12DOC - yep, I've been using the dream genii and I think that it's marvellous! Mind you, I'm nowhere near big enough yet to get the full benefit of it but already it's making me more comfortable at night - I'm not tossing and turning trying to get comfortable any more and it helps me to sleep on my side without getting aches in my back or hips.
I agree with Jonah on the bfing police - we all know and realise that it's the healthier option for both the baby and you but what is conveniently overlooked is the fact that it's really bloody hard to do and not everyone can immediately whip out a knocker and it's all plain sailing from the word go! We're lucky enough to have a choice and we shouldn't be made to feel guilty if our choice is to bottle feed. With my DS, I could only manage it for 2 weeks before giving up - cracked nipples and mastitis got the better of me. With my DS, I managed 6 weeks - I just couldn't produce enough milk to satisfy him. He was constantly latched on to me and always hungry. I lost 3 stones in weight during that period and I could physically feel myself draining away. I had no energy at all and felt myself getting lower and lower. When I gave up, my milk supply dried up that very same day. No leaks, nothing. In both cases though, my decision to switch to the bottle was in the best interest of me and the baby. This time, I have the same plan as MKG - to give it a try again and see how I get on as at least I'll have given it a go rather than not tried at all.
The Nappies Conundrum - I'm really struggling with this one. I would really like to use cotton, washable nappies rather than disposables. However, I know what I'm like - our washing machine is located in the garage and the simple act of putting the washing on involves gathering it all up and carrying it out of the front door, walking to the garage, unlocking the garage door, loading the washing machine and then later remembering to go back to the garage in time to unload the machine and put the next lot on. There have been times when it's been a case of 'out of sight, out of mind' and I've totally forgotten about the washing load I've put on, only to return to it to find that it's started to acquire that peculiar, musty smell and I have to wash it all over again. I'm absolutely rubbish at running the house! However, I'm thinking "c'mon Creena, just be more organised, you'll be able to find time to continually nip to the garage while caring for a newborn, surely!!" Just in case, I have found some sites where you can buy environmentally friendly disposables, so I might end up going down that route. Are cloth nappies still a lot of work? All that soaking and disinfecting and layers of liners and plastic pins and pins?
I also like the sound of hypnobirthing - I certainly agree about losing fear and relaxing so that our body can do its thing. When I had my DD, I was terrified - everything came as a shock to me and I think I fought the labour as much as I could. Ended up having gas and air, pethidine and an epidural. Whoops! With DS, I was more prepared and had a better idea of what to expect so I went with it - I breathed through the contractions and tried to relax as much as I could. Only used gas and air for pain relief. I think Hypnobirthing will help even more this time around. Thanks for the book recommendation, MKG - will have a look for that on Amazon!