Comments on ThreeSeven: Babies, BlogHer and complete and utter denial: a s...

I wish I could go, too. Too bad it sold out in MAR...

2009-07-10T16:36:31.282-04:00

I wish I could go, too. Too bad it sold out in MARCH! *Pouts* Though my problem has nothing to do with labor, ha.

I think childbirth will be more rewarding than a blogging conference though, when it all boils down to it.

You're not crazy! My parents flew from British...

2009-06-28T20:37:56.148-04:00

You're not crazy! My parents flew from British Columbia to Texas to show me off when I was 8 days old. Seriously. And I feel you on the have you had that baby yet and I'm only 36 weeks along :)

For what it's worth? I'm not going for exa...

2009-06-24T23:50:22.768-04:00

For what it's worth? I'm not going for exactly the same reasons.

BlogHer is a full-immersion experience, and I know myself well enough to know that with a newborn, it wouldn't be.

Not that I'm not entirely bummed about missing what I'll be missing, or that watching Tweets all day is as good as the real thing, but I decided a long time ago to take the pressure off myself.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the whole newborn thing won't be so hard and traveling and planes and conferencing wouldn't be especially taxing - especially with so many ppl there willing and able to help.

But on the off-chance that I'm still a stressy, weepy mess and simply don't want to deal with it all, I took the option off the table. For THIS one.

See you in '10? :)

I'd have to say stay home. You will miss seein...

2009-06-24T13:30:55.308-04:00

I'd have to say stay home. You will miss seeing some friends or meeting new people, but because you cannot know when the baby will actually come, can't know how easy or hard the delivery will be and can't know how well you will take to nursing etc, it is much easier on you to just make some peace now with the decision to stay home and bond with your little one and go to BlogHer next year.

I found the first 6 weeks (well okay the first year, but especially the first 6 weeks, lol) to be really, really draining. I needed my husband and friends around. And honestly my husband would have been hurt to have missed out on some of the early days because I wanted to go to a conference.

Hope you have a wonderful labor and easy recovery, but definitely plan for not so perfect and cancel your BlogHer plans for this year (although if you do come, well, look for me, I would be happy to snuggle a newborn for a minute!)

One thing will get you: sleep deprivation. Not eve...

2009-06-24T00:16:11.472-04:00

One thing will get you: sleep deprivation. Not every baby is a textbook feeder at three hour interval. My dude ate every 1.5 - 2 hours and it took him 45-60 mind to feed off of one boob. The only way you will know if you can go is to wait until afterward to see how you feel and how you're adjusting being a mom. I still need to plan when is the best time to brush my teeth.

I am lion & hear me roar! That's what I...

2009-06-19T13:46:34.199-04:00

I am lion & hear me roar!

That's what I'm hearing in these comments. Every birthing experience is different, but with my two experiences, I personally think you're nuts even considering it.

Why add stress to your life when you don't really need to?

Enjoy the early days. Let people spoil you. Enjoy the summer. Nap when you can. Go for a stroll to the coffee shop. Get an ice cream. Visit with friends. Spend time together with your other half and beagle and enjoy the new "family". Ah ... zen ...

I wouldn't go, I'd stay home and enjoy your time with your daughter.

Heather

I obviously dealt less well with a newborn than ot...

2009-06-16T15:14:52.194-04:00

I obviously dealt less well with a newborn than others, because I think you are absolutely flipping crazy to even consider it. I'd never do it. Not in a million.

But you could probably manage it :)

Yeah, the passport wouldn't take to long... it...

2009-06-16T11:28:22.319-04:00

Yeah, the passport wouldn't take to long... it was the birth certificate I was wondering about...

Unfortunately you won't know how you feel about it all until you get there!

Tough call! There is no way to know how you'll...

2009-06-16T09:52:46.634-04:00

Tough call! There is no way to know how you'll feel and how the baby will be. I'm sure if you were determined you could pull it off (passport and all). It's such a personal decision! I wouldn't have attempted it myself, but I'm not particularly brave.

I alternate between days where I feel like having ...

2009-06-15T22:28:17.169-04:00

I alternate between days where I feel like having a baby has not changed me one bit and we can up and go on a moment's notice. Then there are the days that I stay in my jammies all day and the thought of going outside with a newborn and the planning that goes into gathering all the necessary items to take with me just to go to the store is more than I can handle. I put things off for days to avoid the whole ordeal and sometimes get hubby to do something as simple as go to the store for milk because that would be more than I can deal with if the babe all of a sudden wants to be fed, like NOW. Let me tell you, there is nothing more stressing than an infant screaming their head off at the most inopportune time that requires being fed ASAP...and for the record, they have impeccable timing.

I did not give birth to our daughter but I did sch...

2009-06-15T22:10:07.992-04:00

I did not give birth to our daughter but I did schlep her around China and on and off several long flights. We then continued flying around, moving and taking looooong car trips for her first 2 years. It was fine, she was portable and amenable and certainly did not come to any harm from all the hustle and bustle. I did not even have the luxury of nursing and we still coped.

However, I think there's a good chance that this question will look very different to you once she makes her entrance. I can't say go/don't go, but do you really have to decide right now?

My $0.02

Wendy

Shannon I have a friend who flew without her partn...

2009-06-15T19:13:35.868-04:00

Shannon I have a friend who flew without her partner from Oslo to Toronto with her 6 week old. I think it's much easier with a wee one than with an older child - they sleep a lot, they can't run away, they fit in the snugli/beco/whatever. You can do it!

I'd also love to be there, but I had to let it...

2009-06-15T18:00:22.415-04:00

I'd also love to be there, but I had to let it go for this year. Hope you can make it in the end!

So it looks like it's a two week wait at minim...

2009-06-15T15:42:57.369-04:00

So it looks like it's a two week wait at minimum for a birth certificate. That could be the whole thing done and dusted right there.

Good point Lana - I hadn't thought of that. Hr...

2009-06-15T15:35:17.668-04:00

Good point Lana - I hadn't thought of that. Hrm.

I don't know if you could get a passport that ...

2009-06-15T15:31:47.519-04:00

I don't know if you could get a passport that quickly - heck, it took at least 5 weeks just to get the birth certificate from the city of Ottawa.

Morgan - you can get a passport in as quick as two...

2009-06-15T15:28:24.107-04:00

Morgan - you can get a passport in as quick as two days - if I can make it to the passport office.

Michelle - I did SXSW at 26ish weeks and it was not fun. Thanks for reminding me of that, actually. I wanted to be enjoying myself but I was so exhausted that it was kind of impossible to do so. I'm not so paranoid about the germs - I'll have her in a sling so she'll be pretty tucked away most of the time - but still, given that most *adults* manage to catch some BlogHerBola bug after the conference, it's a good point.

I feel exactly the same way (though without a newb...

2009-06-15T15:21:22.786-04:00

I feel exactly the same way (though without a newborn but with a very pg belly). I already let it go. I'm sure you CAN do it if you want to. I'm certain you can do anything you put your mind to. But... I wouldn't have wanted to do all that in the first few weeks. I'd have been very wary of germs (especially on a pane and in crowds) and I'd have been paranoid the whole time.

I took my youngest to England when he was 5 weeks ...

2009-06-15T15:13:07.098-04:00

I took my youngest to England when he was 5 weeks old. He had a passport. You can do it!

OK, this is NOT what I was expecting, hah. I total...

2009-06-15T15:12:48.978-04:00

OK, this is NOT what I was expecting, hah. I totally expected everyone to tell me I was nuts for even considering it!

The hell of it is - I can't make a final decision til she shows. Which could be tomorrow or 4 weeks from now. So even deciding to try to go is not deciding, KWIM? GAH.

Except the passport thing... not sure what you can...

2009-06-15T15:11:33.588-04:00

Except the passport thing... not sure what you can do there...

I currently have a 3 week old and I don't thin...

2009-06-15T15:10:24.736-04:00

I currently have a 3 week old and I don't think you are nuts at all - go!

I won't tell you you're crazy either! Obvi...

2009-06-15T14:55:09.432-04:00

I won't tell you you're crazy either! Obviously if you end up with a c-section, it is a different story. But if you have a vaginal birth, you'll be up and moving in no time!

I started playing ultimate 10 days postpartum. BlogHer is completely doable. Let me know if you need to borrow any slings to match your outfits.

OK. You're not crazy and you can go. Heck, I s...

2009-06-15T14:37:02.958-04:00

OK. You're not crazy and you can go. Heck, I schlepped my newborn to board meetings hundreds of miles from home more than once right after he was born. It feels overwhelming when you think about it. Don't think! People naturally want to help a new mother, and you're going to be surrounded by women who have been there and know how to help. Go, go, go!!!