12/8/09 Update - since writing this post I have gotten so many plugged ducts! At one point I was plugging up every day or two. So obviously I can't take a sick day and rest every time this happens. I think I've finally found a solution though: click here to read that post.
Well, yesterday my boob decided to give me a message and that message was: SLOW DOWN! I got a plugged duct. I think I probably started to notice it a day or two ago - a hard lump on one side of one breast. It kind of felt like that engorged feeling when your milk comes in but just in one spot. Then it got larger and last night was very noticeable - probably the size of a tangerine. I could even see it in the mirror which was a trip.
So I consulted all three of my handy dandy breast feeding books (so nice to have three opinions) and they all said the same thing. This was a plugged duct, and it comes from all sorts of things: too tight clothes, poor nutrition, not enough water, running around too much, etc. etc. Also, if it's not taken care of properly and quickly, the plugged milk can get infected and lead to a painful bout with mastitis - which I definitely did not want! I checked and did not have a fever so I had not elevated to the infection stage yet.
The prescription for plugged ducts is simple: get lots of rest, drink lots of water, don't wear a bra, apply heat to the affected area, pump or breast feed often, and massage the lump so the plug clears.
I have to admit that I have been lazy on the water drinking lately. I drank so much when I was pregnant that I just got really tired of it. So last night I started upping the water and also started the heat treatment and pumping. When pumping I would massage the hard lump. Nothing much happened until the feeding this morning when I pushed so hard behind the lump that it actually started draining. Really this wasn't gross even though it sounds kind of yucky.
I also forced myself to stay in bed all day - I even called in sick to work which I have not done at all since the little one was born. Luckily DH worked from home today so he was really helpful with littles this morning and I could sleep extra. It has felt so great to just rest. I really needed it - I guess I was pushing a little too hard. I realize this was the first day since littles was born that I just relaxed. Man, I am so crazy!
Today I went until like 1:00 before I even looked at my blackberry and until 3:00 before using the computer which is big for me. After this blog post I'm headed right back to bed.
The little one has been great today, napping a lot and just being a cutey in general. She totally smiles and coos now which is so adroable. DH has been helpful too - he got me lunch, hot packs, hairspray and chocolate. Yes, I had run out of hairspray and it was so nice of him to replenish it for me. He also got food for our furry babies, the cats. Great man.
OK - back to bed for me!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Yeah I Know it's Early
I realized that the little one will probably outgrow her Halloween onesie before Halloween even gets here! So we put it on this morning and took some shots:
So glad I'm in the pic, no make-up, haven't combed my hair - but at least I have my Halloween pj pants on...
How fun! I love it. Of course she also has a Halloween costume we bought this summer when Babystyle went out of business. Hopefully it fits.
I did my first 24 hour period of exclusive pumping. As I thought, she ate 40 oz. I was able to pump 45 oz though so I got some stored up. It was a little tough pumping at 2:30 and 5:30 am but it was nice to not have the baby and the sheets soaking with breast milk! Hopefully we can eventually drop that 2:30 am feeding. I am also thinking that when she turns 2 months we'll transition her into sleeping all night in the crib. I don't want to worry about her getting too big in the bed, learning to crawl and falling out, things like that. Now that I'm bottle feeding there is less of an excuse.
She is definitely becoming more involved in the world around her. She smiles now, which is so cute. Hope everyone has a great day!
So glad I'm in the pic, no make-up, haven't combed my hair - but at least I have my Halloween pj pants on...
How fun! I love it. Of course she also has a Halloween costume we bought this summer when Babystyle went out of business. Hopefully it fits.
I did my first 24 hour period of exclusive pumping. As I thought, she ate 40 oz. I was able to pump 45 oz though so I got some stored up. It was a little tough pumping at 2:30 and 5:30 am but it was nice to not have the baby and the sheets soaking with breast milk! Hopefully we can eventually drop that 2:30 am feeding. I am also thinking that when she turns 2 months we'll transition her into sleeping all night in the crib. I don't want to worry about her getting too big in the bed, learning to crawl and falling out, things like that. Now that I'm bottle feeding there is less of an excuse.
She is definitely becoming more involved in the world around her. She smiles now, which is so cute. Hope everyone has a great day!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Things Are a Little Different Now
Well, the little one turned six weeks on Saturday. We were trying to get to this point as a lot of other parent friends have said that six weeks is a milestone where things get easier. I think that part of that is as a parent you are more used to things by six weeks.
Things have been a little different for me because I've transitioned more to pumping from breast feeding. I have to say I really love it. This weekend it gave me the freedom to do more things like my massage, more baths, just alone time. Then today, I was alone with littles again but I did the pumping thing instead of breast feeding. Actually it worked great. I just try to keep one bottle ahead of her - or always try to have one full bottle on hand. I stored 5 oz early this morning and in retrospect it would have been easier to keep that 5 oz on hand and then store later. But no matter, I have been able to keep up with her hunger either way. Right now I have a bottle with a teeny bit left and then a full 5 oz bottle. I found that you can stuff 5 oz into the 4 oz Playtex drop-in bottles. The thing is, the pump bottles are 5 oz a side and the Medela freezer bags are 5 oz so I just think in 5 oz packets. Since this morning the little one has already eaten 24 oz (less than 12 hours). Supposedly babies her age should be eating 35 - 40 oz per 24 hours so we'll see what she does tonight. I am guessing she might be more on the 40 oz side since she loves eating so much.
Today I also did an outing alone - I think it was my first one. I got dressed, put on make-up and went to the dry cleaner. I had to hem all the pants my friend Heather gave me because her legs are so long and mine are so short. It was actually hilarious how much I had to hem them. The little one looks like she's going to have a long torso and short legs like me. Funny. After the dry cleaner we ventured to the Coffee Bean and then we walked around a little. But not too much because I felt like we were already doing really great and I didn't have that reserve bottle I try to have. We had some milk but not another whole bottle. So tomorrow I'll be smarter and not freeze 1/2 of my first pump so I'll have that reserve bottle all day.
Today the little one was able to nap a little better because there was much less excitement. DH is home now and making dinner, which I can look forward to more because of the bottles. The reason for this is he always makes dinner and then I clean up. We're both really good at our jobs. But with breast feeding I couldn't really clean up because the little one was always wanting to eat around then. Now that I have the bottle, DH can relax and feed her after dinner. I would so much rather clean the kitchen then have him do it because it takes me no time at all and I do a better job. So things are returning a little more back to normal.
Speaking of back to normal, I have my post-partum appointment this week on Friday. I am going to have an IUD put in which is a trip. I chose this because there are no hormones so nothing to interfere with my milk. The IUD I'm getting is copper - they do have another one that has hormones but I didn't pick that. FYI preggos - if you want an IUD put in post-partum you should call ahead of time. I happened to call ahead and I'm glad I did becuase there was an approval process with the insurance. So now it's all good and I won't accidentally get pregnant when things between DH and I resume. (Well hopefully, nothing is 100%). Poor guy has been waiting patiently all this time... we'll see if I get the green light. I had a crazy episiotomy/stitch situation and all but hopefully I've healed. Sorry if this whole thing was TMI for our family members but I thought it would be helpful for preggos.
;P
Things have been a little different for me because I've transitioned more to pumping from breast feeding. I have to say I really love it. This weekend it gave me the freedom to do more things like my massage, more baths, just alone time. Then today, I was alone with littles again but I did the pumping thing instead of breast feeding. Actually it worked great. I just try to keep one bottle ahead of her - or always try to have one full bottle on hand. I stored 5 oz early this morning and in retrospect it would have been easier to keep that 5 oz on hand and then store later. But no matter, I have been able to keep up with her hunger either way. Right now I have a bottle with a teeny bit left and then a full 5 oz bottle. I found that you can stuff 5 oz into the 4 oz Playtex drop-in bottles. The thing is, the pump bottles are 5 oz a side and the Medela freezer bags are 5 oz so I just think in 5 oz packets. Since this morning the little one has already eaten 24 oz (less than 12 hours). Supposedly babies her age should be eating 35 - 40 oz per 24 hours so we'll see what she does tonight. I am guessing she might be more on the 40 oz side since she loves eating so much.
Today I also did an outing alone - I think it was my first one. I got dressed, put on make-up and went to the dry cleaner. I had to hem all the pants my friend Heather gave me because her legs are so long and mine are so short. It was actually hilarious how much I had to hem them. The little one looks like she's going to have a long torso and short legs like me. Funny. After the dry cleaner we ventured to the Coffee Bean and then we walked around a little. But not too much because I felt like we were already doing really great and I didn't have that reserve bottle I try to have. We had some milk but not another whole bottle. So tomorrow I'll be smarter and not freeze 1/2 of my first pump so I'll have that reserve bottle all day.
Today the little one was able to nap a little better because there was much less excitement. DH is home now and making dinner, which I can look forward to more because of the bottles. The reason for this is he always makes dinner and then I clean up. We're both really good at our jobs. But with breast feeding I couldn't really clean up because the little one was always wanting to eat around then. Now that I have the bottle, DH can relax and feed her after dinner. I would so much rather clean the kitchen then have him do it because it takes me no time at all and I do a better job. So things are returning a little more back to normal.
Speaking of back to normal, I have my post-partum appointment this week on Friday. I am going to have an IUD put in which is a trip. I chose this because there are no hormones so nothing to interfere with my milk. The IUD I'm getting is copper - they do have another one that has hormones but I didn't pick that. FYI preggos - if you want an IUD put in post-partum you should call ahead of time. I happened to call ahead and I'm glad I did becuase there was an approval process with the insurance. So now it's all good and I won't accidentally get pregnant when things between DH and I resume. (Well hopefully, nothing is 100%). Poor guy has been waiting patiently all this time... we'll see if I get the green light. I had a crazy episiotomy/stitch situation and all but hopefully I've healed. Sorry if this whole thing was TMI for our family members but I thought it would be helpful for preggos.
;P
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday Thoughts
Well, the little one had another day with very little sleep. Probably because of all the excitement, she had her grandpa here and also a visit from Lola. We were able to get out though, we went to Spumoni... quickly becoming a favorite because it's casual and has an outside eating area with room for the stroller. We brought expressed milk and I got to have wine again - hooray.
Here are a few select pics from the day and you can click here to view a slideshow of more pics.
So lately I've been pumping and feeding her bottles instead of the breast more often. It's just so much easier for me. It takes 5 minutes or so to pump and it's not that big of a deal to rinse the bottles after each use. It seems easier for her to drink from the bottle too - just one little hole that milk comes out only if she sucks - instead of the breast which is a sprinkler with like five streams shooting out. I think it can be overwhelming. It's nice to have a lot of milk and a strong let down sure makes pumping easy but it's not the easiest for breast feeding. Arg. I don't know. I feel that since I made it through the first 40 days of breast feeding it's okay.
I do feel some guilt about it since breast feeding purists would probably say there is more bonding the other way and things like that but man, I just really enjoy the freedom that the bottle affords. I even prefer feeding her with the bottle myself. For example, tonight at dinner I was able to have her in the wrap and feed her while I was eating at the table. Then she's already in burping position and also I have my hands free. Even with the brest friend it was challenging to breast feed at the table.
I guess since I'm going back to work anyway I'll have to pump most of the time then so why not now... sigh. I don't know, there is just a lot of guilt attached to motherhood, guess I better get used to it. But I guess you just have to what works for you. I don't begrudge my friends who chose to stop breast feeding because it wasn't working for them so I don't know why I feel bad about transitioning more to bottle feeding.
Hopefully after this week is over and she turns 7 weeks the little one will be able to nap more regularly, we'll see. I know she needs the sleep but it's near impossible to put her down for a nap on days like this. I guess we'll just learn as we go along.
I hope everyone had a great weekend.
Here are a few select pics from the day and you can click here to view a slideshow of more pics.
So lately I've been pumping and feeding her bottles instead of the breast more often. It's just so much easier for me. It takes 5 minutes or so to pump and it's not that big of a deal to rinse the bottles after each use. It seems easier for her to drink from the bottle too - just one little hole that milk comes out only if she sucks - instead of the breast which is a sprinkler with like five streams shooting out. I think it can be overwhelming. It's nice to have a lot of milk and a strong let down sure makes pumping easy but it's not the easiest for breast feeding. Arg. I don't know. I feel that since I made it through the first 40 days of breast feeding it's okay.
I do feel some guilt about it since breast feeding purists would probably say there is more bonding the other way and things like that but man, I just really enjoy the freedom that the bottle affords. I even prefer feeding her with the bottle myself. For example, tonight at dinner I was able to have her in the wrap and feed her while I was eating at the table. Then she's already in burping position and also I have my hands free. Even with the brest friend it was challenging to breast feed at the table.
I guess since I'm going back to work anyway I'll have to pump most of the time then so why not now... sigh. I don't know, there is just a lot of guilt attached to motherhood, guess I better get used to it. But I guess you just have to what works for you. I don't begrudge my friends who chose to stop breast feeding because it wasn't working for them so I don't know why I feel bad about transitioning more to bottle feeding.
Hopefully after this week is over and she turns 7 weeks the little one will be able to nap more regularly, we'll see. I know she needs the sleep but it's near impossible to put her down for a nap on days like this. I guess we'll just learn as we go along.
I hope everyone had a great weekend.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
It Was a Good Day
Today was MUCH better than Thursday and Friday. Although Friday was pretty good for me personally, the little one was pretty fussy and didn't nap much. Same goes for Thursday. I think she was having another one of those growth spurts. Ack. But today she was a good napper. I pumped before I went to get a massage and she napped the whole time I was gone. When I got back she was just finishing the milk I pumped so I pumped some more. It's still in the ziplock back in the fridge so I think today I'll bank 10 oz. Pretty good!
The massage was nice, I kept thinking of the little one the whole time but it was nice to be alone. Then on the way home I stopped at my friend Heather's house - I was the lucky recipient of her cleaning out her closet - hooray! I got some great "new" stuff. Funny how someone else's old stuff can be so exciting and new to another person. I am really happy about it because somehow I hardly have any clothes left after cleaning out all the maternity stuff. Also I had to get rid of some of my old shirts because of my new bust size. DH said I should just save the stuff but I had already been saving it since pregnancy and I hope to breast feed for a year. Plus I never spend that much on clothes so it's just not worth it all gunking up my closet.
Littles is 6 weeks old today! DH was saying she's getting so big that we should call her biggles. Ha ha ha.
So since she's napping and I've eaten dinner and taken a bath (including hair wash AND dry), I have some time. I have been thinking lately about how thankful I am to no longer be pregnant. I didn't have a huge problem with it but having a good pregnant friend reminds me of some of the stuff that was not fun. Here are the things I am glad to be rid of:
Supposedly the 6 week mark is a big milestone with babies and they calm a bit after that. But I'm not so sure. I have a friend with two kids and her first kid mellowed at 6 weeks and her second at 8 weeks. We'll just have to see. The little one is a pretty good baby on the whole but man, I sure prefer these days where she naps to the days where she doesn't.
Lola comes tomorrow! DH's dad is still here so we'll have grandparents from both sides here visiting. I am excited to see Lola because she couldn't come last week. Maybe we'll go take some pictures at the park, we'll see how the day goes.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!
The massage was nice, I kept thinking of the little one the whole time but it was nice to be alone. Then on the way home I stopped at my friend Heather's house - I was the lucky recipient of her cleaning out her closet - hooray! I got some great "new" stuff. Funny how someone else's old stuff can be so exciting and new to another person. I am really happy about it because somehow I hardly have any clothes left after cleaning out all the maternity stuff. Also I had to get rid of some of my old shirts because of my new bust size. DH said I should just save the stuff but I had already been saving it since pregnancy and I hope to breast feed for a year. Plus I never spend that much on clothes so it's just not worth it all gunking up my closet.
Littles is 6 weeks old today! DH was saying she's getting so big that we should call her biggles. Ha ha ha.
So since she's napping and I've eaten dinner and taken a bath (including hair wash AND dry), I have some time. I have been thinking lately about how thankful I am to no longer be pregnant. I didn't have a huge problem with it but having a good pregnant friend reminds me of some of the stuff that was not fun. Here are the things I am glad to be rid of:
- swollen feet
- 45 extra pounds (I've still got 12 to go)
- shortness of breath
- heartburn
- having to pee all the time (it's so great to be able to drink as much as I want at night and know I won't be awake in an hour... also being able to drink before getting in the car... not having to use the restroom at every single place I go)
- worrying about everything I eat from aspartame to sushi to deli meat
- not being able to reach my feet (which is tough for stuff like putting on shoes and painting toenails)
- abstaining from alcohol (I still don't drink caffeine)
- insomnia (although I can't say I'm sleeping all night now either)
Supposedly the 6 week mark is a big milestone with babies and they calm a bit after that. But I'm not so sure. I have a friend with two kids and her first kid mellowed at 6 weeks and her second at 8 weeks. We'll just have to see. The little one is a pretty good baby on the whole but man, I sure prefer these days where she naps to the days where she doesn't.
Lola comes tomorrow! DH's dad is still here so we'll have grandparents from both sides here visiting. I am excited to see Lola because she couldn't come last week. Maybe we'll go take some pictures at the park, we'll see how the day goes.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!
Friday, September 25, 2009
I Love Friday!
Ah, the weekend, so wonderful! I am so glad that I can wake up tomorrow and not worry about work or checking email, etc. Hooray!
Today was a great day. The little one spent some time in the morning with her grandpa, he is staying with us this weekend:
Three generations of Cummings:
Then DH, littles and I hit up the Fred Segal sale. We brought two bottles and were out for more than 2 hours - it was a good outing. The little one did great in the store. DH got some shirts and new shades and I got:
a black tank top! Actually no, that's my Walmart tank that I love. I got the necklace. Here is a close up:
This necklace kind of matches the celebration of motherhood ring that I got, and the necklace is for the hard labor that I had. I remember joking with DH in the recovery room - "now I need some more diamonds!" But I was only kind of joking. So when we saw this today I knew it was the right thing. And on sale so that's a plus. A girl can never have enough ice.
I've been enjoying the pump and go thing a lot. That's where I pump right before we go somewhere. I've been able to pump a lot more lately because I'm not as worried about it. I pump and don't worry if she'll have to drink her next meal from a bottle because I've made it to 40 days which is supposed to be the hardest part of breast feeding and getting them to latch on and things. I feel confident that she's getting enough to eat and I feel fine pumping. This has helped me to store up more and also to have DH help with feeding her more. Even grandpa fed her yesterday when I went to get my hair done.
I have my massage appointment tomorrow - what a week! Hair, massage, diamonds, champagne, a girl could get used to this!
Today was a great day. The little one spent some time in the morning with her grandpa, he is staying with us this weekend:
Three generations of Cummings:
Then DH, littles and I hit up the Fred Segal sale. We brought two bottles and were out for more than 2 hours - it was a good outing. The little one did great in the store. DH got some shirts and new shades and I got:
a black tank top! Actually no, that's my Walmart tank that I love. I got the necklace. Here is a close up:
This necklace kind of matches the celebration of motherhood ring that I got, and the necklace is for the hard labor that I had. I remember joking with DH in the recovery room - "now I need some more diamonds!" But I was only kind of joking. So when we saw this today I knew it was the right thing. And on sale so that's a plus. A girl can never have enough ice.
I've been enjoying the pump and go thing a lot. That's where I pump right before we go somewhere. I've been able to pump a lot more lately because I'm not as worried about it. I pump and don't worry if she'll have to drink her next meal from a bottle because I've made it to 40 days which is supposed to be the hardest part of breast feeding and getting them to latch on and things. I feel confident that she's getting enough to eat and I feel fine pumping. This has helped me to store up more and also to have DH help with feeding her more. Even grandpa fed her yesterday when I went to get my hair done.
I have my massage appointment tomorrow - what a week! Hair, massage, diamonds, champagne, a girl could get used to this!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Yup, I Needed That
Well, there I am with my new cut & color. This was my first time away from the little one since she was conceived. Besides a bath or shower, we've been inseparable. I was really nervous to leave her, I was getting all upset and almost didn't want to go. But I pumped some milk and then I just did it.
I went to a liquor store and got a little bottle of champagne to bring with me to the appointment, it was a celebration for me. Not because I celebrate being away from the little one, but I celebrate that I got up the courage to do it. She was fine at home with her dad and grandpa, but still, it was hard.
I am really glad I went to a regular salon and not the Vidal Sassoon Academy. I got a cut AND color in 1 hour and 45 minutes instead of 3 hours for color and 2 hours for a cut. The time savings was definitely worth the extra $$ spent. Really it wasn't even that bad. So now I think I have a good hair person - she is a mom too so that makes it more fun. Moms unite!!! I feel like I can hardly even remember NOT being a mom. It's just so much of who I am now, it's crazy.
When I got home I was so happy to see my baby! She was even more precious and wonderful after being away from her. DH was like ah! Take her! 2.5 hours is a lot for him to be alone with her. Ha ha for me that's a breeze. So Saturday I have my massage and trip to DSW for shoes. Should be good.
Building on success...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
All Sorts of Updates
Whew! Well yesterday was a crazy day. The little one had a marathon growth spurt. She only took small 10 minute or so cat naps and ate all day. I tell you I tried every soothing method in the book - nothing could get her to stay asleep. I called DH at work and told him to be ready because when he got home he had littles duty. He lasted 3 hours before he was completely exhausted. I kept pumping milk so he could feed her and I could have a break. I found out that in one hour I make about 3 oz. Interesting.
But then she slept well in the night and she's napping really well today. So we got through that!
Thanks to everyone for your votes on my poll of what to do on Saturday. I made an appointment at Marico Body Therapy for Saturday. My friend Monique told me about the place. I always feel ripped off paying over $100 for a massage at the big fancy spas so I thought I'd try something different. Marico looks pretty cool and a 1 hour massage is $65, sounds good to me. That means I might have time and money left over for a little shopping - and Marico happens to be very close to DSW - my fave shoe store. I'll go see what they might have to offer.
As for my hair appointment, I called the VS Academy and they were booked up for Saturday. But then I thought this is crap anyway. Why am I going to a place that takes 3 hours to do highlights? Sure they do a great job but I just can't handle it. I need a place where I can get a cut and color in a reasonable amount of time, it's worth the extra money. My friend Monique referred me to a girl and I called her for an appointment, waiting for a call back. Yay, highlights and cut. I really don't like my haircut right now so am just trying to grow it out, the layers are shaggy and gross, ew. Luckily I pretty much rock the ponytail every day.
Until next time!
But then she slept well in the night and she's napping really well today. So we got through that!
Thanks to everyone for your votes on my poll of what to do on Saturday. I made an appointment at Marico Body Therapy for Saturday. My friend Monique told me about the place. I always feel ripped off paying over $100 for a massage at the big fancy spas so I thought I'd try something different. Marico looks pretty cool and a 1 hour massage is $65, sounds good to me. That means I might have time and money left over for a little shopping - and Marico happens to be very close to DSW - my fave shoe store. I'll go see what they might have to offer.
As for my hair appointment, I called the VS Academy and they were booked up for Saturday. But then I thought this is crap anyway. Why am I going to a place that takes 3 hours to do highlights? Sure they do a great job but I just can't handle it. I need a place where I can get a cut and color in a reasonable amount of time, it's worth the extra money. My friend Monique referred me to a girl and I called her for an appointment, waiting for a call back. Yay, highlights and cut. I really don't like my haircut right now so am just trying to grow it out, the layers are shaggy and gross, ew. Luckily I pretty much rock the ponytail every day.
Until next time!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Two Pictures - Happy Now?
Lola said it was unacceptable that I hadn't put more pictures up - even though I just posted some YESTERDAY. So here are some pictures of the little one in her swing.... she fell asleep just seconds after I snapped these. Oh magic swing.
This one is blurry because of the motion:
Here's a little better one:
This one is blurry because of the motion:
Here's a little better one:
The Baby Swing is Working and I Feel Guilty!
OK so I persisted with the Boppy baby swing and now I can sit the little one in it for a while to entertain her. Actually, Super Auntie figured it out. There was a lock on it so it wouldn't swing very hard. I am so dumb, I was trying to put her in it with the swinging locked down for over a week. Thank goodness for Super Auntie!
So last night I was able to put her in it when she was really cranky and it calmed her right down. This morning I had work to do (as usual during the week... ah, I miss the weekend already) so after feeding her I popped her in. She's been in there for a while and she's fine. I feel guilty like I should be doing more work or something! I am letting the swing babysit her and it's working! I guess I should just be happy it's working but I don't know, I just feel bad for some reason.
Also I've learned that when she's tired, she's put her hand up to her mouth which is usually the "I'm hungry" signal. But she's not really hungry, she's tired. I guess she has to really suck her hand for the hungry signal. So that day where I was so frustrated trying to feed her all day? I think she was just overtired. It was an exercise in frustration but I guess something I had to learn. I thought she was frustrated by the strong milk let down but I've realized over the past couple days that she has no trouble handling it if she really wants to eat. So yes, this whole thing is a learning process.
One thing I've been wondering is how anyone manages to achieve this with another kid running around - I just don't get how people can have more than one? Last week when I was just so tired and frustrated I told DH that I could not ever have another child. He said (wisely) that this probably wasn't the best time to talk about it. But really, I don't know how people do it. My mom said it best, that it's a decision that DH and I will make together when the time comes. But now is definitely NOT the time. Oh gosh I can't even imagine doing all this while feeling nauseous from early pregnancy.
Well anyway, here we are in week 5. Supposedly after week 6 things get a little easier with breast feeding and such but I don't have my hopes too high. Speaking of, it's time to pump. Until next time!
So last night I was able to put her in it when she was really cranky and it calmed her right down. This morning I had work to do (as usual during the week... ah, I miss the weekend already) so after feeding her I popped her in. She's been in there for a while and she's fine. I feel guilty like I should be doing more work or something! I am letting the swing babysit her and it's working! I guess I should just be happy it's working but I don't know, I just feel bad for some reason.
Also I've learned that when she's tired, she's put her hand up to her mouth which is usually the "I'm hungry" signal. But she's not really hungry, she's tired. I guess she has to really suck her hand for the hungry signal. So that day where I was so frustrated trying to feed her all day? I think she was just overtired. It was an exercise in frustration but I guess something I had to learn. I thought she was frustrated by the strong milk let down but I've realized over the past couple days that she has no trouble handling it if she really wants to eat. So yes, this whole thing is a learning process.
One thing I've been wondering is how anyone manages to achieve this with another kid running around - I just don't get how people can have more than one? Last week when I was just so tired and frustrated I told DH that I could not ever have another child. He said (wisely) that this probably wasn't the best time to talk about it. But really, I don't know how people do it. My mom said it best, that it's a decision that DH and I will make together when the time comes. But now is definitely NOT the time. Oh gosh I can't even imagine doing all this while feeling nauseous from early pregnancy.
Well anyway, here we are in week 5. Supposedly after week 6 things get a little easier with breast feeding and such but I don't have my hopes too high. Speaking of, it's time to pump. Until next time!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
What Should I Do for My First Day Out?
You may notice the new poll on the right hand side... well, this Saturday I am going to go out without the little one for the first time. DH is going to watch her and we have expressed milk for her to eat. So, now the decision is what should I do? I have thought of three ideas and I'm asking you guys out there in blog land to weigh in. These are my choices...
First choice: get my hair highlighted at Vidal Sassoon Academy. The positive thing about this is that I need to get my hair done. I'll feel better about myself every day with my roots done. However, this takes a long time and isn't exactly fun. Three hours at the academy isn't a hoot and a holler. But the results are great.
Second choice: go to a spa for a massage. I was thinking I'd walk to the Fairmont and use the spa there - looks like Exhale Spa has a location there now. It would be very relaxing to go in the hot tub, sauna, etc. and also to get a massage. I've definitely been using my back muscles a ton now with picking littles up and rocking her all the time.
Third choice: go shopping for some new clothes. Some of my old clothes fit now after the baby but I could use a few new things. One reservation I have is that I am still losing weight so the interim clothes could end up being useful for only a small time. That's why I felt good buying stretchy pants & pj pants at ON.
So please go vote using the poll on the right hand side of the blog! Thanks!
First choice: get my hair highlighted at Vidal Sassoon Academy. The positive thing about this is that I need to get my hair done. I'll feel better about myself every day with my roots done. However, this takes a long time and isn't exactly fun. Three hours at the academy isn't a hoot and a holler. But the results are great.
Second choice: go to a spa for a massage. I was thinking I'd walk to the Fairmont and use the spa there - looks like Exhale Spa has a location there now. It would be very relaxing to go in the hot tub, sauna, etc. and also to get a massage. I've definitely been using my back muscles a ton now with picking littles up and rocking her all the time.
Third choice: go shopping for some new clothes. Some of my old clothes fit now after the baby but I could use a few new things. One reservation I have is that I am still losing weight so the interim clothes could end up being useful for only a small time. That's why I felt good buying stretchy pants & pj pants at ON.
So please go vote using the poll on the right hand side of the blog! Thanks!
Weekend Good Times
On Saturday we enjoyed a trip to the 3rd Street Promenade. We went to lunch at Monsoon and it was a great decision. They have an outside patio (score), good lunch menu and I get 15% off when I use my business card (local business special). I really like the red curry tofu bowl, it was great to get out!
We started out the day right because the little one got enough sleep. I think that the really bad days we have where she fusses and eats all the time are correlated to not having enough naps. So I'm working on making sure she sleeps enough during the day.
My friend Tiff came over with her daughter Ella who of course was so well behaved as usual. Ella brought the little one a present - so cute. It was so nice to be able to talk to her about breast feeding and being a working mom - all that kind of stuff. So great to have girl friends.
After Tiff and Ella left and right before we left for the Promenade, I pumped as much as I could. The little one had just eaten but I still got 7 ounces in 7 minutes. That was the longest I've ever pumped. I think that I have a pretty large capacity because I can get about 5 ounces from one side. This morning I pumped just one side and got about that. I think that I'll be pumping one side more often because that leaves one side that is ready for a hungry baby.
After pumping I had a glass of wine because I knew I wouldn't be feeding her again until the alcohol had passed from my system. So nice! We brought expressed milk with us for the trip. Yesterday I pumped 15 ounces and we used 9, so I came out positive 6 ounces which I consider a successful day.
Here we are at Monsoon (wearing my awesome new necklace from Aunt Marguerite, it has peridot which is the August birth stone):
And here I am doing a quick diaper change outside Banana Republic, I find it easier to change her in the bassinet then to go into a bathroom:
Once our lunch and diaper change was finished, we had a stop at Old Navy. I was happy to get some new undies, pants to wear around the house, and a cute Halloween onesie for the little one. So fun, I love Old Navy. DH was a champ and took care of the little one while I shopped around. I was so glad to get the undies and pants. Yay! I love ON undies now, they are really comfy when you're spending so much time with a baby, lots of sitting, laying, moving around, etc. You need the real deal undies, not frilly lacy stuff.
Today we are going to return the library books and get some new ones so that will be fun. I'll do the full pump again before we leave and we'll take a bottle. I could get used to this!
We started out the day right because the little one got enough sleep. I think that the really bad days we have where she fusses and eats all the time are correlated to not having enough naps. So I'm working on making sure she sleeps enough during the day.
My friend Tiff came over with her daughter Ella who of course was so well behaved as usual. Ella brought the little one a present - so cute. It was so nice to be able to talk to her about breast feeding and being a working mom - all that kind of stuff. So great to have girl friends.
After Tiff and Ella left and right before we left for the Promenade, I pumped as much as I could. The little one had just eaten but I still got 7 ounces in 7 minutes. That was the longest I've ever pumped. I think that I have a pretty large capacity because I can get about 5 ounces from one side. This morning I pumped just one side and got about that. I think that I'll be pumping one side more often because that leaves one side that is ready for a hungry baby.
After pumping I had a glass of wine because I knew I wouldn't be feeding her again until the alcohol had passed from my system. So nice! We brought expressed milk with us for the trip. Yesterday I pumped 15 ounces and we used 9, so I came out positive 6 ounces which I consider a successful day.
Here we are at Monsoon (wearing my awesome new necklace from Aunt Marguerite, it has peridot which is the August birth stone):
And here I am doing a quick diaper change outside Banana Republic, I find it easier to change her in the bassinet then to go into a bathroom:
Once our lunch and diaper change was finished, we had a stop at Old Navy. I was happy to get some new undies, pants to wear around the house, and a cute Halloween onesie for the little one. So fun, I love Old Navy. DH was a champ and took care of the little one while I shopped around. I was so glad to get the undies and pants. Yay! I love ON undies now, they are really comfy when you're spending so much time with a baby, lots of sitting, laying, moving around, etc. You need the real deal undies, not frilly lacy stuff.
Today we are going to return the library books and get some new ones so that will be fun. I'll do the full pump again before we leave and we'll take a bottle. I could get used to this!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Girls Night: Good for the Soul
Before I tell about girls night - here are two pictures of the little one after her bath - so cute:
So girls night was great! Here is a picture of everyone posing for the camera - you will see we had one boy... Gavin, but he promises not to blow any of our secrets... (he is in the front row, you can barely see him). These are all my sorority sisters from college - we are still good friends!
OK, DH was also home for part of it which is why we have pictures, we don't usually take pictures of ourselves during our chat-fests. You can see we all just bring appetizer food like cheese, crackers, etc. and enjoy the company. I took it down a notch by using paper plates & plastic cups - hooray! Easy clean-up. I am enjoying a can of delicious O'Douls. I have really come to enjoy that stuff. I do have the occasional glass of wine but I have to do it 2 hours before the littles wants to breast feed. I know she feeds pretty constantly in the evening so I just skipped the wine. It will be better after three months too - then her liver is more developed and I won't have to be as careful. Still I can only have the occasional glass of wine but hey, better than nothing.
Here I am sporting my nifty nursing cover - thanks again Katja!
It was great to see the girls. We had a nice time chatting about life. Babies, buying homes, it seems like we are all so grown up now. I am sure girls night will continue as we progress through life. It will be nice when the little ones are old enough to play together in the other room so we can let loose even more!
So girls night was great! Here is a picture of everyone posing for the camera - you will see we had one boy... Gavin, but he promises not to blow any of our secrets... (he is in the front row, you can barely see him). These are all my sorority sisters from college - we are still good friends!
OK, DH was also home for part of it which is why we have pictures, we don't usually take pictures of ourselves during our chat-fests. You can see we all just bring appetizer food like cheese, crackers, etc. and enjoy the company. I took it down a notch by using paper plates & plastic cups - hooray! Easy clean-up. I am enjoying a can of delicious O'Douls. I have really come to enjoy that stuff. I do have the occasional glass of wine but I have to do it 2 hours before the littles wants to breast feed. I know she feeds pretty constantly in the evening so I just skipped the wine. It will be better after three months too - then her liver is more developed and I won't have to be as careful. Still I can only have the occasional glass of wine but hey, better than nothing.
Here I am sporting my nifty nursing cover - thanks again Katja!
It was great to see the girls. We had a nice time chatting about life. Babies, buying homes, it seems like we are all so grown up now. I am sure girls night will continue as we progress through life. It will be nice when the little ones are old enough to play together in the other room so we can let loose even more!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Over 1,000 Visitors!
Well our little blog has hit a milestone - we've had over 1,000 unique visitors! That's pretty neat. I keep track using Google Analytics - it's free. We've had visitors from 21 countries - and after the U.S. the most visits we've had have been from Portugal. That's really interesting because DH and I spent our honeymoon in Portugal so shout out to Portugal! Here in the U.S. we've had visitors from 312 cities from Kissimmee to Mountain View. So hey everyone!
Most of our visits come from returning visitors, but about 15% come from new visitors so welcome to you new visitors.
Hopefully everyone enjoys our little corner of the world and hearing about our adventures. Thanks for checking in on us.
Most of our visits come from returning visitors, but about 15% come from new visitors so welcome to you new visitors.
Hopefully everyone enjoys our little corner of the world and hearing about our adventures. Thanks for checking in on us.
Hey We Need Some Pictures Around Here!
How about some more pictures? Here is a cute one:
DH putting some air in the stroller tires after we went to dinner last night:
Precious little sleeper:
She loves her daddy!
Last night we went to Warsawa for dinner. We were looking forward to sitting out on the patio with Super Auntie and enjoying some happy hour specials. Problem is, the Warsawa patio allows smoking! What the hell? I didn't think you could smoke in any public place in Santa Monica. This totally blows. So we had to go eat inside the restaurant, which is not really what we wanted to do. White tablecloths, the whole thing. Luckily it was early and a Wednesday night. The little one did fine but it wasn't the casual patio experience we were looking for. Oh well, we won't be taking her back there.
We are looking forward to girls night tonight with my sorority friends - it's been a while so it will be nice to catch up with everyone!
DH putting some air in the stroller tires after we went to dinner last night:
Precious little sleeper:
She loves her daddy!
Last night we went to Warsawa for dinner. We were looking forward to sitting out on the patio with Super Auntie and enjoying some happy hour specials. Problem is, the Warsawa patio allows smoking! What the hell? I didn't think you could smoke in any public place in Santa Monica. This totally blows. So we had to go eat inside the restaurant, which is not really what we wanted to do. White tablecloths, the whole thing. Luckily it was early and a Wednesday night. The little one did fine but it wasn't the casual patio experience we were looking for. Oh well, we won't be taking her back there.
We are looking forward to girls night tonight with my sorority friends - it's been a while so it will be nice to catch up with everyone!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Figured the Pumping Thing Out
I was getting frustrated with trying to pump milk and breast feed as well. I was not doing it the optimal way though. What I was doing is pumping once a day and pumping about 6 ounces or so (3 oz per side). I was trying to time it to after she had eaten so that she hopefully wouldn't want to eat again until my milk built back up. Well, it didn't matter when I pumped, she would want to eat right after. It was tough because there wasn't enough milk for her so we were both frustrated and sometimes I'd have to give her a bottle.
I don't know how I missed reading this part of my breast feeding book but it told me that you should only pump about 1/2 a feeding. So at one month she's eating about 4 oz or so in a feeding - so I should pump about 2 oz at each time. So today I just pumped more times and less each time. I ended up with 9 oz from three different pumping sessions - a little more than 2 oz at a time but it was flowing fast and I only pumped 1-2 minutes each time. Like I said, I have a pretty strong let down so I've never pumped more than 5 minutes total. I think if I can pump 8-9 oz per day that will be pretty good because if we feed her a bottle it's usually 4 oz so I'll be staying ahead and building more supply.
Then maybe, just maybe, I can have an outing on my own! I am thinking I will get my highlights done. Maybe I'll even make the appointment, we'll see.
Today I had some friends visit and they brought a delicious lunch of meat, bread, salad, etc from Whole Foods as well as a big thing of milk which I needed. It was nice to have some visitors because I'm all alone here all day. I'm thinking maybe of going out to yogurt but don't know if it's depressing to go to yogurt alone? I usually go with DH. He gets home tonight at like midnight. I'll make sure he does the 2 am diaper change. Ha ha, kidding.
The little one is napping right now, I think I may do the same.
Have a great day everyone!
I don't know how I missed reading this part of my breast feeding book but it told me that you should only pump about 1/2 a feeding. So at one month she's eating about 4 oz or so in a feeding - so I should pump about 2 oz at each time. So today I just pumped more times and less each time. I ended up with 9 oz from three different pumping sessions - a little more than 2 oz at a time but it was flowing fast and I only pumped 1-2 minutes each time. Like I said, I have a pretty strong let down so I've never pumped more than 5 minutes total. I think if I can pump 8-9 oz per day that will be pretty good because if we feed her a bottle it's usually 4 oz so I'll be staying ahead and building more supply.
Then maybe, just maybe, I can have an outing on my own! I am thinking I will get my highlights done. Maybe I'll even make the appointment, we'll see.
Today I had some friends visit and they brought a delicious lunch of meat, bread, salad, etc from Whole Foods as well as a big thing of milk which I needed. It was nice to have some visitors because I'm all alone here all day. I'm thinking maybe of going out to yogurt but don't know if it's depressing to go to yogurt alone? I usually go with DH. He gets home tonight at like midnight. I'll make sure he does the 2 am diaper change. Ha ha, kidding.
The little one is napping right now, I think I may do the same.
Have a great day everyone!
Monday, September 14, 2009
This Girl is Really Big Y'all
Littles had her one month pediatrician appointment today and well, I don't know if I can call her littles anymore. My mom went with me and we both tried to guess her weight before we went in. I said 11 pounds and my mom said 10.5. She was 10 pounds, 11.5 ounces. So we were both really close! She is 95th percentile in weight for her age group and 90th percentile in height - 22 inches. Her head circumference is 95th percentile. Her head is so big that Dr. Huang measured my head and said I have a big head too. She gave me measuring tape to measure DH's head when he gets home from his trip and I have to call her with the results. He has a big head so I'm sure it's just genetic big-headedness and not some abnormality.
Other than that she had a great appointment. She graced Dr. Huang with a poopie diaper and Dr. Huang said that it looked good. We have to start her vaccines at the next appointment and also DH and I will have to go and get flu shots, tetanus shots and some other shots. She said my mom should get them too and I'll probably also have Super Auntie get them.
Here are two pictures from the appointment that Lola took on her cell phone:
In the waiting room:
The big baby!
Today was a much better day. Thanks for all the love we received from everyone.
:)
Other than that she had a great appointment. She graced Dr. Huang with a poopie diaper and Dr. Huang said that it looked good. We have to start her vaccines at the next appointment and also DH and I will have to go and get flu shots, tetanus shots and some other shots. She said my mom should get them too and I'll probably also have Super Auntie get them.
Here are two pictures from the appointment that Lola took on her cell phone:
In the waiting room:
The big baby!
Today was a much better day. Thanks for all the love we received from everyone.
:)
A New Day, A Sigh of Relief
Well, it worked. Last night I put the little one in her bassinet and then I took a bath. It's amazing how great it felt to soak a little and get clean. No more smelling like spit-up! Then when I got out she was still sleeping so I read a bit and went to bed. She slept clear through until 2:00 am. I fed her and then she slept until 4:00 and then until 6:00. She is still sleeping now, I think she's catching up on z's after yesterday's all you can eat buffet.
She still may have ultra-hunger today but I think I can face it after getting a good night's sleep. Hilarious that I consider last night a good night's sleep now but really, getting that initial stretch was so helpful.
Thanks to everyone for the helpful thoughts and comments. My friend Tiff was actually a life-saver yesterday. I called her in the evening and she told me she knew what it was like. She breast fed her daughter for a year (my hero!) and I can always turn to her for support.
I am looking forward to our pediatrician appointment today, it will be fun to see what she weighs. Well, I hear a stir - time to go check in on my girl. I have survived and am here to fight another day! Breast feeding will not kill me!
She still may have ultra-hunger today but I think I can face it after getting a good night's sleep. Hilarious that I consider last night a good night's sleep now but really, getting that initial stretch was so helpful.
Thanks to everyone for the helpful thoughts and comments. My friend Tiff was actually a life-saver yesterday. I called her in the evening and she told me she knew what it was like. She breast fed her daughter for a year (my hero!) and I can always turn to her for support.
I am looking forward to our pediatrician appointment today, it will be fun to see what she weighs. Well, I hear a stir - time to go check in on my girl. I have survived and am here to fight another day! Breast feeding will not kill me!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I Am Losing My Mind
Today is the hardest day I've had since the little one was born. She has wanted to nurse continually since pretty much 4 am and has only taken two small naps of less than an hour each. I don't know what's happening!!! I am so dog tired and want so badly to just take a bath. To make it worse DH is not home so I am doing this all on my own. Thank goodness my mom is coming tomorrow to help out. Also thank goodness she is coming because DH accidentally took the car with the car seat base to the airport. My mom was able to borrow an infant car seat from a friend and she will drive us to the pediatrician tomorrow. Otherwise I would have had to walk. It's not terribly far but it's about 13-14 blocks and it would have been a trek there and back and a lot of hours out and about.
I can't even say how hard this is. I feel like crying; it was all I could do to grab some leftovers for lunch and dinner. The little one will act like she's going to sleep and the minute I step away (like, to get food) she gets upset. I don't know how single moms do it. I have been alone with her before but today has just been a hard one. My books say that babies have growth spurts and eat a lot around two, three and six weeks of age so I don't know what is happening here at four weeks. Sigh, sigh, sigh.
I am starting to doubt the breast feeding books that say that breast feeding gets easier than bottle feeding after six weeks. I don't know that breast feeding is ever easier. It is such a challenge. I don't have nipple soreness or anything but the challenge is that I am the only one who can do it and it takes a good amount of time. I can't do anything else while I'm feeding her. Today it has pretty much taken up my entire day. I guess I could feed her more of the expressed milk I have saved in the freezer but I'm really trying to use that for when we are out or when I have to do something and someone else has to watch her. I feel that if I am here, I need to feed her from the breast. It is truly a labor of love because I am just so exhausted. Also my milk comes out so hard and fast that it upsets her - she chokes on it and cries, she gets air bubbles because it's hard to swallow and I have to burp her continually, which means I have to change positions from lying down to sitting up, it's just a lot of work.
Also I am definitely getting cabin fever! Imagine - I am in this apartment 22-24 hours a day. It is insanity!!! Today I was really hoping to get out and get a few things at the store but the little one never stopped eating long enough for me to get her in the stroller and get myself organized to go run an errand. I am so jealous that DH got to go on a business trip - he gets a break. He gets to sleep in total peace and quiet and eat without interruption and see something different than these walls. Even sitting on a plane sounds like a treat to me now. Don't get me wrong, I love littles very much but this is just so much work, so much attention, so much to give 24-7.
Well, as I write I have finally gotten her to fall asleep. Problem is I am wearing her in the wrap. I am afraid if I try to put her in the bassinet part of the stroller so I can watch her while I take a bath she will wake up. But I guess I have to try. I just feel that if I can soak for a few moments it will really help me. I have to try.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
I can't even say how hard this is. I feel like crying; it was all I could do to grab some leftovers for lunch and dinner. The little one will act like she's going to sleep and the minute I step away (like, to get food) she gets upset. I don't know how single moms do it. I have been alone with her before but today has just been a hard one. My books say that babies have growth spurts and eat a lot around two, three and six weeks of age so I don't know what is happening here at four weeks. Sigh, sigh, sigh.
I am starting to doubt the breast feeding books that say that breast feeding gets easier than bottle feeding after six weeks. I don't know that breast feeding is ever easier. It is such a challenge. I don't have nipple soreness or anything but the challenge is that I am the only one who can do it and it takes a good amount of time. I can't do anything else while I'm feeding her. Today it has pretty much taken up my entire day. I guess I could feed her more of the expressed milk I have saved in the freezer but I'm really trying to use that for when we are out or when I have to do something and someone else has to watch her. I feel that if I am here, I need to feed her from the breast. It is truly a labor of love because I am just so exhausted. Also my milk comes out so hard and fast that it upsets her - she chokes on it and cries, she gets air bubbles because it's hard to swallow and I have to burp her continually, which means I have to change positions from lying down to sitting up, it's just a lot of work.
Also I am definitely getting cabin fever! Imagine - I am in this apartment 22-24 hours a day. It is insanity!!! Today I was really hoping to get out and get a few things at the store but the little one never stopped eating long enough for me to get her in the stroller and get myself organized to go run an errand. I am so jealous that DH got to go on a business trip - he gets a break. He gets to sleep in total peace and quiet and eat without interruption and see something different than these walls. Even sitting on a plane sounds like a treat to me now. Don't get me wrong, I love littles very much but this is just so much work, so much attention, so much to give 24-7.
Well, as I write I have finally gotten her to fall asleep. Problem is I am wearing her in the wrap. I am afraid if I try to put her in the bassinet part of the stroller so I can watch her while I take a bath she will wake up. But I guess I have to try. I just feel that if I can soak for a few moments it will really help me. I have to try.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
I Have No Idea How Long It's Been....
Well, I have abandoned the Itzbeen:
First I abandoned the feeding log, which was VERY freeing. Then I was using the Itzbeen to record how long it had been since she was last changed or since she last ate. I was also recording how long she was eating in a sitting.
I think it was making me crazy.
Now I just feed her when she's hungry and change her when she needs it, no worries. I feel a lot more calm. Since she's gaining so much weight we really don't need to worry about feeding her every x number of hours so I think the sanity thing is more important.
I am so bummed we forgot to take pictures yesterday when my uncle, his fiance and my grandma came over. Darn! They would have been great. It was so nice of them to buy us lunch from Huckleberry.
Last night I had a terrible thing happen. It was 3:30 AM and littles woke up for her feeding and I woke up feeling super duper nauseous. Oh man it was awful. I was up sick for over an hour. Luckily, it went away and I feel fine today but I was so tired this morning. Things are back to normal now, the little one is sleeping on me in her wrap and I'm catching up with a few things on the computer.
We gave littles a bath this morning and it went well. My only problem is getting her to stop bunching up her arms so I can clean in the little fat roll creases. Sometimes I just can't get it so I wipe it off later in the day. I can get away with a lot when she's nursing, that's also when I cut her nails.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!
First I abandoned the feeding log, which was VERY freeing. Then I was using the Itzbeen to record how long it had been since she was last changed or since she last ate. I was also recording how long she was eating in a sitting.
I think it was making me crazy.
Now I just feed her when she's hungry and change her when she needs it, no worries. I feel a lot more calm. Since she's gaining so much weight we really don't need to worry about feeding her every x number of hours so I think the sanity thing is more important.
I am so bummed we forgot to take pictures yesterday when my uncle, his fiance and my grandma came over. Darn! They would have been great. It was so nice of them to buy us lunch from Huckleberry.
Last night I had a terrible thing happen. It was 3:30 AM and littles woke up for her feeding and I woke up feeling super duper nauseous. Oh man it was awful. I was up sick for over an hour. Luckily, it went away and I feel fine today but I was so tired this morning. Things are back to normal now, the little one is sleeping on me in her wrap and I'm catching up with a few things on the computer.
We gave littles a bath this morning and it went well. My only problem is getting her to stop bunching up her arms so I can clean in the little fat roll creases. Sometimes I just can't get it so I wipe it off later in the day. I can get away with a lot when she's nursing, that's also when I cut her nails.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My Precious...
Hey what's this? Two postings in one day! I am really on a roll and getting things done. Today I took all the maternity clothes out of my closet. It feels great. I have a whole bunch to return to my friend Tiff and then I'm loaning the rest to another one of my friends who is preggo. I can't believe how much of my closet/dresser was maternity clothes!
I even got ambitious and put all my old jeans back in their drawer. I took them out a while back so I wouldn't be depressed about not being able to wear them. Okay, I can only wear a couple of pairs because I still have a lot of weight to lose but I was excited to see them again. I had forgotten about some of them!
I was folding them and putting them away and I was thinking to myself "my precious" ha ha, in the gollum voice from Lord of the Rings. At one point in my pregnancy I remember thinking to myself how great it was to wear dresses all the time and how I would not go back to wearing jeans and looking so casual every day. I was going to step it up! But now that I see all my jeans again I really like them and am motivated to lose weight so I can wear them again. I have a long way to go but hopefully it won't be too hard. They tell you 9 months up, 9 months down - so I'm going to be kind to myself. I guess I shouldn't have put all those tempting jeans in my drawer but oh well.
OK - if this isn't the most boring post ever I don't know what is. But anyway, goodbye maternity clothes!!
I even got ambitious and put all my old jeans back in their drawer. I took them out a while back so I wouldn't be depressed about not being able to wear them. Okay, I can only wear a couple of pairs because I still have a lot of weight to lose but I was excited to see them again. I had forgotten about some of them!
I was folding them and putting them away and I was thinking to myself "my precious" ha ha, in the gollum voice from Lord of the Rings. At one point in my pregnancy I remember thinking to myself how great it was to wear dresses all the time and how I would not go back to wearing jeans and looking so casual every day. I was going to step it up! But now that I see all my jeans again I really like them and am motivated to lose weight so I can wear them again. I have a long way to go but hopefully it won't be too hard. They tell you 9 months up, 9 months down - so I'm going to be kind to myself. I guess I shouldn't have put all those tempting jeans in my drawer but oh well.
OK - if this isn't the most boring post ever I don't know what is. But anyway, goodbye maternity clothes!!
Our Big Girl
Well, the little one has grown out of the newborn size Pampers Swaddlers. In fact, she probably grew out of them much sooner than yesterday but we didn't realize. DH said she looked like a man on the beach in a speedo - the diaper was so small on her. We put her in the size 1 diaper and it fits so much better! We are laughing at ourselves now for squeezing her into those little diapers.
She has also grown out of newborn size clothes. We had quite a time getting her big head in and out of a newborn outfit yesterday and the newborn onesies are too tight on her too. She is now wearing size 0-3 months. What a big girl! DH weighed her this morning on our scale and it said she was 12 pounds. I think that's a little too heavy but she was 10 pounds on our scale on Sunday. We weigh her by weighing ourselves with and without her. Not really too accurate but she has her 1 month pediatrician appointment on Monday so we'll get the official weight then. She can't be 12 pounds but it will be interesting to see what she weighs. She has a very healthy appetite!
Things are going pretty well. Our visit with my uncle and grandma has been postponed until tomorrow. A good thing really because I ended up having a lot of work today in addition to corresponding with more nannies. We received over 20 responses to our ad so there has been a lot of juggling. I have a spreadsheet where I'm keeping track of it all. We are still unsure exactly what we're going to do but like I said, we've got to explore all the options.
Oh! More product reviews. We bought a swing for the little one and she hates it:
Boppy Rock in Comfort Swing
We put her in there and she has a few minutes of okay swing time and then goes into total meltdown. Also the swing pretty much sucks, it hardly swings at all. Two thumbs down.
We bought her a play mat and she LOVES it!
Lil Lion Happy Hangout Activity Gym
I bought the lion one because she is a leo.
Well, gotta go, the littles is hungry!!
She has also grown out of newborn size clothes. We had quite a time getting her big head in and out of a newborn outfit yesterday and the newborn onesies are too tight on her too. She is now wearing size 0-3 months. What a big girl! DH weighed her this morning on our scale and it said she was 12 pounds. I think that's a little too heavy but she was 10 pounds on our scale on Sunday. We weigh her by weighing ourselves with and without her. Not really too accurate but she has her 1 month pediatrician appointment on Monday so we'll get the official weight then. She can't be 12 pounds but it will be interesting to see what she weighs. She has a very healthy appetite!
Things are going pretty well. Our visit with my uncle and grandma has been postponed until tomorrow. A good thing really because I ended up having a lot of work today in addition to corresponding with more nannies. We received over 20 responses to our ad so there has been a lot of juggling. I have a spreadsheet where I'm keeping track of it all. We are still unsure exactly what we're going to do but like I said, we've got to explore all the options.
Oh! More product reviews. We bought a swing for the little one and she hates it:
Boppy Rock in Comfort Swing
We put her in there and she has a few minutes of okay swing time and then goes into total meltdown. Also the swing pretty much sucks, it hardly swings at all. Two thumbs down.
We bought her a play mat and she LOVES it!
Lil Lion Happy Hangout Activity Gym
I bought the lion one because she is a leo.
Well, gotta go, the littles is hungry!!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Fun Family Photos in Reed Park
Today was a beautiful day so we went to Reed Park and took some pictures. I love them!!! I have to thank Super Auntie for all the help around the house and with the photo shoot and thanks to Lola for the awesome sunglasses. They made us laugh so much.
Here are a few pics:
The pics look even more beautiful in full resolution. To see a few more, click here for the Picasa album.
Last night we ate delicious fajitas courtesy of my friend Lindsay and tonight we ate authentic Chicago pizza from the "Pasadena Crew" - Sara, Shawna and Evelyn. It's nice to have the help as breastfeeding still takes up a lot of my time. Today I added up the ounces I've stored in the freezer and I have over 60 now. I'm starting to feel more comfortable about when I have to go back to work. We're still giving the little one a bottle a day when I need help - today we used it when we went to the park and then for fro yo.
Yesterday and today I feel like I have a little better handle on things then a few days ago. I definitely have more confidence. It's still frustrating that I can never get through dinner without littles wanting to eat as well but I guess I should be grateful that I can eat lunch with both hands free. Something about dinner just gets her going. No matter what time it is.
One neat thing is that the girls from my birth class have been all emailing back and forth. We are all breastfeeding so it's nice to share the trials and tribulations with each other. We're all trying to figure it out together. DH and I are going to host a little reunion party for everyone in October so all the babies can meet. Should be fun.
Tomorrow my grandma is coming as well as my uncle and his fiance - more family for the littles to meet! Should be fun.
Here are a few pics:
The pics look even more beautiful in full resolution. To see a few more, click here for the Picasa album.
Last night we ate delicious fajitas courtesy of my friend Lindsay and tonight we ate authentic Chicago pizza from the "Pasadena Crew" - Sara, Shawna and Evelyn. It's nice to have the help as breastfeeding still takes up a lot of my time. Today I added up the ounces I've stored in the freezer and I have over 60 now. I'm starting to feel more comfortable about when I have to go back to work. We're still giving the little one a bottle a day when I need help - today we used it when we went to the park and then for fro yo.
Yesterday and today I feel like I have a little better handle on things then a few days ago. I definitely have more confidence. It's still frustrating that I can never get through dinner without littles wanting to eat as well but I guess I should be grateful that I can eat lunch with both hands free. Something about dinner just gets her going. No matter what time it is.
One neat thing is that the girls from my birth class have been all emailing back and forth. We are all breastfeeding so it's nice to share the trials and tribulations with each other. We're all trying to figure it out together. DH and I are going to host a little reunion party for everyone in October so all the babies can meet. Should be fun.
Tomorrow my grandma is coming as well as my uncle and his fiance - more family for the littles to meet! Should be fun.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Does Anyone Want Our Stroller Hanger?
Hey there everyone - we bought this stroller hanger thing:
And we don't really need it ....
This is the listing on Babies R Us:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3495307
If anyone wants it or knows someone who can use it please let me know and I'll give it to you.
Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend!
And we don't really need it ....
This is the listing on Babies R Us:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3495307
If anyone wants it or knows someone who can use it please let me know and I'll give it to you.
Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Our Birth Plan: Or, exactly how it did NOT go down
I intentionally did not post our birth plan before the big event. This is because I was going to try for a birth without drugs and I didn't want to hear all the judgment from people. I got a lot of flack from the people who did hear I was going to try and not have an epidural. I wonder a lot about if I had a "normal" birth if I would have been able to do it without drugs. I am pretty proud that I had the pitocin kicking at 20 without any pain meds - perhaps I would have been able to do a whole birth without it. But, with the way things happened for us, I didn't have a choice to go without medication.
I thought it might be helpful for preggos to see what my birth plan was, to help them think through what they might want. And hey, everyone always tells you that it's good to have a plan but most important to be flexible. I can attest to that. First with the group b strep and then with the water breaking and no labor, I just had a bunch of challenges I had to deal with. But it's true that your healthy baby is the most important thing. Yes, the little person that just spit up big time all over me. (Again, you can't have too many burp cloths.)
OK - so here it is with my post-game commentary (in italics):
Birth Plan; Due Date: August 17, 2009
Thank you so much for your support in this wondrous event! We are confident in our entire birth team and look forward to working together with all of you in this great miracle of life.
Important Concerns:
First Stage of Labor Preferences:
Second Stage of Labor Preferences:
Post Partum for Mother:
So as you can see, my birth plan really ended up being thrown out. But I am glad I prepared it and thought through what I would like to do in a best case scenario. We were really well educated about the process and the choices and I think that made it easier to make the tough decisions when it came down to labor not progressing.
I don't know what I would do if we had another baby. I guess I will have to think about those decisions further down the road and after I've healed from this one. My healing is going pretty well but it's still pretty tender. I am soaking in a bath as much as I can and being careful in general with the area.
Other than that things are going pretty well. I had a rough patch or two with the breast feeding - all is okay with the milk supply and all but sometimes it's just hard when she wants to feed a lot in a cluster, like I mentioned before. It is stressful to be so responsible for this little person's needs. This morning I was just so exhausted and DH spent some time with her, he gave her a bottle while I was soaking in the tub. I really needed that soak.
We gave littles another bath yesterday and did a much better job. I have some pics I'll work on posting. Also today Lola and Lolo came for a visit today and we all had a great time. The little one is already getting so much bigger - she changes every day. Good thing we document pretty much every single thing! (Good thing we got that new external hard drive!)
I am so grateful for this three day weekend - I just love it. Tomorrow we are interviewing a nanny so that will be interesting. Not sure what we're going to do. As a good friend said, both nannies and daycare have pros and cons. I agree. We are just researching all our options to see what fits best. Okay, I better go work on posting some photos!
I thought it might be helpful for preggos to see what my birth plan was, to help them think through what they might want. And hey, everyone always tells you that it's good to have a plan but most important to be flexible. I can attest to that. First with the group b strep and then with the water breaking and no labor, I just had a bunch of challenges I had to deal with. But it's true that your healthy baby is the most important thing. Yes, the little person that just spit up big time all over me. (Again, you can't have too many burp cloths.)
OK - so here it is with my post-game commentary (in italics):
Birth Plan; Due Date: August 17, 2009
Thank you so much for your support in this wondrous event! We are confident in our entire birth team and look forward to working together with all of you in this great miracle of life.
Important Concerns:
- I would like to attempt a birth without medication. (Okay, this obviously did not happen) The exception to this is antibiotics as I am group B strep positive.
First Stage of Labor Preferences:
- Labor Induction – prefer natural methods first: walking, stripping of the membranes. Should medically induced labor be necessary, prefer prostaglandin suppository first and pitocin IV only as the last option. (Well, we did try walking around for a bit, but since I was only 1 cm dilated with no labor at all we went right to the pitocin instead of the stripping of the membranes, etc. The pitocin didn't end up working so we did the prostograndin...cervidil.)
- Controlling Pain – prefer not to be given pain medication unless I ask for it. Epidural only if necessary or requested. (Our decision to use an epidural was after 7 hours of tough laboring with the pitocin...it was a GREAT decision and helped me get some rest which I needed for the next day. I think a lot about if we decide to have another baby, whether I will choose an epidural right off the bat. I will tell you that they are AMAZING.)
- Fetal Monitoring – Preference for intermittent fetal monitoring, 20 minutes per hour. (They were really cool about this until I went on the epidural, at that point you must have constant fetal monitoring and I was fine with that.)
Second Stage of Labor Preferences:
- Positioning – Would like to be able to move around, shower, squat, lie on side, would like a squat bar installed on the bed. (We did stick to this and I had my squat bar.)
- Pushing Efforts – Prefer spontaneous pushing to directed pushing at specific intervals. (They let me do both spontaneous and directed pushing, directed pushing is what we used in the end to get the baby out.)
- Medical / Surgical Interventions – Prefer tear to episiotomy.(Um, yep, I had an episiotomy, I have a 3rd degree incision...)
- Once Baby is Delivered – Baby placed on mother’s abdomen right away unless medically indicated. If the baby requires a medical procedure, please tell us what it is and why she needs it before proceeding (unless emergency). (They were totally cool about this and it happened.)
Post Partum for Mother:
- Feeding - I plan to feed with breast milk. (This went as planned.)
- Visitor Policy - The only visitors allowed at all times are my husband and my doula. Please check with us before allowing any other visitors in to the recovery room. (Another thing that went out the window...my sister was with us through most of labor and my mom was in the recovery room after delivery. This was all okay with me though.)
- Controlling Pain – Motrin is preferred over stronger medication for pain after vaginal birth. (This was okay for a bit but then I ended up taking some percoset. I had trouble getting around at first with all the pain in my nether regions. I didn't take too much though because my doctor said percoset was constipating and that is definitely not what I needed.)
So as you can see, my birth plan really ended up being thrown out. But I am glad I prepared it and thought through what I would like to do in a best case scenario. We were really well educated about the process and the choices and I think that made it easier to make the tough decisions when it came down to labor not progressing.
I don't know what I would do if we had another baby. I guess I will have to think about those decisions further down the road and after I've healed from this one. My healing is going pretty well but it's still pretty tender. I am soaking in a bath as much as I can and being careful in general with the area.
Other than that things are going pretty well. I had a rough patch or two with the breast feeding - all is okay with the milk supply and all but sometimes it's just hard when she wants to feed a lot in a cluster, like I mentioned before. It is stressful to be so responsible for this little person's needs. This morning I was just so exhausted and DH spent some time with her, he gave her a bottle while I was soaking in the tub. I really needed that soak.
We gave littles another bath yesterday and did a much better job. I have some pics I'll work on posting. Also today Lola and Lolo came for a visit today and we all had a great time. The little one is already getting so much bigger - she changes every day. Good thing we document pretty much every single thing! (Good thing we got that new external hard drive!)
I am so grateful for this three day weekend - I just love it. Tomorrow we are interviewing a nanny so that will be interesting. Not sure what we're going to do. As a good friend said, both nannies and daycare have pros and cons. I agree. We are just researching all our options to see what fits best. Okay, I better go work on posting some photos!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Some Challenges of Having a Newborn
So I have to say that littles has been a very good baby and we are lucky. But it is still an adjustment. There are times that breastfeeding can be a challenge - mainly when she "cluster feeds". This is when babies like to eat a bunch of meals at a time, like every 3o minutes to an hour. It's a lot of feeding and it takes patience. The good times are when she'll eat a big meal and then nap for 2 to 3 hours - that makes it easy. The cluster feeding times are more often in the morning around 7 am and then in the evening. These are the fussy times. But the breast feeding books I have say this is normal. Also the breast feeding books say that after the first 40 days things get a lot easier. So I am looking forward to that time. But of course I still cherish these moments too - when she is just a little cute precious thing! She is really thriving off the milk, I am not worried about my supply at all. She is getting to be a chubster, little double chin, arm and leg rolls coming on...very cute and funny. It's amazing to me that I can completely sustain a whole other life - for 40 weeks inside of me and now outside of me. I am a food machine! It's such a trip.
So with littles being so healthy and eating so well, she also is very productive in the dirty diaper area. But diapers are easy and quick to change. It's interesting that I can see a difference in her poops between the fresh breast milk and that that we've frozen and thawed. I guess you know you have a newborn when you not only think poop is interesting but that you write about it on a blog for all the world to see. Crazy.
The night time sleeping thing is sometimes a challenge and sometimes it's not too bad. Last night I just put her down in bed with me around midnight when we finally hit the hay for good. It was not too bad, she just ate when she needed to and I don't even fully wake up. She didn't really need to be burped so last night was easy. The tough nights are when she's gassy. Then I have to sit up to burp her and sometimes walk around. DH has been helpful with the nights too, he is such a great husband!! AH!! I am so lucky!!
I have found naps to be very useful. I took a good one this afternoon while littles was napping and that really came in handy.
So our outing today was to go and see a family day care. It was actually pretty nice, the woman was very mellow and I liked her vibe. It was nap time when we went. What I didn't like about it was that she has 5 kids and no assistant. So that's a 5-1 ratio. I think she has two infants. I don't know, that ratio is not my favorite. At the day care centers, they have a 3-1 ratio for infants (under two years old). I like that better. I found out we are #2 on the waiting list at the YMCA so that's really good news. We have a good chance. But we are also starting to interview nannies. I never thought I would be into the nanny option but now that the little one is here it just breaks my heart to think of dropping her off at a strange place all day when she's so little. She has a 1-1 caregiver ratio with me and I think that is worth some extra cash per month - to get that 1-1 ratio while I am working. I would feel so much better about being at work.
We are interviewing a nanny on Monday so we'll see how it goes, I am excited about her because she comes with an outstanding recommendation from a very nice person on Peachhead working moms. I have talked to her a couple of times and really like her so we'll see.
Well, I am so glad for the three day weekend. My work has been challenging this week and it will be so nice to wake up three days in a row with no agenda other than baby stuff and visitors. My goal is to take a few family pics with the tripod tomorrow, we'll see. On Sunday Lola is coming to visit again hopefully and then on Monday we have the nanny interview. On Thursday my grandma is coming to visit, the little one's GREAT grandma. She is coming with my Uncle and his fiance so that will be a nice visit.
Oh, one more thing - it's a good thing I have two of the parents of invention wrap thing. Littles spit up on it twice today. Spit up can get pretty stinky really fast. So it's good that I have one to wear while the other is in the wash. Good thing to think about registering for a few you preggos out there!
TGIF y'all!
So with littles being so healthy and eating so well, she also is very productive in the dirty diaper area. But diapers are easy and quick to change. It's interesting that I can see a difference in her poops between the fresh breast milk and that that we've frozen and thawed. I guess you know you have a newborn when you not only think poop is interesting but that you write about it on a blog for all the world to see. Crazy.
The night time sleeping thing is sometimes a challenge and sometimes it's not too bad. Last night I just put her down in bed with me around midnight when we finally hit the hay for good. It was not too bad, she just ate when she needed to and I don't even fully wake up. She didn't really need to be burped so last night was easy. The tough nights are when she's gassy. Then I have to sit up to burp her and sometimes walk around. DH has been helpful with the nights too, he is such a great husband!! AH!! I am so lucky!!
I have found naps to be very useful. I took a good one this afternoon while littles was napping and that really came in handy.
So our outing today was to go and see a family day care. It was actually pretty nice, the woman was very mellow and I liked her vibe. It was nap time when we went. What I didn't like about it was that she has 5 kids and no assistant. So that's a 5-1 ratio. I think she has two infants. I don't know, that ratio is not my favorite. At the day care centers, they have a 3-1 ratio for infants (under two years old). I like that better. I found out we are #2 on the waiting list at the YMCA so that's really good news. We have a good chance. But we are also starting to interview nannies. I never thought I would be into the nanny option but now that the little one is here it just breaks my heart to think of dropping her off at a strange place all day when she's so little. She has a 1-1 caregiver ratio with me and I think that is worth some extra cash per month - to get that 1-1 ratio while I am working. I would feel so much better about being at work.
We are interviewing a nanny on Monday so we'll see how it goes, I am excited about her because she comes with an outstanding recommendation from a very nice person on Peachhead working moms. I have talked to her a couple of times and really like her so we'll see.
Well, I am so glad for the three day weekend. My work has been challenging this week and it will be so nice to wake up three days in a row with no agenda other than baby stuff and visitors. My goal is to take a few family pics with the tripod tomorrow, we'll see. On Sunday Lola is coming to visit again hopefully and then on Monday we have the nanny interview. On Thursday my grandma is coming to visit, the little one's GREAT grandma. She is coming with my Uncle and his fiance so that will be a nice visit.
Oh, one more thing - it's a good thing I have two of the parents of invention wrap thing. Littles spit up on it twice today. Spit up can get pretty stinky really fast. So it's good that I have one to wear while the other is in the wash. Good thing to think about registering for a few you preggos out there!
TGIF y'all!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Our Birth Story as Written by Our Doula Sufi
Our doula Sufi was kind enough to record our birth story, here it is:
Baby Anna
Born August 15, 2009
7:06 pm
7 pounds 9 ounces
Your water breaks at 5:30 am August 14, 2009. You test it with the amnio stick and indeed it is amniotic fluid. You go to your doctors appointment and the very new doctor says to go the the hospital right away. You wisely stop to eat at Whole Foods. I arrive at 11:50am to room 2522 and Greg is our nurse. No labor yet so we walk and walk the hallways taking pictures.
1:00pm you get your strep B meds.
2:30pm more walking and massage.
3:15pm still no labor so pitocin is started. I think we watch Bowfinger at this point.
(Five percent of women will have broken waters with no labor.)
5:00pm second round of antibiotics and we are at 14 units on pitocin.
You are managing beautifully, standing, on hands and knees, using the strap on the squat bar. Contractions are five minutes apart.
8:43pm
Contractions are now 2-3 minutes apart, your sister is here. Pitocin is now at 20 units and we are deep into Enya. Earlier while listening to Pure Moods we had a good laugh when just on the heels of a tough contraction the song Chariots of Fire came on.
Nurse Gloria is on with us now and at
10:15pm Dr. Bliss stops in. It looks and feels as if you should be five to six cm. When she checks you we are all surprised to discover you are 1 ½ cm –2 station. Little one is still high up. Dr. Bliss recommends cervidil and epidural so you can rest.
11:20pm Epidural and at
2:00am August 15, 2009 you are 3cm and you sleep.
6:00am you are 4cm
7:00am we get nurse Greg back.
10:45am you are 9 ½ cm, -1 station with a lip.
We do not want any pushing so we labor down to be sure that lip won’t swell.
2:00pm you are 10 cm.
3:30pm time to push and at +1 station.
5:30pm still pushing and at +2 station.
We are in every position with the squat bar. You work sooo hard.
6:00pm the doctor calls for a c-section in keeping with protocol even though baby is fine and your fever has gone down. She is a very new doctor and you and your husband wisely make the decision to get Dr. Ewertz's opinion about vacuum extraction. You are disappointed that your momentum was dashed by the young doctor. I believe even she was quite shocked when Dr. Ewertz was willing to go for it in the OR. That is very rare and your will power brought little one through where for most this would have been a c-section, you made it happen your way! In all of my days as a doula I have never seen so many rally as did at your birth. It is a testament to the great spirit you and your husband bring to the room.
It was a joy and a pleasure to work with you. Thank you.
In Spirit, Sufi
Baby Anna
Born August 15, 2009
7:06 pm
7 pounds 9 ounces
Your water breaks at 5:30 am August 14, 2009. You test it with the amnio stick and indeed it is amniotic fluid. You go to your doctors appointment and the very new doctor says to go the the hospital right away. You wisely stop to eat at Whole Foods. I arrive at 11:50am to room 2522 and Greg is our nurse. No labor yet so we walk and walk the hallways taking pictures.
1:00pm you get your strep B meds.
2:30pm more walking and massage.
3:15pm still no labor so pitocin is started. I think we watch Bowfinger at this point.
(Five percent of women will have broken waters with no labor.)
5:00pm second round of antibiotics and we are at 14 units on pitocin.
You are managing beautifully, standing, on hands and knees, using the strap on the squat bar. Contractions are five minutes apart.
8:43pm
Contractions are now 2-3 minutes apart, your sister is here. Pitocin is now at 20 units and we are deep into Enya. Earlier while listening to Pure Moods we had a good laugh when just on the heels of a tough contraction the song Chariots of Fire came on.
Nurse Gloria is on with us now and at
10:15pm Dr. Bliss stops in. It looks and feels as if you should be five to six cm. When she checks you we are all surprised to discover you are 1 ½ cm –2 station. Little one is still high up. Dr. Bliss recommends cervidil and epidural so you can rest.
11:20pm Epidural and at
2:00am August 15, 2009 you are 3cm and you sleep.
6:00am you are 4cm
7:00am we get nurse Greg back.
10:45am you are 9 ½ cm, -1 station with a lip.
We do not want any pushing so we labor down to be sure that lip won’t swell.
2:00pm you are 10 cm.
3:30pm time to push and at +1 station.
5:30pm still pushing and at +2 station.
We are in every position with the squat bar. You work sooo hard.
6:00pm the doctor calls for a c-section in keeping with protocol even though baby is fine and your fever has gone down. She is a very new doctor and you and your husband wisely make the decision to get Dr. Ewertz's opinion about vacuum extraction. You are disappointed that your momentum was dashed by the young doctor. I believe even she was quite shocked when Dr. Ewertz was willing to go for it in the OR. That is very rare and your will power brought little one through where for most this would have been a c-section, you made it happen your way! In all of my days as a doula I have never seen so many rally as did at your birth. It is a testament to the great spirit you and your husband bring to the room.
It was a joy and a pleasure to work with you. Thank you.
In Spirit, Sufi
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
First Bath Today
Littles took her first bath today. We did get some video footage of the bath itself but right now we don't know how to edit video or have software to do it. Maybe Picasa can do it, not sure. We'll have to figure it out. Any tips on video are much appreciated.
Here are some pics of her fresh out of the bath:
We used the (prince lionheart) wash pod and I think it worked out pretty well. I think the water may have been a bit too warm and we had too much water at first. We had to bail some out with a cup. We'll know better for next time. She didn't melt down in there so it was a good first effort. I wasn't really able to clean her too well this time, I was just trying to hold her in there and get her used to it. It's hard because you are supposed to always hold them with one hand and then do everything else with the other hand. Also I waited and shampooed her hair once she was out of the pod - I just do it holding her over the sink, works pretty well.
Also I have been able to get her to go into the Parents of Invention wrap. This is extremely helpful especially when I'm working which I've had to do a lot lately. This week is busy as we're sending out quarterly reports for many of our funds. Man, it's just been a busy time at work and I was hoping for a little lull. Oh well, the wrap really helps. She will nap on me for a couple hours while I work. I have been pretty insistent on not working full days though, so that's a good thing.
We're going to see another daycare on Friday, I don't want to jinx it so I'm just not going to mention anything but I have good vibes about it so far. Another daycare called and said they would have a spot for us - one of the ones we checked out initially. But I don't have a good feeling about the place and I'm not going to call them back. I doubt I would even go there if it was the last resort, I would have to figure something else out.
Here is a cute pic from just a little bit ago, she's wearing her little sleep sack. We were just wrapping her in blankets to sleep but I got paranoid about the SIDS thing so now we're trying the sleep sack. We'll see. I just think SIDS would be the worst thing imaginable. I can't even bear to think about it.
Until next time!
Here are some pics of her fresh out of the bath:
We used the (prince lionheart) wash pod and I think it worked out pretty well. I think the water may have been a bit too warm and we had too much water at first. We had to bail some out with a cup. We'll know better for next time. She didn't melt down in there so it was a good first effort. I wasn't really able to clean her too well this time, I was just trying to hold her in there and get her used to it. It's hard because you are supposed to always hold them with one hand and then do everything else with the other hand. Also I waited and shampooed her hair once she was out of the pod - I just do it holding her over the sink, works pretty well.
Also I have been able to get her to go into the Parents of Invention wrap. This is extremely helpful especially when I'm working which I've had to do a lot lately. This week is busy as we're sending out quarterly reports for many of our funds. Man, it's just been a busy time at work and I was hoping for a little lull. Oh well, the wrap really helps. She will nap on me for a couple hours while I work. I have been pretty insistent on not working full days though, so that's a good thing.
We're going to see another daycare on Friday, I don't want to jinx it so I'm just not going to mention anything but I have good vibes about it so far. Another daycare called and said they would have a spot for us - one of the ones we checked out initially. But I don't have a good feeling about the place and I'm not going to call them back. I doubt I would even go there if it was the last resort, I would have to figure something else out.
Here is a cute pic from just a little bit ago, she's wearing her little sleep sack. We were just wrapping her in blankets to sleep but I got paranoid about the SIDS thing so now we're trying the sleep sack. We'll see. I just think SIDS would be the worst thing imaginable. I can't even bear to think about it.
Until next time!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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