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Comments

Pam

funny, I didn't really like the gdiapers either, and I was SO excited to try them. Oh well.

Just wanted to comment that if someone is DESPARATE to get their hands on the Wonder Weeks book, to check their local library - my library was able to order it in for me from another library in the province.

Hilary

Just a quick note to say I've got a copy of Wonder Weeks I'd be happpy to pass on to an Ask Moxie reader. Please contact me directly at hilarylittle at Gmail dot com.

Tara

Hilary - You've got mail!

Moxie and friends, I want to thank you for this amazing resource you've got here. I lurk every single day, and I have passed a lot of your articles on to my new mom friends.

Ally

I just ran across this Postpartum depression website yesterday:

http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com/weblog/

Looks like a good resource as well.

julie.

I didn't like the g diapers either (for a variety of reasons) - only used mine maybe two times. They sold well on ebay! :)

Donna

Did you try the g diapers with cloth inserts? I put prefolds in them and LOVE them!

Maria

O Moxie, now you put me off pudding!

My clogged ducts were usually caused by a small 'plug' of congealed milk. I started to call them 'milk stones'. Once the plug was out, the rest was just milk, albeit it very watery. Only once or twice did I experience the stringy cheese stuff coming out - gross!

Still, no pudding for dessert tonight.

rudyinparis

Why did I continue reading the posts while eating my breakfast, knowing what the topic was? Why?

Alma

T-tapp question for Moxie, or any other T-tappers..... I tried this out a year ago, not to loose weight but to get back in shape and it was quite effective for the time I did it. I didn't stick with it though as I had a lot of trouble getting the time in with my then not quite two year old and because T-tapp felt so infomercially, I couldn't get over the feeling I was being duped into buying more and more to get maximum results. (For the record, I bought nothing - thanks public library!) So the question now: How did you get over that infomercial quality and figure out exactly which books/videos were really needed?

pnuts mama

i had what looked like a chunk of angel hair pasta plugs, too- no pudding there! the first time i got one out i didn't realize so much milk would squirt out, i was running for a cup or cloth! (learned my lesson for all those times afterwards with a bottle to collect it- also watery if i remember correctly).

i was wondering if there would be a way to at least list the major weeks/brief description of what to expect when all hell breaks loose- vs. a week by week repro of the book, would that be breaking any copyright laws?

Julie

Alma.....I agree. I love the workout (thanks Moxie) but the video DOES feel like one big infomercial. Especially when she takes a water break and gives another plug to her PG spray. Come on. I just try to fast forward through those parts to get to the workout part of it.

I bought the total workout package that has instructionals 1 and 2 and the beginner/rehab. It was about $80 but I think totally worth it despite the infomercial-ness (and bad music) of it. Moxie has a link to another t-tapper Summer's website that I looked at as well that really helped. I'll look it up and try to post it for you.

I try to do the workout during naptimes. I did a 4 day bootcamp and then my intention was to go to every other day for a few weeks, but then got the flu, then got a cold, then got another flu.....so I have managed to do it about 2-3 times per week on average. I'm a little disappointed, but still feel like I've gotten some results. Totally worth the money. I wish Teresa Tapp would come out with a more updated version of the workout with good music and less "selling" - maybe NOT filmed in her living room. But the bottom line is the workout works, so I don't really care THAT much.

Cloud

Not sure where the gDiaper discussion came from, but I want to add that I use them and like them- I don't LOVE them, but I like them enough that I continue to use them. I don't use them exclusively, and I like them a lot better now that Pumpkin's bigger. They didn't fit her too well as a newborn (she is on the small side). However, I don't think I could commit to them as her only diapers. Day care requires disposables, but even at home we don't use gDiapers exclusively. She sleeps in disposables (screw the environment, I want to SLEEP), and if I know we're going out and about for a long period I usually put her in a disposable. But around the house and for short outings, I think the gDiapers work great. They contain poopsplosions better than disposables, but then, there is still some cleanup because I usually have to clean the plastic liner.

Also, I'll confess that during our recent norovirus fun, I used disposables and felt guilty about putting the virus-filled poopy diapers in the landfill. But not guilty enough to add any steps to my diaper changing during that fun time.

So I guess my take home is that gDiapers work well, but add some effort, so I use them only when I am feeling up to that effort. And they aren't as absorbent as disposables, so I think people will keep using disposables at night.

Colleen

Re: Clogged ducts, my lactation consultant gave an RX of cold compresses versus hot--heat causes tissues to expand, which might ease the pain a bit, but will not necessarily loosen up what's wadded in the duct. Cold does the opposite to the tissues, easing pain and swelling in the medium term, and hopefully allowing the material to pass through. I have to say I have not had the experience yet--just passing along an option if you're feeling frustrated with heat's results.

Hilary

Re: Wonder Weeks

Wow, what a response! My copy is headed south for Tara, but for those of you who can't find it locally: you'll be pleased to know that we don't seem to have the same shortage up here in Canada.
The book is available for under $18 CAN (plus shipping) at Chapters.indigo.ca. I double-checked - they do ship to the US.
Happy New Year!

Cloud

BTW, there is a website with "teaser" infor from Wonder Weeks, which may help a bit:
http://www.livingcontrolsystems.com/wonder_weeks/content_ww.html

It doesn't tell you what, if anything, you can do to help speed your baby through each developmental spurt, but it does give you an idea of what the spurts are and when they occur.

Lisa

I'm also happy to pass along my copy of Wonder Weeks - first to e-mail me at ( lisa AT ampedit DOT com ) gets it...

pnuts mama

argh- wonder weeks isn't available for sale any longer at chapters canada...sigh.

cloud- thanks for the link, that at least gives a general idea.

now the passing along of this book from mama to mama is a *great* idea!

JenN

Another copy of The Wonder Weeks (with a small amount of water damage, but still completely readable) up for grabs. Email: jenjamison AT hotmail DOT com and I'll send it your way.

jen l

Another jen, another wonder weeks to pass along. email: lisajen AT aol DOT com & it's yours.

also, we do like gdipes, but don't use them at night. they've been really good for us, although they are a little more work than regular disposables. thanks for everything, moxie!

Laurie

Hey Jen of lisajen AT aol, I tried to email, but keep getting a return. I would LOOOOOOOVE to take your copy of The Wonder Weeks off your hands, if you still have it. Could you maybe email me? laurie.tupelohohey AT gmail DOT com
Thanks, either way.

Lisa

just letting y'all know that my copy of the Wonder Weeks has been claimed - it went to Cloud.

Anna

Re: clogged ducts, the best advice I got was to fill a disposable diaper with hot water for a compress. It hold the heat for a long time, and doesn't get your clothes wet.

Not sure how gdiapers would work. ;-)

JenN

And my copy was claimed by Nicole.

Charisse

Um, nothing on plugged ducts beyond taking a little ibuprofen with your compresses, but dang everybody, I am SOGGY!!! Mouse's school was closed by a power outage this morning so I decided to take her to the office since I had a couple things I absolutely had to do. By the time we crossed Ashbury Street (on which we live) we were soaked to the skin and our umbrellas were unrecognizable metal sculptures. We did get there and back safely and luckily we live on a hill so no flooding, and somehow our power has been preserved although other blocks in the neighborhood are out. So we're good and blessings firmly counted...I'm just saying, it is wet wet wet and ugly in San Francisco today.

Under the heading of things I probably shouldn't worry about but would love to be reassured, does anybody else have a kid who waits an hour or more to pee after waking up in the morning? Mouse is 3 1/2 and has been potty trained for a year or so, so she generally manages her own potty stuff, but this just strikes me as weird (me being someone for whom the bathroom is the first order of business after the alarm clock) and courting some kind of problem. Thoughts appreciated.

Alma

@Charisse - me!! DD is two months shy of 3 years old, and she can go several hours after wakign without peeing. This used to the soruec of extreme frustration and concern on my part... at one point about 6 months ago she held out a record 18 hours between having gone the night before and when she went in the morning. At the time, she had a difficult yeast infection contributing to not wanting to pee, but now that it's been gone she can still hold out. I was able to whittle the morning pee down to 1 hour post wake up not too long ago and just this week I told her it's 1) Wake up 2)Pee 3)Breakfast. Not using breakfast as a reward, just the schedule for the day. She isn't that taken with the idea, but is rolling with it so far...

Jen L

And, despite posting my email address incorrectly, my copy has been claimed by Laurie!

Another Erin

For you g diaper doubters, I use g diapers exclusively, including on long outings and at night. At night, I just stick in two inserts (sometimes using a cloth insert as the second, but often not). I find the doubled diapers are good for 14-15 hours, and the resulting enormous bum is hysterical! But then again, we're past the poopspolsion stage...

Allison

T-Tapp stuff:

I started not quite a year ago, off of Moxie's series on PPD, then Summer's post on "how to get started." (http://summertime.blog-city.com/how_to_get_started.htm) To Summer's (excellent) advice, I'd add to FAX your coupon in to the office (number is on their site) rather than mailing it. You'll get your 30% off much, much faster and not have to wait the several frustrating weeks like I did!

On what to buy, even most of the trainers who hang at the forums will tell you that the Total Workout is all you need, ever. I happen to have picked up a few other workouts, simply because I like the variety and improved/changed posture in some of the workouts. FWIW, the salesy style (annoying to me also) seems to vanish as you get into the other workouts.

Hmmm. Guess maybe I should actually DO a workout today. I hear a rumor that they are more effective that way than collecting dust among the DVD collection! My 30+ week pregnant body would thank me.

sam

Gah! Can't believe I missed the Wonder Weeks book exchange. My baby is 18 weeks and it would so help to balance the sleepless nights with an understanding of exactly what she is developing!!

I have found this website; http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=122&id=2312#3

This is the first parenting website I have come across that actually mentions the 'Wonder Weeks'. Looks quite good.

In the first week of my daughter's life, I had a one of those books that details the schedule you should put your baby on in order to get 12 hours sleep by 3 months or so. Ha!! How naive was I?? So glad I quickly got rid of it, wouldn't have suited her at all. I would have been constantly 'failing', as everything seems to effect her sleep - wonder weeks, growth spurts, gas, you name it. When will I get 4 hours of uninterrruped sleep? - is the question I ask myself too many times a day!! Oh well!

Anyone else with a copy of Wonder Weeks going?...anyone??

Julie

I have a t-tapp question for anyone out there who is doing it.....do you brush? What exactly does that mean, and what exactly does it do? I'm very confused about that. I hear a lot about it but don't understand how that helps you. And what if you are tapping but don't brush? Does that keep your progress back?

Melissa

Hmmm, I take flax seed oil capsules twice a day every day and I got a plugged duct when my little one got sick and stopped nursing for about 18 hours. I even pumped and it did nothing. My supply dropped like that (*snap*) and it still hasn't come all the way back even a week later. Why oh why can it dry up (with a plugged duct to boot) so quickly and yet take so long to come back (even with oatmeal and tea and all the other crap I hate but eat every day).

It sucketh mightly.

Anyway, while a hot water bottle helps it feel better while the hot water bottle is being applied nothing ever worked for me but nurse nurse nurse to get the plug out. Interesting, I've never seen it come out or knew the exact moment it was free - it just felt better by morning usually (that's another plus for co-sleeping!).

Carmen

About plugs... I had a painful lump after a recent bout with thrush. Upon the kellymom website's advice I took a wide-tooth comb (a.k.a. hair pick) and lubed it up with soap in a hot shower and massaged for quite awhile. After leaving the shower I took some lotion and massaged the area for awhile longer with my finger. This combined with frequent nursing/pumping on that side brought the plug out within a day or so.

I'd love some thrush avoidance advice if anyone has any. I had my first bout last month when my period started... luckily I got some All Purpose Nipple Ointment from my OB/GYN and this cured me quickly and baby boy had few symptoms. This month I got it again shortly before my period but I didn't respond quickly enough and little guy got a yeast diaper rash (his poor little balls looked so raw!) We're mostly better again, but any advice on how to avoid this in the future? I have been taking acidopholis (spelling?)but I think the issue for me is hormonal as I didn't have this problem before I got my period back...

Sorry to hijack the post with my questions:)

Suz

For the blocked ducts: i struggled with continuous blocked ducts for the first three months after delivering my daughter. Always tiny little pellets that were so hard i could crush them between my finger nails and they had a brittle calcium texture to them. On the surface of the nipple if I held the skin apart a little they would look like tiny white spots. They were agony to remove and no amount of cold/hot compresses, feeding, massaging, using an electric toothbrush to massage, etc would work. Eventually I taught myself to remove them like a pimple (squeezing each side) and they would pop out like a hard zit (remember those :)). But when removing them i would almost pass out from the pain.

At three months I had a massive blockage that I just couldn't resolve after a week and nor could a lactation consultant - despite repeated draining of the whole breast. So I went home and applied a dab of clearasil to the spot on the nipple. I wiped it off after 30 seconds (or even less) and washed, washed, washed the area. Then after about 2 or 3 minutes my tshirt was drenched (most definitely not in the sexy way some men hope for) and it had quite literally popped out (I actually felt a slight sharp pain as it released).

I told the lactation consultant and we are both very interested to see if anyone else has ever had any success with this. Just to say, however, that I washed, and washed, and washed the area after, and then expressed to ensure I had removed all traces of the clearasil. And if anyone was to try this it would be extremely hazardous for a baby to ingest any clearasil.

And just to let you know how it eventually resolved -- at three months I had a second (and thankfully, final) D&C to remove retained products of conception. And I haven't had a blocked duct since (2 years later). Hope something in there may be helpful, and I truly hope it resolves quickly for you.

Carmen

Damn Suz! That sounds brutal!

Jamie

@Charisse -- I have never been one of those people who has to pee when they wake up. I drink tons of water but I frequently go two or three hours after waking up without needing to pee and that's the way I've always been. I remember it freaking my mother out when I was a child. If it's any comfort, I have never in my life had a UTI so not peeing may not be a direct route to urinary disaster for everyone?

Maria

Ouch, Suz, that sounds awful. But very interesting about the Clearasil... I can see how that would work.

- warning: graphic content ahead -

I always used a needle (well sterilized!) to get rid of those pesky white spots on the nipple. Sometimes pushing the white pellet back a little and then hand-expressing forced it to come back to the surface in a slightly different orientation, enabling it to come out. Or, if that didn't work, I would attack it like a splinter, widening the opening a bit. Bloody, but very effective.

About hot/cold compresses: for me, I found that it worked best to apply heat not on the lump (only increased production and made the lump bigger - ouch!), but just underneath, where the blockage was. My theory is that it would widen everything a bit, helping the plug move down to the nipple, where I could attack it. Cold never did anything for me.

And finally, what drastically reduced the number of plugged ducts I had, was cutting down on saturated fat (never a bad idea of course, but was it ever hard to give up cookies!).

Charisse

@Jamie, thank you! Mr. C sometimes waits a bit after getting up but I always assumed the difference was a boy/girl thing. Good to know there are at least some women who work that way (and so far, no infections or other apparent problems for her or I would think it was a bigger deal). Mouse is a kid who will dig in if I make an issue of something like this, so for now I've just got it on the list of things that need to happen before we leave the house: get dressed, breakfast, potty, brush teeth--in whatever order.

danielle

Can someone explain what t-tapp is? I checked out the website, but don't really get it? Thanks!

hush

@danielle -- Took me awhile to figure it out, too. "t-tapp" = an exercise program called "Theresa Tapp: Fit & Fabulous in 15 Minutes." Look for the link to it under "Moxie's Reading" by scrolling up and looking on the left side of your screen.

Nessa

In regards Suz's issue with the "pimple on the nipple" - my husband noticed that I had one on the "inside" of my nipple and I cannot get rid of it. I've never been pregnant, but it started right after my last round of Prometrium which I had horrible pregnancy symptoms. Can anyone tell me what this might be? It sounds a lot like what Suz said, but again, I've bever been pregnant. Thx.

cloud

Sam- We are near the end of the time when Wonder Weeks will be helpful to us. Why don't we do this: I'll read it (when I get it), and then pass it on to you? It shouldn't take me more than a week or so to read the bits that are still relevant to me.

Send me an email at wandsci AT gmail DOT com with your snail mail address. I think you are in the UK- don't worry about that. I don't mind springing for international shipping. I'll consider it a karmic offering to the sleep gods. Maybe they'll bring us some decent sleep in return. (:

Another Erin- I'm glad to hear that gDiapers are working well for you. I always suspected our sporadic use was just laziness. Do you flush them while out and about, or bring them home to flush at home? I've never figured out a good way to transport the swizzle stick for traveling. I'd be interested to hear what works for you. Thanks!

caramama

Does anyone know if summing up each chapter of The Wonder Weeks would be a violation of copyright laws? If it's not, I'd be happy to do it.

I will try to look into this, but if anyone knows, please tell me. I won't do it until I'm sure it's okay.

pnuts mama

@nessa- keep in mind that i've been pregnant and also nursed for about 18 months, but after we weaned, i would still get not so much plugs in my nipples but what seemed like dried up left over milk specs in some of the holes. they never did anything (like clog a duct, since i was done nursing), and always washed with some attentive cleaning in the shower, so i don't know if this helps at all.

my clogged ducts were always the hard spaghetti-chunk kind, and yes, they hurt so bad when i would have to squeeze them out like a pimple! i'd soften it up a bit with a hot washcloth first, then go at them. ugh. oh, the fun to look forward to with baby #2...

@caramama- i really don't know what the laws are w/ regard to copyright for books and summaries online, etc. i know that in research, as long as you cite your work specifically with an approved method of citation, you are usually safe with quoting directly from text sources or summarizing as long as you list page numbers and publishing info.

this changes depending on how that research is published- sometimes you need permission from the author to reproduce part of their work if the work you are doing is itself going to be published, and then, it also depends on who/what it's being published for (magazine, peer reviewed article, book, etc).

i just don't know what a blog would be considered since it is such a new-ish medium and i don't even know if or how readership is taken into account. *many* authors are thrilled to have their work reviewed/summarized/referred to online or in print as it is a)flattering to be recognized for your work and b) often leads to attention/purchase of said written material. but since WW is out of print, i really don't know if the authors would benefit from the attention, etc.

i almost wish we could address each "phase" with a reader real-life specific question (ex.: my four week old has lost his mind! or have I?) and then answer in terms of collected wisdom from moxie, the group, and also bring in what WW says about that phase. also, people could quote from the book in the comments with less of a fear of legal repercussion than, say moxie.

i'm hoping by june some other generous readers are ready to part with their copies- or are willing to give me a gentle WW clock on the head when i am writing in about my 12 week old going bonkers!

Julie

Perhaps if we considered it more of a "book report"? I know 4th graders don't have to get permission......and obviously, if it were still in print, it wouldn't be an issue and we'd all go just buy a copy. Maybe each person who had a copy could commit to summarizing a few weeks so it's not so much work for one person....and then the community could chime in with real-life examples of what the book might be talking about.

and then we could sell it and make billions of dollars. Or Moxie could, and I think we are all in agreement that she deserves it.

As for the t-tapp question, Moxie is the best person to answer it in-depth, but I've started doing it upon her recommendation and it's basically a series of movements (think cross between yoga, tai-chi and pilates) that work your muscles in groups that achieve fitness without equipment, gym memberships, etc. It's supposed to help you drop inches, lose weight, firm up and lean out. I've only been doing it for about a month (and in that month, had 2 colds and the stomach flu - so wasn't as consistent as I had intended to be) but doing it 2-3 times per week has helped me feel a difference, and to be honest I'm shocked b/c I"m a former gym rat (5-6 times per week) who thought cardio and weights was the only thing to help me keep in shape. The thing about this program is that by doing it consistently, it gets harder as you go because you get stronger and engage more muscles (as opposed to traditional workouts that get easier, so you end up always having to do MORE as you get more fit) so you actually have to do LESS as you get more fit. I was very skeptical about it at first, but am actually considering giving up my gym membership. Which, if you knew me, says a lot.

Jill

http://greenmomfinds.com/

Totally off topic, but since this does seem to be a hodge-podge of comments, I thought I would offer this new sight I found. Great stuff for those trying to be more "green."

Shandra

Carmen - for thrush have you tried breaking the acidophilus tablets open and spreading the powder everywhere (nipples, baby's mouth, 'down there')? That helped me.

Also be sure that you are taking the kind that has multiple strains.

sam

@Cloud. Thank you so much for the offer - I've sent you an email.

I will be happy to pass it on again once I've read it. I'd also be happy to do some kind of book report, although I can't promise to be coherent!!

fahmi

Out of curiosity, does Lecitin really help? I had clogged ducts about three weeks into nursing, and I found Moxie's advice, so I started taking it every single day. During my first six months, I managed to still get clogged ducts four more times - and that's with regular pumping and nursing on demand. I always wondered if I was just the rare 1% this wasn't working for.

Nessa

@pnuts mama - thanks, I'll try that and see how it works. If I don't pass out first!

Michelle

Would love a copy of wonder weeks if anyone has one to pass on? chivrows AT yahoo DOT com

my little guy is at 24 weeks and wondering what to expect at 26 weeks? i'm noticing changes already...no naps, comfort nursing, needs more time with me, etc. any input to get through this and what to expect???

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  • My expertise is in helping people be who they want to be, with a specialty in how being a parent fits into everything else. I like people. I like parents. I think you're doing a fantastic job. The nitty-gritty of what you do with your kids is up to you, although I'm happy to post questions here to get data points of how you could try approaching different stages, because, let's face it, this shit is hard. As for me, I have two kids who sleep through the night and can tie their own shoes. I've been a married SAHM, a married freelance WAHM, a divorcing WOHM, a divorced WOHM, and now a WAHM again. I'm not buying the Mommy Wars and I'll come sit next to you no matter how you're feeding your kid. When in doubt, follow the money trail. And don't believe the hype.
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