able to catch a break.

At my appointment today, my doctor recommended placing a catheter to decompress my bladder and finally break this cycle.

Intellectually, I know this is the right mechanical reset it gets rid of the stagnant pool of urine, lets the antibiotics actually work without being diluted, and gives my stretched/inflamed bladder lining a chance to rest and heal. But emotionally, walking out of an appointment with a catheter at 12 weeks postpartum is a lot to process.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has been here:

Did temporary catheterization (whether a Foley for a few days or intermittent self-catheterization) help your bladder "wake up" or reset?

What did your transition off the catheter look like once your bladder had a chance to rest? Did medications like Flomax or a pessary help you empty on your own afterward?

How long did it take for your retention and pelvic floor to calm down enough that you stopped getting recurrent infections?

Just really needing some light at the end of the tunnel from people who understand how exhausting postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction can be. Thank you so much in advance.

One of best pumps ever getting 6 ounces from one side to spilling 4 of those ounces on the floor. I hate pumping at work already since I have to use a patient room to do it. Now I'm covered in milk, a whole feed for my little one. I never understood crying over spilled milk. 6 months into breast feeding with this being my first spill I totally get it now

Not looking for medical advice but did anyone else pass clots that look like tissue? I’m 7 days PP and they’re jelly like and light pink sometimes

Anyone else? I thought I would be a hormonal wreck when pregnant and breastfeeding but it has been the most mentally stable year I ever had. Now that I had my period again I am moody, anxious and irritable. I dont like this old self of mine. I liked my pregnant consistent self.

Does anyone deal with something similar? What would you recommend for me that could help with cycle mood swings? Thanks

I’m two weeks postpartum and I keep randomly pulling or overstraining random muscles. For example I leaned too far forward to put something away and have hurt both Achilles tendons. I also will go to get up and push off my elbow and now that muscle hurts too. It feels like pins and needles. Am I just moving in ways I haven’t moved in a long time and hurting myself? Anyone else experience this?

I did gain a ton of fluid weight at the end of pregnancy and I noticed that the swelling may have hurt my joints. I’m already down about 29 lbs from the 45 I gained during pregnancy (having a 9lb baby helps) so maybe this is lingering joint damage from that?

Anyone else experience this before their little one finally got the walking thing down? 10.5 months, standing, cruising furniture, and screeching with joy when he gets a couple steps forward on the walker. But good lawd. I'd like to blame it on a full moon, but seems like his little brain is just ACTIVE at night the last few days. So tired. SOS. Send solidarity.

My baby has been waking from naps and nighttime sleep prematurely due to noise from the neighbors walking upstairs. They don't stomp or anything, but the ceiling of my apartment really amplifies the sound of footsteps and cabinets and drawers closing. We are very close to them and they are so sweet and considerate and love our baby; they already stopped walking around in the area directly above the crib at night. Unfortunately the sounds from other parts of their home get amplified too, and I am not going to ask them to stop walking in their own house. We use an air purifier near the crib and it is on the highest setting, ridiculously loud white noise, but doesn't drown out the structural creaking and thumping sounds.

Recently the neighbors were out all morning and my baby napped for two whole hours-- extremely unusual for him, it was glorious. Has anyone found ANYTHING to help a baby sleep through irregular noises? Thank you!

Hi all, me and the family started to have fun giving my eight month old tablefood during our vacation this past weekend. Stuff like some whipped cream, potatoes, scrambled eggs. On top of baby food like pureed mango, ham and gravy, turkey and sweet potato. Then her stool got hard, and I believe she was fussy for a couple of her movements. Since then ive been giving her 2 oz of apple juice and have only been feeding her pureed pear/spinach. Its been ~2 days of treatment and her stools are still hard. She has movements consistently, theyre just hard. When exactly do i contact a pediatrician? I feel bad because i do feel for at least two of these movements, she had a visible reaction.

Thank you!