So, I could use some advice from the buffistae...

I think everyone knows that I'm a) expecting a baby in 6 weeks and b) planning on taking the bar exam 6 weeks after that. Obviously, the baby arrival date could move up, but should not be any later than 7 weeks from now. At the least, the baby should be 5 weeks old by the time I take the exam. The exam is all day and you can't leave until the end.

I'm worried about breastfeeding/pumping during the exam. Right now, I've filed an accomodation request with the bar examiners. They decided I can use the pump but not breastfeed the baby during the exam. How likely is it that I won't be able to get the baby to take a bottle in 5 weeks?

I'm upset about the no-nursing thing - mainly because I've never done it before, I have a million other things to worry about, and I don't see what they won't let me (and if I can't get the baby to take a bottle, no bar exam for me.) Am I being unreasonable? Is it worth the hassle of trying to get them to allow me that possibility? Does this count as a genuine "special accomodation"?

They're screwed into the frame. Just keep him away from power tools.

Stephanie, Christopher gave Owen a bottle unbeknownst to me at 3 weeks. He did it so I could get more than two hours sleep at a stretch. We never had any issues with him switching back and forth from the bottle to the breast. But a lot of it depends on the individual baby. I've known babies that won't take a bottle and I've known babies that once they get the bottle, they won't go back to the breast.

I think by five weeks, you should know what kind of kid you have.

Are the bar people worried about you having the baby in the exam? Do you have a sitter lined up to keep the baby so you can duck out and nurse? I think if you have a baby that won't take a bottle, you might be able to press the issue.

Can children be embedded with special alarms that start to wail when they think about doing something dangerous? Maybe a light tranq as well. How very very scary.

Yes. I want this. Preemptively. Annabel hasn't done anything super scary yet, but just in case.

Yikes, Gud. That's just...yikes.

Stephanie, I think the official advice is that if you're planning to offer a bottle at all, it's good to start around 3 weeks--late enough to avoid nipple confusion but early enough that they won't be too stubborn to accept the bottle. So you're probably good. Consider renting a hospital pump and starting pumping as soon as your milk supply and your kid's nursing habits are well-established.

People who managed to successfully breastfeed will probably have further advice--I just know from pumping, since I did it ever few hours for the first two months.

(Is it bad that I'm currently feeling wary and reluctant to even try breastfeeding if we have another kid? Because I know that it's best and all that, but I also know it's possible to raise a healthy and intelligent child on formula, and my memories of breastfeeding are uniformly negative.)

Susan, it's not bad at all. I'm more than a little leery myself given the cracked and bleeding nipples. I want to try again, but I'm going into with a little more reality based experience and whole lot less guilt considering the healthy, formula-fed youngster beside me.

Stephanie, I have no useful answer as to what would qualify as a special accomodation for the bar, but I've got to chime in to say you must be a very special kind of remarkable to be pulling all this off in such a short amount of time. Go Team You!

Cereal to say I'm watching the Dawson's Creek finale and weeping into my coffee. Why do I do this to myself?

Gud, this might be Leifproof.

Stephanie, what Lilty said. I can't even imagine sitting for the bar so soon after having a baby. You are a brave and remarkable woman.

Female TMI question for older bitches: So, my period is late. I'm not pregnant, just a week late. I am usually pretty regular at starting although things have been getting more and more on-and-off in my 40s. The BF thinks I should go to the doctor because something might be "wrong" but I feel fine. I've had a some cramps the last couple of days and just want to wait and see what happens. Eeven if I don't get a period this month, I am fine with waiting a month and seeing what happens. I mean, I'm 48--this could be perimenopause. Anyone have experience with this kind of thing?