To all the preggo bloggers

Or, more specifically, Liz, Christina, and Tammie. Because this is one big online baby shower!

When you are pregnant, people feel compelled to give you all kinds of advice. If it's your first child, EVERYONE has input. If it's a subsequent pregnancy, you get advice from those who have the same number (or greater) of children than you are about to have.

When I was pregnant with my daughter (aka first baby) the best ass-vice I received led me to bust my nipples in an attempt to get her to nurse. I was undecided how I felt about breast-feeding until she was born and didn't nurse easily. It didn't help that I had a nurse try to jam my boob in my daughter's mouth over and over while my daughter screamed. After that marathon, my daughter screamed whenever she caught sight of my breast. I felt terrible, and pumped for 6 months so that she would still get breast milk, although delivered through a bottle.

What did I learn from this? When my son was born (aka #2) I didn't let the nurses anywhere near my boobs. They'd ask if I needed help and I'd smile and say "Nope, we got it!" And we did. Because there was no pressure. And no one pushing my son on my boob for hours on end. Of course, it could just be that he's a boob man.

The ass-vice I received while pregnant with K (aka #2) was to "sleep when your baby sleeps." Yeah. That doesn't work when you have a newly-turned 2-year-old under your care.

The best advice I received both times I was pregnant was "accept any and all offers of help!" I didn't really follow the advice, but in theory I like it.

Best wishes to you ladies...the result is always great...a child to love.