My oldest daughter did not sleep well as an infant, and I bought a noise machine at a friend's recommendation. It made a huge difference, and my daughter started sleeping much better. The book "the happiest baby on the block" also recommends white noise as it simulates the womb. I have now moved the noise machine into my youngest daughter's room, and my oldest daughter, now 4, no longer uses it. So she is not dependent on it. However, I did find it helpful to bring it when we slept away from home as it blocked out the noises of a new place and was a familar nighttime sound. The noise machine blocks out the noise of the dog barking, my older daughter yelling, my husband clomping down the hall. In the middle of the night, my younger daughter would probably sleep through all that without the noise machine. But in the morning, the noise machine makes the difference between her waking up at 6 or 7:30. As far as breastfeeding, I was kind of grossed out by the idea (for me, not anyone else). I decided I would try, and if it worked, great; if not, I would bottle feed. I went to a class prior to giving birth, and the one thing I remembered was that breastfeeding should NOT hurt. If it does, unlatch and relatch. At first, it would take numerous tries to get the latch right. But, I never had any issues with pain. I also used Gerber's NUK Gentle Moisturizing Balm, which is like a big chap stick. I liked it better than lansinoh as it was not so messy. Plus, it is not harmful to apply and then feed the baby. Anyway, initially nursing did not feel at all natural. But it worked out good for me--so easy and convenient. Our hospital offered a session with a lactation consultant which was very helpful. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Oh boy, I have very strong feelings on this topic. First of all, let me preface this by saying that I have two kids, age 16 & 19, so I can speak to this from the viewpoint of the mother of children from infancy to teen. There is nothing wrong with having an adults only party. Let me say that again. There is nothing wrong with having an adults only party. I've done it multiple times. Including after my kids were born. And I put on the invitation "Adults only". Tacky or not I don't care. It's my party and I get to decide whom to invite. For some reason our society has begun to believe that kids belong everywhere adults do. They don't! They don't belong in fancy expensive restaurants, they don't belong at theatre (movie or live) until they have enough self-control to sit through the entire production with no disruption, the same way an adult is expected to. And they don't belong at an adult cocktail party. My theory is that since most families have both parents working, there is a lot of guilt about leaving the kids behind when the parents are not working. Thus the philosophy that kids should be taken everywhere the adults go. But this is so unfair both to other adults and to the kids themselves. It's no fun being a kid at an adult themed party. It's boring and uncomfortable and children who are exposed to this will inevitably make that clear to the parents. The kids are miserable, the parents are miserable and the other guests have to suffer too. The baby sitter in the other room idea simply doesn't work. To add to what carla35 pointed out, this set up usually ends up with the kids coming into the adult area to find their parents, the baby sitters seeking out parents for any minor crisis, or the parents spending their time in the kids room to make sure all is going well, or all of the above. Again, NONE of this makes for a fun adult party. I have an annual ADULT FEMALES only party where I make it crystal clear that kids are not welcome. And still, one year, I had an invited guest call me to ask if she could bring her son (he was maybe 18 months old at the time) because it was the only way she could come. Against my principals, for her sake, I said, ok, but ONLY if he could be put in a bedroom and would stay there without wondering out at all. Fortunately she said, no, he'd want to be where everyone else was, so I said I'm sorry. This is an adult party. If you bring him, he'll become the center of attention and will totally change the dynamic of the party. It won't be the same party and I just can't allow it. She understood and in fact, managed to find a babysitter after all!! When my kids were little, there were many times when I missed out something I would have liked to do and would have been able to do had I not had kids. That is a part of how it is to raise kids. You make sacrifices for them. You miss out on some things. That's life. Whoever can't make it to the party because they can't or won't get a babysitter, that's unfortuate but that's the way it goes. Thoughout by kids' lives, I've made the choice to do many things with them, but also to have a social life which did not include them. My older son once said to me that he really liked the fact that I had a life outside of my kids. Too many of his friends' moms were so wrapped up in their kids lives, it seemed to him, they had no life of their own. He felt that his mom was a person in her own right, and that enriched his life since I wasn't dependent on him for my whole personality. It also allowed him to grow up and eased the process of him gaining his independence from me. Bottom line, make it as clear as you can that adults only are welcome, that children of any age are not, and that you hope to see them without their kids, if not this year then next. As was noted above, if someone doesn't understand this and you lose a friendship over it, well, that's unfortunate but unavoidable, and in the long run, probably for the best. Good luck with your party!

Actually breastfeeding is a great time saver. No formula to buy, no bottles to wash and prepare. You can do it anywhere and once a mother and baby are in the groove it is easy to multitask. I ate dinner,shopped,cooked and read to my DD while nursing. Plus cuddling your child is the most important job you will ever have. It's funny. My DD were talking just last night about this. She is having some pretty strong pre-labor contractions so we are on the phone a lot. She said "mom I am so looking foward to having this baby and I feel so empowered". "I'm glad I'm breast feeding too cuz I'm feeling too lazy for bottles" LOL I told her I felt the same way when i had her and her brother. Natural childbirth with minimal intervention is keeping it simple and breast feeding is a no brainer IF you ignore the advice of anyone who hasn't done it for at least a year themselves. Now I know a bunch will chime in and say they tried but couldn't. I'll be blunt -- 99%+ of failing to breastfeed are due to poor advice or not going with your own instincts. Many breast fed babies are leaner than formula fed ones. Many lose a bit of weight in the days following birth. Some nurse frequently but for short periods of time and others are titty monsters. LOL It is not like bottle feeding. there is no right schedule other than demand feeding. You cannot see how much the baby is getting so young mothers panic. There is almost always enough milk unless the mother has an underlying health condition. Doctors and pediatricians have mixed advice and are not the best ones to listen to. (unless they themselves have breastfed for a least one year) I was told I couldn't breast feed through mastitis (milk fever), I did thanks to a wonderful book I'd read with real advice from nursing mothers. I was told to give it up when I got torticollis due to the drugs I would have to take. I found a c doctor who offered an alternative treatment with drugs that wouldn't enter my bloodstream and milk. I had a pediatrician who wanted me to stat solids early. I didn't and after several visits of being told by him that DD must be eating very well and to keep adding more, ignoring my telling him she was exclusively on breast milk I dumped him. I threw away the pacifiers (gift) and dumped the formula the hospital sent home with me. Had I used them maybe things wouldn't have worked out as well . Who knows but I wasn't taking any chances of anything coming between me and my ability to breast feed.

I don't see it as he is comparing her to his previous relationship. He's doing his best, poor man, to have input and share his experience. The experience with SS is not his ex-wife, it's his experience with his son. That should not be rejected or seen as sub-standard just because it was with BM or because he is a male. No, he does not have breasts. But that doesn't mean he deserves a "you don't have breasts so butt out of my breastfeeding of my baby" rant or to be told to "stuff it". Unless of course, you want it to be a divided relationship. Maybe he doesn't know about breastfeeding. Maybe he is afraid your breasts will be off-limits, or he feels weird that they will be sources of food, or will not be sexual to him anymore. These are valid concerns. Rather than arming yourself with "my body, my way", figure out what's going on and address the issue. Some women decide the breasts are for baby only until the baby is finished feeding. This will need to be discussed as previously they shared their body in entirety with their husband. Being open and honest about your expectations for your body, and how you plan to share it with the new little person in your life is important. Often men are left out of pregnancies and infancy. Try to include him as much as possible. Imagine how it would feel to be the person on the outside, without the inclusiveness of having the baby grow in your tummy, without the changes, and the shared body. Watching your loved one suffer morning sickness, body changes, and not be able to do much about it. Imagine how you would feel to be on the outside. And then when the baby is born, imagine the baby "liking" your spouse more than you. Of course, the baby is just more connected with the mother at first, but wouldn't it be kind of isolating to not have that closeness, to feel really big and bumbling and not know what to do? Please, try to imagine being in his shoes. Have sympathy. With other people you can either learn to have polite responses because they will come at you with unsolicited advice, or you can tell them to "butt out". It's your call what kind of person you want to be. Just realize that the polite responses will hurt less feelings (many are just trying to help!) and can help to remind you of their intentions. Many little old ladies will tell you your baby must be cold because it's just in a diaper. You will know by feeling its fingers and toes if it is cold. Some people will not be happy unless a baby is swaddled within an inch of their life. Smile, be gracious. Don't take it personal, let them know gently that you are following your plan. If they get too nosy, tell them your doctor recommended that you do (whatever you're doing) for your babys health. And smile. Everyone loves a baby. Everyone will want to have input and be a part of it. You can either nicely share while standing your ground, or growl like the mama bear you are. Your choice. But I've found finding polite ways to tell them that you value their opinion and have it under control worked way better for me, and helped me both retain friends and make new ones!