Nursing bras: The good The bad The uncomfortable

Here's a few examples of the bras and tanks that I've personally bought and worn.  Some I love, some I like, some I hate.

 

Bras # 1-4 are the bras I like and I wear everyday.  I have several of each of these in different colors.

 

# 1.  This is a "sleep" bra in a wrap style.  You'll want to avoid these during engorgement, but once you're past the engorgement phase you'll come to love these.  They are offered in a loose, soft, jersey cotton that is very comfy for sleeping.  I also have 2 in a tighter, spandex style material.  These remind me of a sports bra and offer more security than the loose cotton ones.

 

# 2. I found this polka dot bra at Wal-Mart and was amazed at how very very comfortable they are.  (I don't normally shop at Wal-Mart, but it's kinda hard to find nursing bras in stores to try on)  These come in a 2 pack and are very reasonable priced.  They are so comfortable I have no problem sleeping in this bra.

 

# 3 & # 4  Motherhood Maternity offers a variety of nursing bras, but they don't have a good selection of wireless.  These are the only 2 wireless (non sleeping) bras that I have from Motherhood.  I like them both and have no real complaints about them.  They have foam cups, smooth seams and are comfy all day long.  Motherhood bras are at the higher end, so I would save these for after your milk regulates.

 

(not pictured is a brand called Bravado.  I haven't found this brand carried in any of my stores locally, but you can order them online.  They make a wonderful nursing bra and their size chart is very accurate.  This is one you'll want to wait on till after your milk regulates)

 

 

I bought all my nursing tanks at Target (they had the largest selection in store at the time).  You can find them in a variety of styles, buttons, lace, gathers, plain, etc. Most nursing tanks are designed so that they can be worn alone, as your regular shirt, so you don't feel under dressed while in public.  

 

Make sure to check the clasps on these.  I have found a few tanks with tiny, hard to latch clasps that are difficult to close with 2 hands, let alone 1 hand. 

  

 

 

Bra's # 5-7 are not my favorites at all. 

 

# 5.  This was my first and only nursing bra when I brought T man home from the hospital.  I had bought 2 of these from Target and I had the same trouble with both bras.  The lace was extremely rough & scratchy (although that may just have been my engorgement) and the vertical "ribbing" (see red circle) on the sides was constantly poking me and eventually worked its way out of the bra & began stabbing me violently in the arm pit  =(

 

# 6.  This bra is actually very comfortable & I continue to wear it often.  My complaint with this one is the material.  It is a very thin, soft (comfortable) satin type material that shows absolutely EVERYTHING!  Every nursing pad shows and you can forget about having any nipple discretion.  Wear this kind of bra material with caution and be very aware of what kind of shirt you wear, anything too clingy and you'll have full boob visibility.

 

# 7.  This bra came from Wal-Mart and although I liked it at first, it quickly lost its support and hold.  Even on the tightest hooks, the bottom was just loose & ill fitting and I felt like I was going to fall out the bottom.  The next size smaller though was too small. 

 

I eventually cut slits in the cups of bras # 5 & 7 to make them into pumping bras, so at least I'm still getting some good use out of them.

 

 

I hope this helps give you some insight into the great wide world of nursing bras.  Try them all on, buy slowly and wash carefully.  These bras are going to be your best friend during your BFing journey.  Treat them well& they will return the favor =)

 

Finding your perfect nursing bra

During all of my obsessive pre-delivery planning and prepping and packing, I became completely flustered and distressed while shopping for a nursing bra.  I realized that I had no idea what size my boobs were going to be, what kind of bra was going to be comfortable post partum or how many bras I would need.

Pre-pregnancy I always wore foam cupped underwire bras & I usually owned only 3-4 bras at a time.  During my pregnancies (2 miscarriages and T man) I couldn't stand to wear an underwire, so I went wireless but kept the foam cups and I had only 2 basic bras during my whole pregnancy (1 nude & 1 black)  So ... what kind was I going to like post partum?  How was I supposed to know what bras were going to be comfortable?  How big were my breasts going to be after my milk comes in?  And how many did I need to buy?  Why is this so damn hard?!? Argh!!

Let me give you a few guidelines to help you pick the right kind of bra & I'll show you my personal favorites too.

1.  Don't spend good money on bras until your milk regulates.  Your breasts will be engorged, swollen and hard for several weeks in the beginning.  Whatever size bra fits you in those early weeks, it most likely will not fit you after your milk regulates.  Pre-pregnancy I was a nice looking D cup, I remained a D cup throughout my pregnancy, then went up to a DD when my milk came in.  I remained a DD until approximately 10-12 weeks post partum when I went back down to a (less than nice looking) D cup again.  The bras I purchased during those first 3 months just don't fit me any longer.

2. No Underwires!  At least not during the early months.  These can apply too much pressure causing clogged ducts.  You do NOT want a clogged duct!  Anything you can do to avoid a clogged duct will be well worth it.

3. Breathable fabrics are the most comfortable & will help you fight thrush.  You don't want to trap moisture inside the bra (remember, you're leaking a lot!) so soft cotton cups are best.

4.  Speaking of soft cotton cups.  Skip the foam cups and lace.  I found the lace to be extremely irritating during engorgement and the foam cups are clumsy and bulky to try & get out of baby's way.  The soft (granny) style cotton bras will be the easiest to work with while trying to pull out your huge, hard, sore, swollen breast.

5.  Make sure you can clip and unclip the nursing latch with one hand.  It's very unlikely that you will have 2 hands available to relatch your bra after feeding.

6. Skip the "sleep" bras for now.  This style is a wrap bra that requires you to pull the bra to one side & pull out your breast through the center of the bra.  In the beginning, this style will apply too much pressure on your breast, increasing your "spray" and is very uncomfortable.  Once your milk regulates (12weeks approx.) you should no longer be painfully engorged and can wear this style of bra comfortably.

7. Buy 2-3 bras before baby is born, but wait till your milk comes in to buy any more.  Once your milk comes in and you've been wearing the 3 bras you have, you'll be able to make a decision on what style you like & can then buy additional bras for your stock.  You're going to want a large stock so that you can always wear a clean bra (yesterdays bra = old milk = bacteria = thrush)

8.  Wait to buy your bras until you are about 34-36 weeks prego.  This way your breasts will be at their (pregnancy) largest and you will have a basic idea of what size to buy.  Go ahead and plan on getting one cup size larger though.  Like I mentioned earlier, I was a D cup the entire pregnancy, but was a DD when my milk came in.

I also highly recommend buying several (like 8 or more) nursing tank tops.  I lived in these for the first 5 weeks of T mans life =) They are soooo much more comfortable than bras and much MUCH easier to nurse in.  I loved how I could be in my nursing tank and yoga pants and feel both comfy & dressed at the same time.  Since it was winter time, I just grabbed a hoodie or cardigan to wear with my nursing tank,  threw on my jeans and walked out the door.  I still wear my tanks to bed since they are so easy & comfortable.

Thrush

Disclaimer: 

This post is NOT meant to scare you or dissuade you from BFing. 

I am only going to share with you my personal experience with a very serious and uncomfortable condition that could happen while BFing.

Thrush.  Oh my.  What an experience!  The burning sensation that comes with thrush is almost indescribable.  Almost. 

The first 2 weeks of BFing are painful.  There's no denying it and I don't want to discourage you, but it hurts!  Of course it's nothing compared to what you just endured while giving birth (what else in your life will ever compare to that?!)

Some people will give you the text book answer of "it shouldn't hurt.  If it does check your latch"  blah blah blah.  Okay yes, that is technically true, but it's also true that during those first 2 weeks, every time your baby latches on it feels like a clothes pin clamping on and twisting.  O_o   Oy vey!

So how do you know the difference between regular "early BF pains" and thrush?  The burning =(

I was about 3 weeks into BFing and it wasn't getting any easier.  I was using my APNO (I'll post that info later) but my nipples were still killing me during every BF session.  At 4 weeks I started to get worried.  I knew that it was supposed to get easier, so why wasn't it?!?  I realized during one of T man's nursing's that only my right nipple was hurting ... no ... burning! =/  My left nipple felt perfectly fine (comparatively) Over the next few days I noticed that the burning feeling was lasting longer and longer, both during and then after nursing sessions.  Eventually, I had a burning sensation in my whole right breast from the nipple up to my collar bone.  And on top of that, I could feel the milk coming out my nipple.  Not just the let down sensation, but all the milk streaming out my breast felt like broken gas & barbed wire being dragged out my nipple.  ='( 

I dreaded the idea of having to put T man on the right breast.  Just thinking about it made my stomach turn.  All I could do though was curl my toes & breath through it.  My baby had to eat & I knew I had to use both breasts.  I did some research & discovered that I (most likely) had thrush.  Unfortunately for me, it was  the day before Thanksgiving and the doc offices were already closed. 

Since I had to wait a couple days for any professional help, I took to the internet for at home remedies & relief.  Here's what I found:

 

check out a couple websites HERE and HERE

 

** Use a vinegar/water (1 Tbsp to 1 cup) solution to rinse your nipples after every nursing session.  This will kill the surface yeast (Thrush is a yeast infection of the breast)

** Air out your breasts as often as possible.  Moisture breeds yeast.  Walk around topless if you can, at least for a few minutes after nursing sessions

** Change your nursing pads every single nursing.  Again, moisture breeds yeast!

** Probiotics.  Take them and take them often.  It will help your body regulate "good" yeast from "bad" yeast

** Reduce your sugar intake (sugar feeds yeast) and eliminate dairy (you shouldn't be eating dairy anyway though) and of course, drink lots of water

** Do NOT freeze infected milk.  Pump if it's more comfortable for you (it was for me) and you can bottle feed your baby if necessary, but DO NOT freeze the milk.  You will freeze the yeast & it will remain "active" until you thaw it.  Then you'll just be feeding the yeast back to your baby, reintroducing thrush to you and baby again.

** If baby has symptoms (white patches in his mouth that won't wipe away) you can give him probiotics too.  My Pedi recommended I buy children's probiotic powder and add it to a bottle once a day.  Since I was pumping my right side anyway, I added the powder to that milk & bottle fed T man with the probiotics.

Yeast infections can not and will not clear up on their own.  You need to take action against the bacteria in your body, whether by homeopathy or prescription methods.  Once I was able to contact my OB, she confirmed that I did have thrush & she was able to prescribe me with Diflucan.    I took the diflucan orally, used my APNO (which contains nystatin) took my probiotics and gave T man his probiotics.  Eventually the pain subsided and I realized that BFing actually does not hurt!  What a relief that was.  I was finally able to enjoy my time spent nursing T man instead of cringing, dreading and (occasionally) crying during sessions. 

Although thrush is a constant threat to BFing moms (yeast is never just a one time event) you can limit your risk by practicing healthy nipple maintenance and avoiding prolonged nipple moisture.

BFing success tips

There are a lot of things you can do to help insure a successful BFing experience. 

 

*the very first, and most important (I feel) is to delay the introduction of artificial nipples.  DO NOT let the hospital give your newborn a pacifier!  If he needs to suckle, let him nurse! He's lived 9 months without an artificial pacifier, he doesn't need one now. 

 

*feed on demand.  The more he nurses, the better his latch will be and the better your supply will become.  Immediate and frequent nursing will help your milk come in faster too.

 

*surround yourself with supportive people.  Whether it's your family, an online community or a BFing mom group, you need support.  BFing can be very stressful on a new mom & without people in your life to support & encourage you, you may not succeed in reaching your long term goals.

 

*find a good Lactation Consultant that can answer your questions during the early weeks & months.  Most hospitals & birthing centers offer some sort of BFing support groups that meet weekly or bi weekly with a hospital LC on hand. 

 

*drink a LOT of water.  Hydration is one of the most important things for BFing.  If your body isn't hydrated, how can you expect to produce a liquid?

 

*take milk boosting supplements.  These include:

          Fenugreek

          Blessed Thistle

          Alfalfa

          Marshmallow Root

          Goats Rue

          Brewers Yeast

          Flaxseed (or ground flaxmeal)

 

*eat oats.  It doesn't just have to "oatmeal" it can be any recipe that contains oats.  Cookies, muffins, breads, etc.  Try to avoid the instant oatmeal & the quick oats.  Old fashion and steel cut are your best options

 

*Pump early & pump often.  Pumping adds to the "demand" on your supply, so you will produce more.  I wish someone had told me this in the beginning.  I didn't begin pumping till after 3 weeks.  I honestly believe that had I pumped earlier & more frequently that I would have a more generous supply today.

*Use both breasts every time.  Offer baby both sides if he'll take them, or nurse one side & pump the other.  Next feeding time, nurse the opposite breast & pump the other.  This way both breasts get a little action & your supply remains "demanded.  Supply & demand ladies!  Supply & demand.

*eat enough calories to both "feed your body" and "feed your boobies" =) You need to consume additional calories to fuel your body while it makes that precious liquid gold.  Lactation cookies (or bread or muffins etc) are an easy, yummy way to up your calories while boosting your milk supply.

The colic curl hold

T man's favorite holding/carrying position from 6-15 weeks was the sideways "colic curl".  This was the only way anyone could successfully hold him and keep him happy.  Anything else, and he would cry and scream.

 

Now, I stumbled upon this hold by accident.  I didn't know this was an actual "baby hold" until a few weeks after it was working.  I saw the "forward" and "reverse" versions illustrated in a book and I realized, Hey! That's what we've been doing! =)

 

The nice thing about the sideways version that we did, was it only required one arm.  This way, you can carry baby in your left arm and still be productive with your right (or vice versa)  I found though, that once T man got accustomed to the left arm, he all but refused to be held in the right arm.  This makes for a very tired arm by the end of the day.  But, you do what you gotta do for your baby, right?

 

So, what is the colic curl?  Well, you can do this hold 3 ways.  Forward, reverse and sideways. 

Basically, what your doing is making your baby sit "cross legged" just like little kids do when sitting on the floor.  You're going to cross his ankles, bends his knees, bring his knees up and make him fold at the waist.  This can be done facing you (reverse) typically done while sitting with your legs bent & baby resting against your knees,  facing away from you (forward) can be easily done sitting or standing ,or like T man preferred, facing the side (sideways).

 

Once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.  I was able to scoop up T man in my left arm & with one swift motion, bend him in half and nestle him against my chest. (imagine holding a mixing bowl in your left arm/elbow while baking) If he was having a real good fit, it would take quite a bit of pressure  for me to get him to bend at the waist, but once he did, he quickly calmed down and became a much happier baby.  It was very common to hear me saying "bend baby, BEND!"  =)

 

I hope this helps you relieve some of your baby's discomfort.  It worked wonders for us!

Single parents are like superheroes

I'm sitting alone (sort of) in a hotel room, wondering how in the world single parents do this every...single...day.

Hubby, T man & I drove 300 miles for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary/family reunion.  Unfortunately, hubby has to work tomorrow =(  T man & I drove in the car while daddy rode his Harley (oh, poor guy!)  This experience has been a real eye opener for me.

Now, we've traveled a bit since T man was born.  Nothing amazing, but we've gone a few places.  We came down to Grama's during Christmas and we took the train to St Louis for Memorial weekend.  But those trips were completely different!  Our winter travels were during my maternity leave and the train ride was with the entire family clan.  I've never had to deal with a traveling baby all alone.

The car ride down here was full of crying, screaming, toy throwing, angry chatters, etc.  If hubby was in the car we'd have no problem, but alone?  What am I supposed to do?!?  I'm driving!!!  I can't very well stop every time, we'd never reach our hotel!  =(  I did my best to retrieve the toys and the sippy cup.  I stretched and reached to hand him puffy snacks, but in the end, I just had to listen to him scream & cry.  I haven't really discussed CIO with you guys, but in a nutshell, I think its the single worse thing a parent could ever do to their baby (but that is a whole other post!!) Listening to him scream & cry out for me simply broke my heart, strained my nerves and wore me out mentally. 

(after our final gas / boobie stop T man fell asleep for the remainder of the drive.  Whew!)

Our day with the family was wonderfully pleasant.  Hubby stayed as long as he possibly could but we knew that he needed to get on the road home soon.  Once daddy left, it was just T man & mommy.  Bath time, boobie time, bedtime, right?  No problem, we've done this alone plenty of times (sometimes daddy works nights)  I fixed up the king size bed so T man could fall asleep safely in the center without rolling off and proceeded to "put him to bed" ... yeah, right.

This is where my real appreciation for single parents kicked in.  As I'm putting T man to sleep (or not, in his opinion) I was hit with that sudden explosive need to run to the bathroom.  You know the feeling, it only strikes you when you're absolutely unable to go right that second.  Okay T, hurry up and finish nursing and fall asleep so mommy can go take care of business!! .... Nope! he wants to snack and visit.  Okay, fine.  Lets lay in bed so we can side nurse & you can just drift off to sleep!! ... No way mama! I wanna crawl around. =(  I wish daddy was here. 

At home I can safely leave him in his crib to fall asleep on his own (without crying) but on an open hotel bed?  What can I do?  I can't leave him, he'll crawl right off the bed.  He needs to go to sleep though, so I don't want to set him on the floor because then we'll have to start all over again with our bedtime "shut down".  Argh!! How in the world do single parents do this all day, every day? 

How do you function as a human, as an adult, as a parent and all the while taking care of a baby solo?  When do you shower?  Do you ever get to eat your dinner while it's still hot?  How do you deal with the silliest, most basic everyday life situations that most of us just take for granted (like being free to poop whenever the needs hits you) I'm already trying to plan how I'm going to get the car loaded in the morning (babywearing to the rescue!) and I'm dreading that long car ride home ... alone ... again  ={  Oy.   Did I mention that I wish daddy was here?

My single parent experiences may be limited to only a few random hours at a time, but I can tell you now, real single parents are AMAZING!  You moms (and dads) are superheroes and I have nothing but admiration for you guys. 

(don't stress out about those fluffy pillows on the bed.  They are only there while I'm sitting over here at table typing this)

Extended rear facing myths

I get this heavy, sad pit in my stomach whenever I see an obviously too small or too young baby in a front facing carseat.  This article debunks the most popular excuses/myths of why people turn forward too early.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10200205715725995&id=1245133774&_mn_=9&_rdr

Mommy's little baker

T man helps me in the kitchen a lot.  Baking lactation cookies, making baby food, doing dinner prep, putting away dishes, you name it. (Nothing by the stove top of course)  he's a great little helper! :-)

That's his Elvis look he's showing us here.  He also does The Rock (one eyebrow arched) and Blue Steel (remember Ben Stiller in Zoolander?) =) I love this kid, he makes ne smile everyday =) 

Newborn weight loss (you don't need formula)

http://www.drjen4kids.com/soap%20box/newbornweight.htm

There's some technical stuff going on in the middle of this article, but mostly it's written so moms to be can easily read and understand it.  I think it's incredibly important for moms to educate themselves before baby is born, especially when it comes to understanding your newborns health and wellness. 

Lactation Bread

An alternative to the Lactation Muffins.  This recipe makes 1 large loaf, 2 medium loaves, or 4-6 mini loaves (depending on pans)

2 Tbsp flaxmeal
4 Tbsp water
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup old fashion rolled oats
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
4 Tbsp brewers yeast (sifted)
1 tsp ground fenugreek (optional as this has a very strong potent flavor)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter (NOT margarine) room temp
3 Lg eggs
1 cup white sugar
2 or 3 mashed, very ripe, bananas
2 Tbsp vanilla almond milk
1 tsp vanilla


Preheat oven to 350*.  Grease your loaf pans with bakers release.

Mix together flaxmeal and water in a small bowl or cup and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients

Using electric mixer, combine the eggs, butter, sugar, banana and milk. 
Add the vanilla and flaxmeal mixture and mix on medium for about one minute

With a spoon or spatula, stir the dry ingredients into the banana mixture.

Pour into the greased pans and bake 50-60 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans.

Soothing a colicky baby

The most stressful and unnerving part of a baby's fourth trimester (remember the Happiest Baby on the Block?) is colic.

I'm not going to sugar coat it for you.  The first 6-12 weeks off your newborn baby's life are TOUGH!  It's stressful, tiring, frustrating and overwhelming.  You're sore from your birthing experience, your boobs hurt, they leak all the time and your hormones are wracked.  You barely sleep, you never shower and you live in nursing tanks and yoga pants.  On top of all this, you are supposed to take care of this itty bitty little human that the hospital, for some reason, let you bring home! 

So ... back to colic.  What exactly is colic?  People use that term very casually, but it actually has a medical definition.  A baby with colic is defined (according to WebMD) "A healthy, well-fed infant who cries for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, for more than three weeks."  Oh, doesn't that just sound peachy? 

Unfortunately, colic is not a well-understood condition. Here's what is known: 

Colic usually starts at about 2 weeks of age in a full-term infant (or later in a premature infant).

Colic almost always goes away by 3 or 4 months of age.

There is no difference in the prevalence of colic for boys and girls, whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, and whether the baby is first born or not.

Scientific studies have shown that children who had colic are no different in terms of personality, mental health, intelligence, etc., than children who never had colic.

Now, whether or not your baby is medically defined as having colic, having a screaming, crying newborn is just no fun.  There are a variety of tactics you can use to try to soothe your baby.  These are what worked for me, I can only hope it works for you too

>> first, go through your list of baby needs.  Is he hungry? Did he burp? Is he wet? Is he hot or cold?

>> give him a couple of Gas Drops.  this will help to break down trapped gas that he is unable to burp up by himself. 

>> next, try to make him burp (again) Colic is typically associated with bowel or intestinal discomfort.  Even if he burped after he ate, try again.  Lay him on his tummy.  The pressure against his stomach well help relieve gas pains.  You can also roll up a small burp rag and place that under his tummy for additional pressure.  Sometimes, laying on his tummy is enough to calm him down. 

>> now that he's burped (or not) give him some Gripe Water.  This is a homeopathic liquid that helps to relieve hiccups and ease digestive discomfort.  It is simply ginger and fennel extracts.

>> strip him down butt naked.  Check all of his fingers, toes and penis for a hair tourniquet.  Give him a quick wash cloth bath, focusing on all his joints, rolls and wrinkles.  Make sure there is no dirt or debris that may be scratching him.

>> DO NOT USE LOTION.  If he has any kind of skin irritation going on, lotion may aggravate him even more.  Grease that baby, from the neck down, with unscented petroleum jelly.  This will soothe his skin (maybe he's just itchy!) and give him that nice, slimy, amniotic feeling that he was so used to.

>> now give him a clean diaper (again) and be sure to use diaper rash cream, just in case.   Put him in some clean, soft jammies or a sleep sack.  Nothing with a waist band, no socks, nothing that may be tight or restricting on his skin or body.

>> White noise.  The womb was an incredibly loud place to live.  Now that he's here, everything seems very quiet to him.  T man's favorite white noise was "Baby Got Colic" available for purchase from any mp3 store.

>> try to feed him again.  By this point it's probably been a while.  He's now clean, slimy and gas free, so it's the perfect time to try and nurse him to sleep.

>> won't eat?  Hold him in the "colic curl" position.  This will apply pressure to his intestines while he's safe and warm in your arms.  This was the only position you could carry T man in for several weeks.  Any other position and he just screamed!  Stand, sway, bounce, walk, rock, do anything that may calm him down.  Once he calms, don't stop!  I've watched entire movies while standing in my living room marching in place like an 80's aerobic instructor.

As scary as all that may sound, it goes by so quickly that you'll find yourself wishing you could do it all again.  Right now! =)  But seriously, no matter how exhausting this time feels, you'll be amazed at how fast those first 3 months just disappear.  Stay calm, breathe deeply and remember.  This will pass!  This is NOT forever.  I promise. =)

Babywearing (I love it!)

I love babywearing!  Mothers all around the globe have been wearing their children since... well, forever!  It's only just recently (last century or so) that our ideas about child rearing has become, sadly, "detatched".  I honestly don't know how or why anyone wouldn't babywear.  Wearing your baby allows you to be productive without having to choose between "being with your little one" and "getting stuff done" =)

Anyone with kids understands exactly what I mean.  Sometimes, you can sit baby down with a pile of toys and he's fine.  You go about the house, doing laundry, empty the dishwasher, etc. But other days?  Oh dear, if you step even an inch too far away from baby, he'll unleash his mightiest, most gut wrenching cry to put you back in your proper place (right by his side) Whether he's teething, going through a Wonder Weeks Leap or just having a bad day, babywearing can save everyone's sanity.

The key to successful BWing is finding the right kind of carrier for both your body, you're baby, and your budget.  There are a few different categories that most carriers fit into.  Then it's just a matter of picking quality, availability and price.

>> Soft structured carriers are my favorite.  These are carriers that have shoulder straps and buckles and allow you to carry baby like a backpack.  Most carriers are multi position, so you can carry baby on front (facing in towards your chest) carry on your hip, or carry on your back.  The most important thing to look for in this type of carrier is a hip belt.  These designs distribute weight evenly across your torso to reduce aches, pains and fatigue.  My favorites are ErgoBaby and Beco, and for a wallet friendly option, check out the Evenflo "natural carrier"

>> my other carrier of choice is the Mei Tai carrier. This is a soft tie on carrier.  These can be homemade very easily if you have basic sewing experience or can be purchased from a variety of online and in store distributors.  The nice thing about these is that they pack up small for travel, they are typically very decorative and are generally a lot cheaper than the name brand structured carriers.  The down side of Mei Tai carriers (IMO) is the way you have to put them on.  First you tie the belts around your waist, then place baby against your chest, throw the long belts over your shoulders, reach behind, cross the belts, bring belts around front, cross again and take behind your back again to tie off. All this while still holding the baby with one hand.  With practice, it's gets pretty fast and easy, but you can see that this is not going to be your "running to the store real quick" BWing carrier.  I only use my Mei Tai at home, but I definitely love it.

>> some other BWing options (but I don't have personal experience with these) are:

~ ring slings.  I've wanted to try one of these for a while now, I just haven't yet
~ wraps. Available "stretchy" (the Moby is the most popular) or woven.  These can also be made at home easily and economically.  Wraps are basically just a very long piece of fabric that is wrapped around your body and tied off.  you then fit your baby into one of the folds.  The woven versions have a heavier weight rating, so they are going to last you longer
~ slings. Not to be confused with the above mentioned RING sling, these carriers are a fixed size of fabric, usually worn like a sash across the body.  I tried one of these and neither of us liked it.  T man cried every time I put him in it and the weight of him pulled on my neck so badly I had a headache within minutes.
~ hard structure carriers.  These are (I think) strictly forward facing.  They are also referred to as crotch danglers.  These carriers get a lot of bad press with the crunchier moms due to the carriers lack of baby support.  This type of carrier has baby's legs hanging straight down with all of his body weight resting on a thin seating area right below his crotch (hence the nickname)  There are other arguments with this carrier, such as "baby can't protect himself from outside stimulants/environment" (chest to chest, baby can hide his face on your chest) "you can't BF" (obviously) "it strains his neck" (baby can't rest forward on you when his neck gets tired)  I agree with all these points and simply said, I don't like these.  I think my baby's health and body wellness is more important than his desire to see where we're going.

No matter what type of carrier you choose to use, make sure you carry your baby safely. 
Always follow the carrier instructions, and make sure you can easily "kiss the baby".  This is your guideline for how low is to low when BWing.  Baby needs to be up high enough on your torso that you can kiss his head.

I hope you enjoy BWing as much as I do =)

Birth Plan

I think it is incredibly important for every woman to create a personal "birth plan" before going into labor.  This will give you an opportunity to think through the issues that you feel are most important to you personally before you become ... compromised =)  Once you're in full on active labor, trying to take the time to rationally think out every situation is near impossible.  You need to have some sort of idea what you want &/or need your birthing experience to be like, so that if a problem occurs, you will be prepared to answer any medical questions that might be asked of you.

Keeping that in mind, remember that child birth is NOT an organized event.  That baby will do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with absolutely no regard for your carefully typed out birth plan.  Be prepared to just go with the flow, and follow your doctors advice.  Your birth plan is more of a guideline, giving you a foundation to base your medical decisions from.

Below is a copy of my personal "Birthing Preferences" (note how I avoided using the word "plan")

**********************************************************************

(mom to be name here)

Labor & Delivery Preferences

EDD 10/19/2012

 

Husband: (fathers name here)

Practitioner: (your OB doc name here)

Pediatrician: (your baby's doc name here)

 

We ask that the practitioner discuss with us any procedures or medications prior to administration and that we be allowed the chance to question such procedures before giving informed consent.

 

• I have tested POSITIVE for Group B Strep
• I have been monitored for Antithromben iii Antigen (blood clotting) throughout this pregnancy.  I took low dose aspirin daily until 37 weeks 10/3/12



Father has 100% decision rights if mother is unable to be consulted

• Only the father in the delivery room.  I wish for no visitors while on the 7th floor, unless I specifically request otherwise.  Visitors can join us on the 8th floor after mom & baby are settled into recovery room.
• I would like to make myself comfortable any way I need to.  Music, distractions, moving, showering, walking, etc.
• I would like to wear my bra & tank top as long as I can, until no longer medically possible
• No mirrors, camera or videos (gross!)

• I DO want an epidural but not until active labor (5cm)
• Prior to the epidural, I wish to manage the pain with medications and breathing/massage
• Offer me drugs and let me decide on a pain by pain basis

• I hope to have a vaginal delivery.  If a C-section becomes necessary I want the father to remain with me at all times
• No students or residents please.  I do not want to be used for training purposes
• Only medical persons "down south".  Mother & father do not wish to participate with the actual birthing
• Episiotomy: at practitioners discretion, but only if completely necessary please

• Father wants to cut the cord after the cord stops pulsating
• NO Circumcision!
• Skin to skin ASAP, but not all gooey please.  I wish to breastfeed immediately after delivery if baby can
• I hope to breastfeed exclusively.  Please do not offer him any artificial nipples or formula
• I would like the help of a Lactation Consultant please.

• Father wants to accompany baby at all times.  Bathing, newborn procedures, exams, etc.
• We do not have to participate in bathing but wish to be present (visually)
• We would like the baby to room in 24 hours with limited nursery time.
• If my baby is not well, mother &/or father wish to accompany baby to the NICU or other facility.  We want to hold baby as often as possible.
• I will breastfeed or express breast milk for my baby while he is unwell

So, you think you love the way babies smell??

You've heard it, heck, you've probably said it yourself.

"I LOVE the way babies smell!"  Awe! :-)

No you don't.  Sorry, but you don't! You love the way baby products smell.  Cause ya know what?  Babies ,the unscented version, smell like milk breath and wet diapers.  That's the honest truth coming from a mom who uses everything unscented.  My baby does not, in any way, "smell like a baby".  Nope.  He smells like ... well, an actual baby. 

I use unscented, dye free laundry detergent and absolutely NO fabric softener.  We bathe him with Dove unscented sensitive skin body wash (or the store brand version).  We do not use lotion on T man's skin.  Instead we grease him up with unscented petroleum jelly like a little pig =) His bath is just plain water, no "bedtime" bath scents and his shampoo is plain. 

I know what you're thinking.  "OMG she's a crunchy, hippie, tree hugger!" LOL no I'm not.  All those things I don't use on T man? I use them on myself!  =) I like my clothes, my hair and my body to smell nice, but I have tough, old(ish) grown up skin. I am not a delicate, sensitive, still developing infant.

Dr P told us, when T man was only 4 days old, to throw out the baby wash and baby lotion.  "Don't use them, they're crap" he said.  O_O ... but ... but ... I just got all these products at my baby shower?!? =( What did he want me to use???

Vaseline and Dove body wash.  He said it is all you need to keep your newborns skin healthy.

OMG! He's a crunchy hippie tree hugging doctor!!!! LOL :-) but you know, he's absolutely right.  Babies don't want to smell like apples and coconut and lavender.  Do you know what a babies favorite smell is? YOU. He loves the way his mommy smells.  You're milk, your breath, even your stinky B.O. =) when his eyes are unfocused, he has to rely on his nose instead.  Perfumes are confusing.  He just wants to smell you, mommy. He loves your smell and you should love his too

My baby smells like a real, actual baby.  And you know what?  I love the way he smells. =)

Packing the diaper bag

I'm an over packer. Always have been, just ask anyone whose ever gone on vacation with me =)  That being said, I don't think you can ever be over prepared with babies.  Under prepared yes, but not over prepared. I'm also crazy organized.  Everything has its place, I have little containers and cubby holes for everything, and my diaper bag has 12 individual pockets (not including the main one) =) I love to be organized! =)

So here are my tips for making sure your diaper bag is well prepared.  To prevent you bag from weighing 50 lbs, be sure to use small containers and travel sized products.  Most baby products are offered in 2 sizes, one for home use and one for diaper bag use.

*********************************
Pack only the diapers you need to "feel comfortable"  my magic number is 7.  I'm (very) uncomfortable leaving the house knowing that I have less than 7 diapers.

Take along a pair of jammies in case of accident.  One footie sleeper takes less time and space than a full outfit (onsie, pants, socks, etc)

Small tube of zinc oxide diaper rash cream and a small tub of petroleum jelly will take care of any skin issues.  (You don't ever need lotion)

Wipes, of course.  I like the plastic bag style with the recloseable pop up lid.

A reusable changing mat.  You can also buy disposable changing mats but that would get expensive.

One bib.  Yes, just one.  It has two sides, use them both! :-)

Nursing pads.  Make sure you use the individually wrapped ones for sanitary reasons.

A couple of panty liners, just in case.  And in a pinch, you can use a panty liner as a nursing pad! (Hey, don't laugh.  I've done it!)

Lanolin oil or APNO cream for you nipples.

Tylenol for your aches and pains.  Your vitamins and herbal supplements for your health and milk production.  Use a pill container to carry just a couple days worth of pills at a time. 

A receiving blanket.  I've used a receiving blanket as a sun shield for baby's face, a towel for emergency sink baths (they happen!) a pillow, a toy, a teether, a burp rag, a nursing pad (don't ask LOL) and probably a hundred more things :-)

First aid and grooming kit.  I have a handy little pouch that I carry all of T man's stuff in.  Teething tablets, cold tablets, Tylenol, gas drops, nail clippers, hair brush, thermometer, nasal aspirator (I use the baby nasa kleen) cotton swabs and saline. 

A roll of the disposable poop bags (arm and hammer I think) I use them more often for carrying home soiled clothes than I do for throwing away diapers. 

Snacks if your baby is old enough and possibly a jar of food (don't forget the spoon) Bring a couple of sandwich bags to keep the food/spoon contained and clean.

Deodorant! :-) I leave the house at least twice a week without putting on deodorant LOL

Wallet, hairbrush, chapstick and Kleenex (for mom)

****************************************

Toss in a few toys before your walk out the door and that's just about it.  You'll find most products are good for multiple uses and you'll get very inventive with your on the go mom skills.  I promise.  =)

This is not obscene

I love the information, support and pictures from The Leaky B@@b (spelled just like that!)

Check out this wonderful community of BFing moms on FB at The Leaky B@@b  =) 

Lactation Muffin recipe

These make an easy, quick breakfast.  Just toss in the microwave for 10 seconds to warm them up & eat on the go.

Preheat oven to 400*  Grease muffin tin with bakers release or use paper liners (that gets expensive though)

2 Tbsp ground flaxmeal
4 Tbsp water
1.5 cup self rising flour (or SRF substitute)
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon (more to taste)
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups old fashion rolled oats
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2-4 Tbsp banana cream pudding powder
1 Tbsp maple syrup (the good stuff!)
2 Lg eggs
2 tsp vanilla
6 oz sour cream (full fat gives better texture & moisture)
1/4 cup canola oil
2 bananas mashed (very ripe)
4 Tbsp nutritional yeast (aka brewers yeast)

Combine flaxmeal & water.  Set aside 3-5 minutes

Sift (very important) flour, yeast, cinnamon, baking powder & pudding powder in to large bowl.  Add brown sugar & oats.  Sir with spoon to combine dry ingredients.

Whisk eggs, oil & sour cream together.  Add banana, maple syrup and vanilla.  whisk

Pour wet ingredients into bowl with dry ingredients.  stir with spoon until just combined. 

Add Flaxmeal mixture.  stir with spoon.

Spoon mixture into muffin trays 1/2 full

Bake for 15 minutes on middle rack.

Lactation Cookie recipe

I notice a  significant increase in my supply when I eat a few of these cookies every day & an obvious decrease in supply when I don't.  You can use any kind of "add in" ingredients you want (choco chips, nuts, raisins, etc.)  This recipe is for my favorite flavor cranberry chocolate chip

Preheat oven to 350*  Grease a cookie sheet with bakers release.

1 cup butter (not margarine)
1.5 cup dark brown sugar
4 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp ground flaxmeal
3 cup old fashion rolled oats
4 Tbsp nutritional yeast (aka brewers yeast)
2 Lg eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (or more) dried cranberries and semi sweet choco chips

* Mix together flaxmeal & water.  set aside for 3-5 minutes

*cream (beat well) butter & brown sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, mix well

* stir flaxmeal mixture & add, with vanilla, to the butter mixture.  Beat until blended.

*SIFT (very important) together dry ingredients (except oats & add ins)

*Add to butter mixture.  Stir w/ spoon

* Add oats first (stir with spoon) then add ins (stir with spoon)

Spoon onto greased cookie sheet & bake 8-12 minutes.  Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to wire rack to finish cooling.

Sick baby tips

Now that I've lived through my first "sick baby" incident, I thought I would share a few tidbits with you.  (not that I'm a pro, but hey, shared what you know!)

This was a run of the mill "virus" that T man contracted that brought on a fever, diarrhea and some mild vomiting.  But mostly (and most exhaustingly) it made T man Cranky!!  Oh the whining!  He was just so irritable and distressed.  It both broke my heart and grated on my every nerve.  BUT!  I knew he didn't feel good, he didn't understand why and I knew this was going to end soon (hopefully) so I was able to maintain a calm, loving bedside manner even during his most ear piercing moments.

When I awoke that morning & put him to breast, I realized that he was radiating heat like a furnace.  As soon as I was able, i took his temp and found that he was running quite a high fever.  I immediately took him to the pediatrician to be checked out.  I found out that it was in fact a virus & was instructed to "keep him hydrated, administer Tylenol as directed & wait it out"  After a stop by the pharmacy, we came home to begin our 5 day "vacation" at home in our jammies. 

As any responsible mother would do, I contacted the mom's that we had played with the day before to warn them of his fever.  When I told our mom friend "J" of T mans fever & other symptoms, she asked me the most honest & logical question.  "How did you know he was sick? How did you know to take his temperature?"  It's such a innocent question, but also an incredibly relevant question.  Because, honestly, how DOES a new mom know that she needs to take her babies temperature?

Okay, maybe this sounds silly to you.  "he's hot, take his temp!" Duh! .... Not always.  "J" asked me this because her little boy "W" always feels warm to the touch & he's a sweaty sleeper.  I told her that T man was very obviously hot & I just ... knew!  I hate to say it, and I really hate when people tell me this, but you will just know.  You will! When you spend every waking (and some sleeping) moment with your baby, you begin to know every little piece of them.  Physically, emotionally, vocally and medically.  When your little babe is sick , you may not know exactly whats going on, but you definitely know that something is wrong.  Follow your gut, trust your mom instincts and do what you "know" you need to do.

So besides that, here's a few tips to keep in mind.

>> Make sure your thermometer takes a reading in less than 6 seconds.  Anything longer is an eternity with a newborn or infant.  The ear ones work very well and are my favorite.  If you don't have an ear thermometer, you can also use a forehead thermometer, a rectal (um, no thanks!) or an oral thermometer used under the arm pit. If you have to use the arm pit method (like I did that morning) make sure you do it correctly. 
        Have your baby sit on your lap facing to the side. (his shoulder into your chest)
        Place the oral thermometer under his arm closest to you. (^^ that one)
        Wrap your arm around him to keep him still & keep his arm pit closed (its harder than it sounds!)
        Add 1* to thermometer reading (100.2 temp is actually 101.2)

>> Keep baby hydrated.  Nurse frequently.  T man would "snack" every 30-45 minutes.  Sometimes he was actually eating, sometimes he was just comfort nursing.  Either way he was getting a bit of B-milk on a near constant basis.  When he wasn't nursing, he was sipping on some pedialyte and water.  Keep him hydrated!

>> A room temp bath works wonders for temporarily cooling down the body.  Not a "cold" bath (remember, he's just a little guy) so room temp is your best choice. 

>> In the case of diarrhea, rash cream & petroleum jelly are a must.  Keep that poor little bum protected from the harsh acidity of all that gross liquid squirting out his bottom. (yeah I know, that's gross!  But hey, you're a mom.  Deal with it!)

>> Depending if he's old enough for solids, as long as baby has a fever/vomiting/diarrhea he is on a strict liquid diet.  Foods can actually dehydrate your baby while he's sick, cancelling out all the nursing & pedialyte sipping you've been doing.  And NO JUICE!  You shouldn't be giving your under 1year old baby juice anyway (but that's a different post) but definitely no juice while sick.  The sugar in the juice will dehydrate him.

>> What's the difference between vomit & regular spit up?  Volume.  Spit up is anything from a teaspoon to a couple of tablespoons.  Vomit on the other hand is large quantities, more like 1/4 cup or more.  Depending on how soon after eating, it will be extra chunky where spit up is more phlegmy.

>> Sleep sleep sleep.  Just like when you're sick, little guys need lots of rest to recover.  Let him nap, go to bed early, sleep in late, etc.  Whatever he needs, whenever he needs it.

>> Tylenol & Motrin (infant formulas) should be administered only according to your pediatricians directions.  Infants are grouped into weight classes for medications, so make sure what your babies current weight is before giving any medications.

Follow your gut, call the pediatrician as often as you feel necessary (don't worry, they're used to it) and listen to your baby.  If you pay attention to his needs, his body language & his cries, you'll be able to weather this storm and come out smiling =) 

(My sick little T man, pictured below)

 

My poor sweet sick baby

My heart is just falling to pieces right now.  For the first time ever, my dear little T man is sick.  8 months of perfect health and now we've been hit with a triple whammy.  Fever, vomit, diarrhea, the whole package. 

I put him to bed last night at 8pm (a little late for him but no biggie) and he slept solid till 7am this morning.  At first I was super excited!  Who wouldn't be, right?!?  He woke up calmly enough, no hysterics or anything! =) I picked him up from his crib and noticed he felt warm, but I didn't realize how very, very hot his entire body was until I put him to breast.  Every inch of his darling little body was radiating heat like a furnace!  O_O  Even his finger tips were burning.  Oh no!  My poor baby boy! =( 

He nursed, he burped, he nursed, he burped.  He seemed completely unphased by his obvious fever.  I let him nurse to his little tummy's content, then changed his diaper & took his temp.  Naturally, I couldn't find a thermometer that worked (or worked right) so I had to revert to the old "thermometer under the arm" thing.  Have you ever tried that with an 8 month old?  yeah, not easy.

His temp read 100.2 under the armpit and you have to add 1° so it was actually 101.2 =(  I lost it.  I never lose it!  But I lost it.  I cried and cried as I held my hot,sick baby boy and called into work.  Just as i was planning on leaving for a walk in visit to the pediatrician, T man heaved.  Then he heaved again!  Ah, crap, he's gonna blow! We raced to the bathroom just in time for him to vomit all over the floor, all over the sink, all over himself.

Our visit to the pedi was uneventful thankfully.  His fever was down 2 degrees and no more vomiting! yay! =)  Doc said everything looked good (ears, nose, throat, etc.) and that there is a virus floating around.  All I can do is give some fever/pain meds & nurse him as often as I can.  He should be over this in a couple of days.  Days?  DAYS?!? oh my, it's gonna be a loooong couple of days.

We stayed home all day, playing, crying (him, not me, I promise) sleeping, nursing, crying some more (okay, me just a little).  The sad, scared, desperate way that he cried today, with that pleading look of confusion in his eyes just destroyed me.  I know he doesn't understand why he feels this way and he doesn't understand why I'm not making it go away.  I can't wait for these next few days to be over.  Not that I mind all the cuddles I've been receiving but I just want my happy, smiling baby back. 

Little Things (part 2)

See, I knew I would think of other things ;) ******************************************

While prego, use a suction cup shower mirror to help you shave after your belly bump becomes too big to see around

Make sure the clock in the nursery is either glow in the dark or digital. Your sense of time is completely thrown off in the MOTN (middle of the night). What feels like 30 minutes is really only 6 minutes =( ugh!

Don't wear socks while at home. Bare feet are your best friend! You'll be amazed at what you learn to pick up with your toes =)

Keep snacks with you. Whether or not you BF, being a new mom makes you hungry! All the heavy lifting (car seat, diaper bag, etc) the erratic dinner schedule, not to mention the screwed up sleep cycles, can really confuse your body. Keep trail mix, lactation cookies, granola bars, etc in the diaper bag for on the go munchies.

Water water water! Never leave the house without a (reusable) bottle of water. BFing requires lots of hydration & you will be thirsty at the most inconvenient times.

Zipper jammies are WAY better than snap jammies. There's nothing faster or easier for MOTN diaper changes. I can't tell you how many times I've mis-snapped T mans jammies at 2 am =/ LOL

Prevent stains from setting by keeping clothing wet. A diaper blow out could ruin a perfectly good outfit, but it doesn't have to. If T man has a diaper problem or something and we are home, I will toss the clothes in the bathroom sink, fill with water and leave it until I have time to start a load of laundry. Easy! But, if you're away from home, you have 2 options. If you have access to a sink, rinse the clothes out & get them soaking wet. Then use one of your handy little "poop bags" to carry the wet clothes in till you get home. (you know, those arm & hammer disposal bags you got at your baby shower) If you don't have access to a sink, clean off as much of the accident as you can, then pack the clothes, focusing on the stain area, in wet wipes and again, use a poop bag to get the clothes home. Wash as soon as you can.

"Fix" the car seat straps when taking baby out, to make putting baby back in a breeze. There's nothing more frustrating than opening the car door, baby on your hip, diaper bag on shoulder, keys in hand, phone in pocket (ringing of course) water bottle on the roof of the car (don't fall off ... again) and you find that the car seat straps are a sloppy pile of buckles puddled in the bottom of the seat. UGH! (DH does this to me all the time BTW) Easiest solution? Fix that shit BEFORE you take baby out of car. (see pic below) When I unbuckle T man, I immediately tuck his straps into the side of his seat. It takes 2 seconds per strap (I timed it LOL) but dealing with it while holding baby (aka one handed) takes 7 seconds per strap (at least) save yourself the headache =)

Spicy Blackened Salmon rub

I love salmon & it's wonderfully good for you (both prego & not)  Here's my recipe for a spicy salmon rub that grills nicely & gets a bit crunchy , which I love =)

2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp ground pepper
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp salt
1-2 tsp crushed red peppers (depends on how spicy you like it)
1/4 cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
2 salmon filets (I buy the frozen stuff at the wholesale club)

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.  Add oil a little at a time until it makes a thin liquid/paste.  You want it more liquid that paste, but not super runny.  I like to grill my salmon outside but you could probably bake it indoors too if the weather is bad.  I lay down a piece of foil on the grill, place salmon filets on foil & baste with the rub paste.  Flip immediately and baste other side.  Cook till filet flakes apart easily, flipping twice.

P.S.   T man loves salmon! I don't give him the spicy outside part of course, but he eats the inside like crazy! =)

Teach your infant diaper etiquette

First, let me say that I began doing this just by instinct, not because I "knew" or understood what I was accomplishing.  I didn't really realize that I had done anything special until a friend pointed it out to me at BF group one day.  We were standing at the changing tables, doing our thing, changing diapers & chatting away, when I told T man "legs down!" and he (of course) put his legs down.  I didn't think about it, it's just what we do.  I learned that day that (apparently) not all babies do this! LOL I began watching other moms, both at group & just out and about, and I realized that I had actually taught my baby Diaper Etiquette =)

I want to brag on my hubby a bit first. =)  I didn't change a single diaper till T man was 4 days old =) My darling husband did every single diaper while at the hospital & during our first day and a half at home.  Love that guy!  So because of that, I didn't begin our "training" till T man was almost a week old.

When you change a diaper on a brand new newborn, it's like trying to hold open a slinky.  Those little legs just wanna pop right up and fold  into the fetal position.  I had read (in my endless prenatal researching) that "talking" to a baby is good for their development.  Even if you're just narrating your actions, it helps to stimulate their senses, teach them your language and familiarize them with your voice. 

So as I was changing T mans diapers, I would gently press on his legs and say "legs down!"  I did this every single time, not knowing or realizing that I was training him to perform a task. Eventually, I would say "legs down!" and I wouldn't have to press so hard because he was helping me do it.  Then it got to the point where he would begin to lay his legs down before I started pressing.  We finally got to the point (when "L" observed us at group) that all I have to say is "legs down!" and down they go. 

Once T man discovered his feet (foot goes straight in mouth) I did have to start pressing on his knees again to remind him of what needs to happen during diaper changes.  I also found that using a lower voice & saying it with a bit of firm authority helps baby understand that you're not playing with him.  You're giving him an instruction.  Daddy doesn't seem to have as much luck with the "legs down" command because he uses his "parentese" voice (that sing songy play voice we use when talking to babies)  If T man ignores me, I look him square in the eyes, use my normal adult voice and repeat "Legs ... Down." and down they go. ( I always tell him Thank You so he knows he did it right)

Now that he rolls (a lot) he thinks he can roll over during diaper changes too!  Mama says No!  I watched "C"s mom wrangle and fight with him one day as he wanted to roll away with his naked little butt squirming all over the place.  It was shortly after that, that T man began his own rolling away actions.  I knew we had to stop that one early!  We've now added "on your back" to our diaper routine.  I place my hand on his shoulder and gently press him back onto his back while saying "on your back" then immediately add "legs down".

I don't know if this will help any of you with older infants (several months old??) but it may be worth a shot.  And for all you soon to be moms, I promise you'll have easier diaper changes and probably some jealous friends ;-)

Oh, PS.  I also say "arms up" (press on the elbow) when changing clothes and it makes getting dressed less stressful for both mom & baby

My favorite FB pics.

There are so many wonderful BFing and parenting pages on FB.  I like to keep some of their posts and pictures on my phone for easy reference.  Here are a few of my favs.  Remember to check out these pages on FB =) 

The Wonder Weeks

Life saver! Plain and simple.  This is the most useful and instructive book I've read so far.  I only wish that I had heard of it earlier, it would have saved me from the Day of Hell.

 

Allow me to share with you my single worst day of my child's life.

 

Hubby stayed home with me for the first 2 weeks of my maternity leave.  He had to return to work when T man was 2w3d old leaving me home all alone.  That first week home alone was good, nothing too exciting happened.  The following week we actually got out of the house at least once each day Mon-Thur.  I decided on that Friday (he was 4wk exactly), since we had such a busy week, we would stay in and have a lazy day at home.  The morning started out normal enough, but as the day wore on T man became increasingly irritable.  It seemed that nothing I did was right and everything was just pissing him off.  After his afternoon nap things went from bad to atomic!  He started screaming and SCREAMING!!! I tried everything that I could think of, absolutely nothing worked.  Nothing! I changed his diaper 15  times (i didn't know what else to do!) I tried nursing him (He said - oh hell no) I changed his clothes, I tried burping him (again and again) I even tried leaving him alone in his bed (like I said, i was desperate) I was at my complete wits end, desperate for him to just ... shut ... UP! 

 

AHHHHH!!!!! >:-{

 

After 2 exhausting hours of his mouth never closing, he finally passed out from sheer exhaustion.  It was right after this that my mom just happened to stop by on her way home from work.  What she found was me, blubbering & sobbing, cowering on the sofa, desperately trying to not wake up the sleeping creature that was in my arms.  I say creature, because that was NOT my baby!  I don't know what that thing was, but he was sooooo not my sweet little T man.

 

Day from Hell =(

 

So, what is in this book that could have saved me?  Plenty.  mostly, just having the basic understanding of WHY the tantrum happened would have eased a lot of my panic & frustration.  Like I've said before, knowledge is power, and at that time I had no knowledge of what my baby was going through.  Everyone knows that babies go through physical growth spurts but we never think about the mental growth spurts that are happening.  Because we can't measure it on a scale or with a measuring tape, we don't realize the enormous mental changes our babes live with.

 

The Wonder Weeks explains when and how theses changes are going to affect a baby with almost prefect accuracy.  Let me try to explain it a little.

 

You have to start with your babies original due date.  This is because your baby's brain began to develop from the moment he was conceived, not from the time of birth.  And remember,  this is a study on mental growth.  So if your baby was a preemie he's going to be "behind" in the chart vs a baby who was born a week late (Mr T man) who will appear a week ahead on the chart.

 

Following the graph provided, you can monitor your baby's brain development and anticipate when, and for how long, he's going to be "difficult". 

 

Just like the physical pains that children experience during growth spurts (growing pains) a baby will experience mental stress and increased anxiety during a Leap (as they call it). 

 

Just imagine waking up one morning,  discovering you've gone completely blind.  First thing you'd do, would be to panic, but, eventually you would adjust.  A baby's first leap is the reverse of that.  He goes from having extremely limited eye sight (only a few inches from his face) to being able to see most of the world around him.  His little brain now has to relearn everything he thought he knew.  The world he was living in is gone and now he's got a whole new world to see and explore.  Sounds fun, but for him it's the first stressful Leap in a long series of Leaps to come. 

 

This first leap occurs at (approx) 5 weeks old.  (Remember, T man was born exactly 1 week late) so on that fateful day when he turned 4 weeks old and we lived through our day of Hell, we were actually surviving our first Wonder Leap.  Thankfully that first Leap is a relatively short one, only about a week or so. 

 

I'm not proud to admit it, but I need to be honest with you guys.  I was an angry, resentful mother at times during those few weeks that followed.  I could blame it on postpartum hormones, which is partly true, but mostly I just felt that my baby was being a mean little jerk.  And what's worse, he was doing it on purpose!! The nerve of this guy! =/ Of course that's not true, but like I said, I had no knowledge at this time.  When I discovered The Wonder Weeks around 7 weeks old, it was light having a huge weight removed from my shoulders and my heart.  My baby didn't hate me, he was just trying desperately to process all this information that he didn't understand! 

 

I'm happy to say that, although it hasn't been all rainbows and butterfly kisses, I haven't allowed myself to become angry or resentful towards my infant son.  If he starts to work on my nerves, I check my Wonder Weeks app to see where he is on the chart.  A lot of the times, I'll find that he is going through a Leap.  Knowing that, I can help ease him through the transition so everyday life is easier for the whole family.  If he's in between Leaps, then we work together to figure out what is stressing him out, and then we work through that as well.

(The Wonder Weeks chart pictured below)
Here is a screen shot of my app showing where my son is at in his Leaps as well as 2 of our friends. (I'm tracking the babies for their mom's)  T man is currently in Leap 6 the "Leap of Categories"  He is discovering now that not all things that look the same are the same.  For example, a black & white cat is different from a black & white cow.  He will begin to study objects, compare them to each other & determine how they relate to each other. 

Pumping

I hate pumping.  I'm doing it right now, not that I enjoy it, but I'm doing it.  I don't think any one actually enjoys pumping, but just like diaper dooty, we gotta do it.  It is completely irresponsible to EBF your baby & not pump.  Even if your a full time mom like I am, always with your baby, never leaving him, you still have to pump.  What if something happens to you? Or more likely, what if you want to go to the movies?  That's what I got to do today =) I went to the movies for the first time since T mans birth.  Oh, it was wonderful =) but now I have 2 very full breasts & they need to be emptied.  T man took one boob and fell asleep, so now I'm pumping.

Here's a few tips I'd like to give you about pumping:

Pump early & pump often. The sooner you begin pumping (as in, the day you come home from the hospital) and the more frequently you pump, the greater your supply is going to be.  Supply & demand ladies, supply & demand.  Start your freezer stash early & you will have a nice supply if/when you return to work.

Size matters.  Using the correct pumping flange is so important!  Too big & you won't get any milk, too small & you're likely to damage your nipples.

Lubricate.  If you get a lot of friction, use your lanolin oil to lube up your nips.  Just the areola, you don't want it getting into your milk stash.

Power pump to increase your supply. This really sucks! Sorry, but it does.  Hook yourself up to the pump (double preferably) and set a timer.  Pump for 15 minutes, rest for 5, pump for 15, rest 5, pump 15, rest 5, pump 15 & done.  Yep, that's 1 hour & 15 minutes of being hooked up to your pump.  But it works! Do this for 3 consecutive days at approximately the same time each day & you will notice an increase in your supply.  You have just successfully tricked your body into thinking your LO had a growth spurt  =)

Pumpin Pals Flanges. I highly recommend these aftermarket pump flanges.  www.pumpinpal.com   These are much more comfortable and productive than any of the standard flanges that are offered by the pump manufacturers.

You will get your largest quantity pumps in the early morning.  Try to get up earlier so you can pump before work,  or if you LO wakes for an early morning nursing (4-6am?) feed him, then go pump.  Sleep allows your body to produce more milk, so take advantage of it.

Nurse & pump simultaneously.  Hold baby in the football hold on one boob, while using a pumping bra to pump the other boob.  Talk about multi-tasking!

Speaking of pumping bras.  No need to buy one of the expensive ones.  Just take your least favorite nursing bra (you know, the one you never wear unless all the laundry is dirty) and cut a slit on each cup right over the nipple.  Ta da!  Pumping bra! Take your detachable flange and place it thru the bra from the inside.  Clip the bra up and get to pumping =) flanges not detachable?  Just cut the slit a little higher (not lower) and feed the flange thru from the front.

Pump early, Pump often.  I can't say that enough.  I wish someone had told me that 8 months ago.  I hope these tips help you pump more comfortably. =)

BFing essentials

You'll want to make sure you have a few items on hand at all times during your early days of breastfeeding.  I've tried & tested most popular brands available, but you'll need to test them for yourself of course.

Nursing Pads
I highly recommend the Johnson & Johnson as your primary nursing pad.  These are incredibly comfortable.  They are thickly padded, designed with a deep contour and have the all important adhesive strip.  But most importantly, they have a unique nipple indention which will cradle & protect your poor sore nipple.  Unfortunately though, they are not individually wrapped.  They will be your at home pads, but are not the best for travel (diaper bag)  I suggest buying 5 boxes of these and you can plan on using 1 box per week for the first 5-6 weeks postpartum.

For your diaper bag, I recommend Lansinoh nursing pads.  These are individually wrapped so they will stay sanitary for you when carried in the diaper bag.  I like these better than any other brand I've used for several reason.  First, they are wrapped as singles where other brands wrap in pairs.  You don't always need 2 & I don't like having one just floating around in my bag.  Second, I love how soft & silky they feel.  There are no rough or scratchy parts to these pads.  (Some pads I found have scratchy edges)  They are designed with 2 seams to give a cupped contour (although not nearly as contoured as the Johnsons) so they won't pucker under your bra.  They also have the very important adhesive strips.  I would buy 2 boxes of these to begin with.

After your milk regulates and your leaking mostly stops, you can switch to cotton nursing pads.  These are more economical and can be very comfortable if you use the right ones.  I posted a picture of 3 different brands showing that they are not all created equal.  I do NOT suggest buying the Medela brand. They do not wear well, wash well nor do they feel very nice.  At least half of mine have scratchy threads and I can't stand wearing them.  I prefer the UdderCover pads but they are only available online.  The Avent are sold at Babies are Us.

Nursing Bras & Tank Tops
Do NOT spend a lot of money on bras right away.  In the beginning, your milk will be abundant, your breasts will be engorged and sore and you will still be dealing with a lot of postpartum weight & fluid retention.  I suggest buying 2, maybe 3 bras at first.  Stick to the soft, all cotton (no foam cups)styles.  And NO underwires.  Wires can cause clogged ducts & you do not want a clogged duct!!  Nursing tanks are going to be much more comfortable & easier to nurse in.  With no cup/bra sizes to worry about, your breasts will have some room to breathe and you won't feel so restricted.  I would buy 7 or 8 tanks so you have plenty on hand in case of leaks.  After your milk regulates at 6 weeks you can invest in a few more bras, but don't buy the expensive ones yet.  You'll have a hormone change at 12 weeks and your milk will adjust again.  Then you can look into buying some good quality bras (I like Bravado)

Creams & Ointments
Keeping your nipples dry is very important to keep your risk of thrush low, but at the same time you need to keep them moisturized.  I know, that sounds like a contradiction, but it isn't.  There is a big difference between wet and hydrated.  For your basic, everyday moisturizer, you'll want to use a good lanolin oil.  I recommend Medela. It is like melted butter! So soft & it glides on perfectly.  (The other common brand, Lansinoh, is sticky, thick and firm.  It drags across the skin causing unnecessary irritation) Use the lanolin after every nursing session.  It is "edible" so baby can ingest it safely.

APNO is a prescription ointment that you can get from your OB before discharge from the hospital.  This cream contains anti-yeast ingredients that will help fight thrush. 

Hydrogel (or soothie) patches.  These gel patches are to be applied directly onto the nipple for instant soothing relief.  Refrigerate them before use for increased effectiveness.

Nursing Pillow
Some moms love these, some moms can live wihout one.  I love mine!  There are a lot of options.  Boppy is your best seller (that's what I've got)  Basically, it's a horseshoe shaped pillow that wraps around your waist, giving you something to rest the baby on while nursing.  It frees your hands, removes stress from your arms & shoulders and allows baby to feel more secure & relax while nursing.  After you outgrow the nursing need of the pillow, baby can use it as a sitting assistant or even a tummy time pillow.

(cotton nursing pads pictured below)

this is what the Medela look like every time I pull them out of the wash.  Terrible! I use the UdderCover pads the most and I recently purchased the Avent.  I like both of these and recommend them over the Medela.