saHm's?

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:41 am

Hello to all and to any fellow sahm's, I'm Karen (16) and new momma to darling Caitlin (b. 3/31/06)

as well as essentially the role of mother to my little sister (11) and brother (8) (I've lived with my aunt since I was 8 and them both since birth...so I've helped quite a bit in raising them). I also tend (or will resume tending soon...once caitlin is 5 weeks old) a 4 year old girl on MWF. I'm here looking for some new friends as well as to ask a few mother questions. I'm a breast feeding momma and have heard both sides of this stick...I've been told by two of my cousins and Dr. Spock to give Caitlin an occasional bottle...one a day...so she gets used to it before she's too opinionated. But my neighbor ("natural" momma) and la leche league swear by the philosophy "don't let a bottle in your house." I'm leaning more towards THEIR idea...I plan on nursing Cait her entire first year. Should I follow the majority's advice and give Caitlin a daily ba-ba...so when the day comes to wean her she'll accept the rubber nipple? Or should I stick to my guns and not let one of those plastic contraptions anywhere near us? I'm also hesistant because I've heard and read from other sources that babies who are fed by both often come to prefer the rubber nipple...but I would assume that's those who are given MORE than one bottle per day. I'd love to hear your experiences with feeding your own whether breast or bottle! Second question...Caitlin's father is coming for his first visit tonight from (should be) 5-7 and bringing his new girlfriend

... who has a 3 year old son. He voluntarily acknowledged paternity BEFORE Caitlin was born....which I'm still thrilled but at the same time worried about the fact since he didn't openly admit he was the father until he'd been dating this girl a little while (he acknowledged paternity during my 8th month of preggers). I know this sounds HORRIBLE...but I have my worries that this is all an act he's putting on for his girlfriend...and that if and when they break up his involvement with Cait will die off. Is that awful of me or what? I just wonder if my concerns are well founded...my aunt tells me I'm stupid to even put up with him...but he's my little girl's daddy. My best friend thinks I'm worried over nothing and that he is comitted to being a father...which openly admitting paternity without a fight (although which is simply what a decent guy would do) would to some degree prove. Bottom line is i want for Cait to feel secure...as very young as she is. Well we're gonna go stroll around the house (I wear Cait in the snugli almost constantly : )...but I hope to get to know you all better and that I can find an online home here :p

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

__________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

saHm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:45 am

Hello Karen, welcome to FG!! :-6

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:55 am

Hello Karen welcome to FG.

I'm a SAHM also. I didn't breastfeed my children, they had problems latching on. However on the bottle issue. One a day for now is a good idea. Unless you are planning on being with Caitlyn (love the name) 24/7 for the next year, you want her to be used to a bottle too. She doesn't have to have formula, she can have breastmilk, if you have pumped some. Talk to your pedatrician about what nipples are best. I think they have some on the market now that are supposed to be like a mother's nipple.

Welcome to again to FG, will be nice getting to know another SAHM. :-6

Post by **Betty Boop** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:07 am

Hello Karen, welcome to the garden :-6

I'm a Mum of two, a boy(8) and a girl(3).

There is no doubt that breastmilk is best, but there is also nothing wrong in expressing some and letting her take from a bottle. After a few weeks of sleepless nights you might be quite glad for a friend or your aunt to give a feed whilst you catch up on some sleep!

Is Caitlin very unsettled?? Just wondered why you're carrying her around all the time?

Great name by the way, it's also my God-daughters name.

vampress.rozz · Post by **vampress.rozz** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:12 am

My first baby was breast fed only...he didn't sleep well (he was very hungry)

The second had both....worked out perfectly for us Outside the bottle Inside mummy. Actually he seemed to prefer breast milk to the rubber teats. The only advice I would give a new mother ..trust your instincts, listen to others then make up your own mind. Hope it helps

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:48 am

No one else has addressed your baby's father yet, so I will. You refer to him as "Caitlin's daddy." He's a sperm donor. It takes more than getting a 16 year old girl pregnant to be a father and his "new girlfriend" has no place in this picture. I think your fears are completely understandable. Admitting paternity doesn't mean a whole lot, either. Let's see what he does when it's time to actually take some responsibility for the baby.

How old is the baby's father?

Congratulations on your addition to your family, too! :-6

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:11 am

Hi Karen,

Congratulations and best of luck. I'm not a mom so I haven't a lot to offer.

My sister wanted to breast feed too all the time but after a while she was so exhausted she was glad to hand the little myte over for a while.

You sound very mature and I'm sure you will do right by your little girl.

No one else has addressed your baby's father yet, so I will. You refer to him as "Caitlin's daddy." He's a sperm donor. It takes more than getting a 16 year old girl pregnant to be a father and his "new girlfriend" has no place in this picture. I think your fears are completely understandable. Admitting paternity doesn't mean a whole lot, either. Let's see what he does when it's time to actually take some responsibility for the baby.

How old is the baby's father?

Congratulations on your addition to your family, too!

I must say that I agree with our straight talking Babyrider.

I would give him a chance but if he starts to act like he doesn't care then I would tell him to get lost. Better no father in the picture then having your little girl yearning for one who is not interested. I'm sure you will meet a nice man ready to take care of you and family when the time is right.

Welcome to the FG. :-6

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:13 am

BabyRider wrote: No one else has addressed your baby's father yet, so I will. You refer to him as "Caitlin's daddy." He's a sperm donor. It takes more than getting a 16 year old girl pregnant to be a father and his "new girlfriend" has no place in this picture. I think your fears are completely understandable. Admitting paternity doesn't mean a whole lot, either. Let's see what he does when it's time to actually take some responsibility for the baby.

How old is the baby's father?

Congratulations on your addition to your family, too! :-6

I have to agree also with Br's advice on the baby's daddy. I also wouldn't want my daughter around the girlfriend, but that's just me. :rolleyes:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:13 am

Hi Karin!

What is sahm?

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:31 am

chonsigirl wrote: Hi Karin!

What is sahm?

i'm not karin, but sahm is short for stay at home mom.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:32 am

Oh, why not just say it then? Why an acronym?

It sounds like SAM, and that's a guy name, not a mom name......................

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:34 am

I guess cause it's easier to type sahm than typing it out. :wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:36 am

That was the first time I have ever seen it put that way, sahm-green egss and ham-sahm I am......................nah, I used to be.

Power to you, girls!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:42 am

caitsnugli2006 wrote: Hello to all and to any fellow sahm's, I'm Karen (16) and new momma to darling Caitlin (b. 3/31/06)

as well as essentially the role of mother to my little sister (11) and brother (8) (I've lived with my aunt since I was 8 and them both since birth...so I've helped quite a bit in raising them). I also tend (or will resume tending soon...once caitlin is 5 weeks old) a 4 year old girl on MWF.

and Hi to yourself - that's quite a responsibility you've grown up with. More power to you for coping.

and welcome to the madhouse

caitsnugli2006 wrote:

I'm here looking for some new friends as well as to ask a few mother questions. I'm a breast feeding momma and have heard both sides of this stick...I've been told by two of my cousins and Dr. Spock to give Caitlin an occasional bottle...one a day...so she gets used to it before she's too opinionated. But my neighbor ("natural" momma) and la leche league swear by the philosophy "don't let a bottle in your house." I'm leaning more towards THEIR idea...I plan on nursing Cait her entire first year.

Far be it from me to give advice on this (mine don't work

) but consider what would happen if you became ill and couldn't feed - or dried up for any other reason.

It makes sense to have a fall back option.

The very best to you and Caitlin.

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:16 pm

Ty to all of you for the warm welcomes and as I posted in the intro thread...sorry if acronyms annoy any of you! I've actually seen the phrase abbreviated that way quite a bit...but maybe I'm not in the mainstream. Hmmm :rolleyes: I'll lay off from now on...lol. I do have some expressed milk stored (I seem to have gallons...its like Cait and I were BOTH born to nurse!) and by the newest standards I've heard it can be kept refrigerated for up to 8 days...but I'm leaning towards not letting a bottle come near her little mouth unless its absolutely necessary but then if so yes. I was instructed not to worry about schedules in the beginning...I nurse her about every two hours but with watching Cait, not the clock I do appreciate all of your warm advice however...and being new to motherhood you can count on other questions coming! As for the snugli...as you can probably tell by my being so adamant about nursing I try to be natural...so I and she both enjoy my wearing her. When she'll cry that's often when I'll nurse on demand...and sometimes she will just suckle a bit rather than nurse...and enjoy being belly to belly. All in all, I try to be a natural mama...like my fellow neighbor. Caitlin's father is coming in just a little less than 4 hours...up until she's 10 mo. old the father generally has to have visitation in the custodial home...so I'm not that concerned about his girflriend...since I'll be here the entire visit. I am already having some selfish thoughts I hate to admit once the first 9 mo. of her life have passed...if his new girlfriend is still in the picture by then

I want her to have him involved in her life for as long as it will go, but as all of your points were deep in my mind its like I know its a show to impress his new girlfriend being as she has a 3 year old son herself. He hasn't even come for his first visit yet though...so I'll have to see...and see if he'll want to bring his girlfriend each time...then I can be a little more suspicious. I just want for Cait to have everything. I'll be sure to let you all know how those (roughly) couple of hours go! Again thanks...and you'll be hearing more from me...I quite like it here already!

P.S. I probably need to forewarn all of you that I'm generally only online about twice a day...so please don't be offended if I don't respond that promptly!

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

__________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

saHm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

Friends

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:17 pm

Oh, and her father is 20.

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

__________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd :p

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

saHm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:26 pm

And thank you for the compliment's on Caitlin's name...I considered going with a "k" rather than a "C" to go with my name, but the traditional spelling appealed to me just a little more :p So I stuck with that

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

__________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

saHm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:38 pm

Hiya...welcome to FG.

I have a gorgeous 6 month old grandson..Lewis...His mum breastfed for the first 3 months and then starting expressing her milk and bottle feeding. She had special bags for freezing...she did this for about a month but she introduced formula milk very gradually and phased out the breast milk. I guess prolonged breastfeeding is down to the Mom...go with your instincts.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:55 pm

Hi, Karen. Nice to meet you. Hope all goes well for you and Caitlin (not forgetting the rest of your charges).

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:04 pm

Ty open...yes Mary Catherine, Mitchell and Nat are beautiful kids

And thanks Bez...I think I'll be sticking to my guns have expressed milk refrigerated in avent containers...but won't be offering a rubber nipple unless necessary...even then I'll wanna wait till Cait is at least 6 weeks old and established nursing. Thanks again for the warm welcomes!

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

_________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd :p

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

sTaY aT hOmE mOm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:31 pm

Ty tmbsgrl...absolutely love it

Awww kindergarten's fun...the little girl I tend will be 5 in Oct. but in Idaho that's considered a "late" birthday...being as the deadline is 9/1. So she'll be waiting a year...but she's a cutie

If you didn't see in the intro thread...I'm a fellow Passions fan...a HUGE one!

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

_________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

sTaY aT hOmE mOm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.

caitsnugli2006 · Post by **caitsnugli2006** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:33 pm

Mary Catherine is a 5th grader...her days of elem. school are now numbered...YIKES! She's still a ton of fun though. And Mitchell is in 3rd grade. Both incredible kids.

mY baBy iS 5 daYs oLd toDaY

_________________

kaReN

swEeT 16 yEaRs oLd :p

caLdwElL, idaHo

caitlincoloringbooks2006@yahoo.com

sTaY aT hOmE mOm tO caiTliN b. maRcH 31, 2006, big siSteR tO maRy catHeRinE (11) aNd miTcHelL (8) aNd baBySitTeR oF naTaLiE (4) on mWf

LiSa siMpsOn: mOm, roMaNcE iS dEaD. iT waS acQuiRed iN a hOsTiLe taKeoVer bY haLlMaRk and diSnEy, hoMogeNizEd, aNd tHen soLd oFf piEce bY piEce.