Pregnancy 101

I definitely want some feedback with this one so pay attention and be sure to offer your insight! You don't have to have kids to have thoughts, ideas or experience with these things so please don't fail me now!

Cravings - What has been your experience?
With Dayton it was banana spilts, chocolate milk shakes and M&M's. I didn't know I was pregnant with him until I was 14 weeks along and prior to that I was living on toast. Looking back I can't believe he did come out looking like something from Baskin Robbins!

With Ellie I can't actually remember any cravings! I am sure that I had some but that pregnancy flew by so quickly that I really don't remember too much. It was uneventful, which was a great thing! We found out on April 1st and she was here in September.

With this one I initially craved egg flower soup (probably due to the nausea) followed by cheese quesadilla's from Cafe Rio and then I was onto Jamba juice (cut short by diabetes). Lately it's been hot dogs grilled to a black crisp (no bun) and hopefully this ride will soon be over!

Diapers - What is your perference?
As for diapers, Pampers are definitely out. They smell like baby powder and then you mix in the urine and it's this nasty chemical induced nausea for everyone. in the vicinity. Plus they are the most expensive. In the past it's been Huggies for my babes and I've had no complaints but we have also tried LUVs and a few generics and have been hit or miss. As much as I would love to go green, I would never venture into the cloth world.

Formula- What has worked for you?
Dayton was unable to digest the protein in breast milk and any kind of formula except Nutramigen. If you are familiar with this product you know how crazy expensive it it; however, it is the ONLY thing his little system would tolerate.

Ellie didn't fair well with nursing either despite my determination. She ended up on a soy formula which was one step away from the Nutramigen. As she got a little older we were able to switch her to Good Start (maybe there is something to those comfort proteins?).

I have always been anti-Similac just because there is so much air and so many bubbles when you mix it up. My babies were both sensitive and subject to gas so I didn't dare try it. If they would have tolerated Enfamil we probably would have used theirs with the DHEA (or whatever it is). Good Start seems simple enough and is a little less expensive so maybe we'll try that this time?

Nursing - What are your feelings on this?
I will nurse if the baby can tolerate my milk without any trouble but I am only planning on doing that while I am home. I think it gets way too stressful to do it and work full time but I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had success with this.

As for pumping, I am so over it. I had one of the big electric pumps, pumped myself into an oblivion only to have the kids not tolerate it so this time I will pass! A freezer full of my efforts went to waste so it just didn't seem worth it. Plus achieving porn star status has never been on my To-Do list!

The other thing that made it hard in the past is that I am extremely private and never was comfortable nursing in front of others even with a blanket or whatever. I know that the health of a baby is far more important than these personal feelings but I would be lying if I said it was easy or comfortable for me.

So let's hear it! Sound off! I really want to hear about others and their experiences in the four areas of cravings, diapers, formula and nursing as I prepare to throw myself back into the ring!

On the B Side: I am anxious to read the thoughts, feelings, insight and experiences of others!