I do this exactly.
I have cut down on my pumping significantly so currently only have enough each day for the next day, but I store the milk in the fridge, no issues.
For those of you who used themā¦ belly band recommendations? Iām already gaining a few pounds around my hips and it makes some of my jeans REALLY not comfortable. They fit everywhere else, though, so guessing I will try to just rock them unbuttoned once it gets worse. What will keep my poor pants from falling down??
Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)ā¦ anyone having symptoms? My riding is worsening the pain. Chiro appt. today. I am 28 weeks. Hoping this isnāt the end of my riding just yet.
[QUOTE=jhg140;8510260]
For those of you who used themā¦ belly band recommendations? Iām already gaining a few pounds around my hips and it makes some of my jeans REALLY not comfortable. They fit everywhere else, though, so guessing I will try to just rock them unbuttoned once it gets worse. What will keep my poor pants from falling down??[/QUOTE]
Once I reached the point of my jeans and work pants being uncomfortable - I just went and bought some of the maternity pants with the stretchy tops. Soooo happy once I did that and I wondered why Iād waited so long.
I never did try a belly band because I had your same worry - what the heck is keeping your pants up!? But Iāve been loving the maternity pants and I only bought 4 pair and theyāve been fine getting me through work days and weekends for the last 3 months.
If you go to the store and try them on to compare against what a belly band feels like - you will know which solution is more comfortable for you.
[QUOTE=Cruisesmom;8510358]
Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)ā¦ anyone having symptoms? My riding is worsening the pain. Chiro appt. today. I am 28 weeks. Hoping this isnāt the end of my riding just yet.[/QUOTE]
I think Iāve juuuust started to get some of this. I was sitting on the couch and wanted to bring my legs up on the couch and out beside me (kind of leaning on the arm of the coach and sprawled sideways) and I got that sharp ouchy no power sensation at the front of my pelvis. Iāve had that at night in my hips and low back before. First time Iād ever had it at the front of my pelvis though. It doesnāt seem to stick around consistently thoughā¦ at least not yet. Just seems to come up when Iāve done too much around the house.
Checking in from the āother sideā! Our baby boy was born January 14, 2016, two days after his due date. I was so very ready - counting the minutes. The very last part of pregnancy was SO uncomfortable. Feeling much better now!
Baby is healthy and perfect, and with 2 weeks under our belt we are getting more comfortable with everything.
Labor - I had planned for an unmedicated birth but I did end up getting an epidural at 7 cm dilated. For me, labor did not feel the way I had heard/read about - I did not get to ārestā in between contractions. The time when I wasnāt having a contraction was equally painful, just in a different way - my body was shaking uncontrollably when not contracting. Eventually I decided I wanted the epidural. As soon as I got it I felt great. I was able to rest, which I think helped when it came time to push. I could still feel a lot of sensation and move my legs and feet. I donāt think it hindered my pushing. Otherwise everything went great. The whole process took 14 hours total. I didnāt have any tears inside but a few stitches on the outside.
Breastfeeding - This has been my biggest challenge, but luckily we are in a good place now. By day 4, my milk had still not ācome inā, despite the fact that in the hospital the nurses and lactation consultant told me everything looked good nursing-wise. I asked a few times if I should pump and was told no, the baby will be more effective at stimulating your milk. Well, by day 4 baby was inconsolable and began missing the wet diaper count and still had not had a poopy diaper since passing meconium soon after birth. The nurse then had me give him formula that evening I was really disappointed. I know it isnāt rational, but I felt like a failure. The next day I saw my pediatrician and a new lactation consultant and they put me on a regimen of seemingly non-stop nursing and pumping - I cannot tell you how difficult this was. I was nursing or pumping about 10 hours per day. We were on a 3 hour schedule. The nursing-pumping part took about an hour and half of the 3 hours, so I just had hour and half windows in which to sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, etc. It was worth it though - I began to make milk! We supplemented the baby with whatever I could pump. I had to do that for 2 weeks, and slowly but surely I was able to meet babyās needs. Now I only pump once per day to ensure my supply stays up, and I freeze that milk. Breastfeeding can be a really difficult.
Sterilizing - I use an Avent sterilizer that goes in the microwave for 3 minutes. I wash the bottles with Dawn soap and warm water, then they get sterilized. I sterilize the pump parts once per day.
Riding - I am planning to get on my mare today! I am just going to walk her out after my trainer finishes riding her. I am taking it easy because I want to be sure I donāt aggravate where I was stitched up. If that feels fine then I will begin doing more - I am so excited to get on a horse!
Body issues - I am feeling way better than I did at the end of my pregnancy - no back problems! I can move around easily without pain! However, I am still carrying a lot of extra weight. I am trying to stay positive and not worry about it too much, but it will be a while before I can wear my breeches.
Good luck to all of you soon-to-be mommies! I am happy to answer questions and share my experiences now that baby is here.
I forgot to mention one other big challenge - āNipple Confusionā - since we had to use bottles to feed him the pumped milk, he then would be frustrated and fussy when trying to get him to begin nursing. Bottles are much easier for the baby - the milk just flows out - so then he would be frustrated when he had to āworkā for the milk. This is why you are usually supposed to wait several weeks to introduce a bottle. For a while, baby spent about as much time fussing at my breast as he did actually nursing. This is not fun at 3am when you havenāt slept over an hour and half at a time for the last 10 days. If you experience this (1) get the Medela Calma nipple - it makes the baby work really hard and create a vacuum to get any milk, like when nursing and (2) stick with it - he still sometimes does this but the time is much less - now he begins nursing much quicker and stays on more consistently. Our nursing sessions are now about 45 minutes to an hour and it should keep getting better as he gets more efficient.
Re: nipple confusion. I had the same issue as CRTXLaw with both my kids as far as milk not coming in. Kid #1 didnāt come in until day 5 and kid #2 it was day 7.
I supplemented formula but used a syringe instead of a bottle, so that the only sucking he was doing was actually nursing.
Itās unfortunately a common side effect of the epidural 
and it by no means indicates failure on the part of mom :). Just think how fortunate we are to have access to formula to hold out babes over until our bodies catch up and start making milk.
[QUOTE=jhg140;8510260]
For those of you who used themā¦ belly band recommendations? Iām already gaining a few pounds around my hips and it makes some of my jeans REALLY not comfortable. They fit everywhere else, though, so guessing I will try to just rock them unbuttoned once it gets worse. What will keep my poor pants from falling down??[/QUOTE]
I just got the one from Target. I found my Piper breeches fit the longest. Even at 39 weeks, I could probably still put them on and wear them totally unzipped with the band (which is how I wore them until I stopped riding āfor realā around Thanksgiving (I think it was 28 or 30 weeks, canāt remember).
CRTX - Congratulations!!! Sounds like a struggle and an adventure and Iām glad to hear you came out on the other side feeling good! 14 hours seems not that bad, though that part definitely does not sound like fun. I hope to follow in your footprints soon. Due the 9th but really trying to encourage LO that this Friday is a good day. Weāll see (Iām not holding my breath).
+1 on the target belly band!
CRTX- congrats!! Hoping your nursing continues to improve and good luck transitioning back to riding, Iām jealous! 
Thanks for sharing your story- I feel like now that itās getting closer I canāt read enough of peoplesā birth stories!
For the belly bands, I bought some from here http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband-how-to-wear?gclid=CLyzt4Xb18oCFUwYHwodEJsKaw and liked them a lot for the end of my first trimester and well into my second, but by the end of my second trimester and definitely in the third I found maternity pants to work much better, and much more comfortable! The belly bands were great while I was using them, though, I never felt like my pants were going to fall down or anything like that and it was nice to extend the ālifeā of my regular clothes.
Iām 36 weeks 1 day now and baby ādroppedā today, which Iāve read is basically right on schedule. The nice thing is I can finally breathe again, but of course now there is a lot more pressure in my pelvic area. So, just a trade of symptoms. Iām hearing from a lot of people (friends, family) to just āenjoyā these last few weeks and not rush it, but I canāt help it, I canāt wait to meet my baby and be DONE with being pregnant! So, baby will come when baby will come, but Iām hoping itās closer to week 38 than week 40 (or worse, 41!).
Re: pants w/ belly bands vs. maternity pants
Iām onsite with a client right now and my typical uniform is jeans with a collared polo tucked into them with a belt. Iām squeezing into my old size 6 jeans and my belt is on the last holeā¦ but I think this will be the last trip where I can get away with it. Like everyone else said, they fit everywhere else, but are tight around my belly.
My next trip is at the end of the month and Iāll be nearly 4 months by then. Is there a good option on pants where I can still tuck in my shirt? My work shirt is way too big for me and looks horrible untucked. Also, I figure a bigger shirt will be nice towards the end of my pregnancyā¦ But how can I tuck??
Goes to show that every baby is really different. I had to bottle feed from day one because of weight gain issues and need of high calorie formula. My little dude never had any issue with nipple confusion.
I also did the target belly bands. I had maternity pants and shorts, but used belly bands with breeches to the bitter (and I do mean bitter) end.
CRTXLaw - CONGRATS!!! Thanks for sharing your story! Just like Sheās Pure Gold the closer I get the more stories I like to hear! What worked, what didnāt. Iām 36 weeks as well!
I am very worried about breastfeeding. I really want to do it, but I just never understood what the baby eats while your waiting for your milk to come inā¦? I did get some free samples of formula signing up for all the programs, that I guess I will use if he seems really hungry while waiting for my milk to come in. I am hoping to not get nipple confusion and hoping my little guy will be able to do bottles and nipple, but I guess we will wait and seeā¦ I figured if he wonāt take the nipple, Iāll just pump and bottle feed. Plus I have to go back to work 6 to 8 weeks after delivery so he will be in daycare and need to have bottles by then anyway. Maybe my milk will come in right away! Who knowsā¦ I guess Iāll find out soon enoughā¦
[QUOTE=JLC;8511895]
CRTXLaw - CONGRATS!!! Thanks for sharing your story! Just like Sheās Pure Gold the closer I get the more stories I like to hear! What worked, what didnāt. Iām 36 weeks as well!
I am very worried about breastfeeding. I really want to do it, but I just never understood what the baby eats while your waiting for your milk to come inā¦? I did get some free samples of formula signing up for all the programs, that I guess I will use if he seems really hungry while waiting for my milk to come in. I am hoping to not get nipple confusion and hoping my little guy will be able to do bottles and nipple, but I guess we will wait and seeā¦ I figured if he wonāt take the nipple, Iāll just pump and bottle feed. Plus I have to go back to work 6 to 8 weeks after delivery so he will be in daycare and need to have bottles by then anyway. Maybe my milk will come in right away! Who knowsā¦ I guess Iāll find out soon enoughā¦[/QUOTE]
For the first few days, baby can only eat a tablespoon full or so at a time, I think- so even if your full on milk doesnāt come in for a few days, usually youāre making enough colostrum to get you through. My milk didnāt didnāt REALLY arrive for 3-4 days and baby boy was more than satiated those first few days. If you decide to BF, and donāt feel confident about your supply, just go by how many poops and pees baby is making. As long as theyāre meeting their numbers, theyāre eating enough!
Congrats CRTX!!! How exciting!
Sooā¦ Iām 31 weeks as of Thursday. I have another ultrasound Thursday.
Annnnnd today my left butt cheek went numb. Like pins and needles, really uncomfortable to put pressure on it. And of course my job is a desk job so Iām currently sitting with my chair turned so that only my right butt cheek is on the chair. My left quad is gonna get a workout today! No option for sit/stand either -my desk is fully stationary. Argh!
This morning my wedding rings also finally wouldnāt fit anymore Feels so strange without them.
The joys of third trimesterā¦ sigh.
Iām hoping Iām still mobile enough/have enough energy by the beginning of March to do a full clip on my guy. Heās got a trace clip right now since normally our winters can be quite cold. This year it seems like we had a few weeks of the cold cold and thatās been it (also the reason Iām super happy I just bought a cheap XL Old Navy coat for the winter instead of splurging on a fancier maternity one or those zipper extenders). But by March heāll be sweating buckets when working with my half-leaser as they arena will be warmer too as the ambient air warms up so heāll need to be rid of his hair to be comfortable while ridden.
Am I being unrealistic to think I can still do that myself? I figure the more I try to keep moving hopefully the easier the rest of pregnancy will be?
Rescuer - if my math is correct you will be 35/36 weeks the first week in March? I will say that I am 36 weeks now and wouldnāt even attempt to body clip an entire horse right now. I would say I got uncomfortable around the 34 week mark. Up until then I was fine. Now I am just wanting this pregnancy to be over.
It is funny, I remember reading this thread and others further along then I saying they were done, and I was thinking that they were crazy, pregnancy isnāt so bad. Trust me, now I know what they were talking about!!!
[QUOTE=JLC;8512603]
Rescuer - if my math is correct you will be 35/36 weeks the first week in March? I will say that I am 36 weeks now and wouldnāt even attempt to body clip an entire horse right now. I would say I got uncomfortable around the 34 week mark. Up until then I was fine. Now I am just wanting this pregnancy to be over.
It is funny, I remember reading this thread and others further along then I saying they were done, and I was thinking that they were crazy, pregnancy isnāt so bad. Trust me, now I know what they were talking about!!![/QUOTE]
Yes your math is spot on. I just donāt want to have to pay someone to clip him when I have the ability toā¦ wellā¦ maybe I wonāt be physically able to by that point, but you know what I mean.
Iām sure I could call in a favour from a friend but I even hate to do that. Its not like Iām asking her to just do a blanket change for me one day or something.
Ohhh hereās a thought! Maybe I can teach hubby to clip. Heās been awfully willing to help me lately since seeing the birthing video in our prenatal class. I will tell him its just like mowing the lawnā¦ but mowing hair on a horse instead :lol: Iām not worried about the clip job being perfect since no one will be showing my horse until after his summer coat is fully in anyways. Any imperfections will be long gone by then!
Also - thank you all for your input regarding gliders! We finally bought one over the weekend. Spent a bit more than Iād planned on, but its the only one that I can sit in easily and have my feet still touch the ground, and I can get up out of it easily without using both hands to push me forward (ie. Iāll be able to get out of it when holding baby!).
wrong thread, sorry! 
o
[QUOTE=JLC;8511895]
CRTXLaw - CONGRATS!!! Thanks for sharing your story! Just like Sheās Pure Gold the closer I get the more stories I like to hear! What worked, what didnāt. Iām 36 weeks as well!
I am very worried about breastfeeding. I really want to do it, but I just never understood what the baby eats while your waiting for your milk to come inā¦? I did get some free samples of formula signing up for all the programs, that I guess I will use if he seems really hungry while waiting for my milk to come in. I am hoping to not get nipple confusion and hoping my little guy will be able to do bottles and nipple, but I guess we will wait and seeā¦ I figured if he wonāt take the nipple, Iāll just pump and bottle feed. Plus I have to go back to work 6 to 8 weeks after delivery so he will be in daycare and need to have bottles by then anyway. Maybe my milk will come in right away! Who knowsā¦ I guess Iāll find out soon enoughā¦[/QUOTE]
Do you have the option to take a breastfeeding class locally? We did one through my hospital and she talked a lot about timing of your milk coming in (which for pretty much everyone takes several days- thatās normal) and about the nutritional needs of infants, how to know if theyāre getting enough etc., among other related topics. It was quite useful. Alternatively, you can probably find a lot of good information on the internet too if you look for reputable sites. Most hospitals also have lactation consultants, too, who will stop in and see you while youāre there- take advantage of them and ask all of your questions. Weāre getting close!! 
