Friday, May 27, 2011
Happy 7 Months Joaquin!
I can't believe how quickly that happened! Joaquin, you are the most amazing, charming, lovable little guy I know. Last night, we started a giggle fit that lasted several minutes and it was probably the most fun I've had in months. It is such an amazing treat watching you grow, learn and explore your world. I'm a lucky momma.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Six Months and Still Nursing (Part 3)
As some of you may remember, we came home from the hospital with our bundle of joy, and also a set of bili lights for his jaundice. We were not told we had to feed Joaquin formula just yet, but that it would be a possibility if his bili levels did not go down quickly.
On our first full day back home, I took Joaquin to the local police department to get his car seat inspected. I had made the appointment a month earlier and thought that I had made it early enough to get it done before Joaquin was born. Oops.
On the drive back, I started to notice that something felt different. I was in pain. We had to stop at a lab to get Joaquin's blood taken and when we parked I noticed that I had completed soaked through my shirt. Great. I guess my milk came in. Fortunately, I had a big cardigan to cover use as a cover up.
For the next couple of days, nursing went well even though it seemed like I spent the majority of my (many) waking hours sitting on the couch nursing. Each meal took about 45 minutes and he ate about 10 times per day. It was a lot of sitting. I took to playing spider solitaire on my laptop while nursing, as it was something I could easily do with only one free hand.
Then we got Joaquin's bili level results and found out they had gone up. We were instructed to feed him formula only for 4 days. I freaked out and thought that this would ruin my attempts to get him to latch. I had read a ton about nipple confusion and was so worried that he would never go back to nursing after four days with bottles. But, we had to do it. So, Jay took on the task of bottle feeding while I pumped.
When we were finally given the go ahead to re-start nursing by Joaquin's pediatrician, I was nervous that it was going to be difficult to get Joaquin to eat. It took a little bit of patience, as Joaquin got frustrated at first with having to work harder for his meals. But, he got the hang of it again quickly.
So, here are my tips for the early weeks of nursing:
1. Don't let all of the nipple confusion talk freak you out. A bottle or pacifier here and there is not a big deal (and may actually be a good thing, which I will discuss in a later post). Babies have a sucking reflex that is very strong especially when they are brand new.
2. Be patient - you will spend a lot of time sitting. Think of it as forced healing time for your body.
3. If you can afford it, buy a Kindle or something similar. You won't be able to hold a book open while nursing and computer games get very old, very quick. I don't recommend TV while nursing either, as it may distract the baby from the task at hand.
4. Be prepared for your milk to come in. You will get a hint when you start to feel sore. Stock up on nursing pads while you are pregnant and keep some in your purse to avoid any embarrassing situations.
5. Buy a pump while you are pregnant. You never know when you will need it. Plus, sometimes you might need to pump just to relieve pressure. Read all of the directions and clean all of the parts before your baby is born. You will be too tired to figure all of it out after your baby is born.
On our first full day back home, I took Joaquin to the local police department to get his car seat inspected. I had made the appointment a month earlier and thought that I had made it early enough to get it done before Joaquin was born. Oops.
On the drive back, I started to notice that something felt different. I was in pain. We had to stop at a lab to get Joaquin's blood taken and when we parked I noticed that I had completed soaked through my shirt. Great. I guess my milk came in. Fortunately, I had a big cardigan to cover use as a cover up.
For the next couple of days, nursing went well even though it seemed like I spent the majority of my (many) waking hours sitting on the couch nursing. Each meal took about 45 minutes and he ate about 10 times per day. It was a lot of sitting. I took to playing spider solitaire on my laptop while nursing, as it was something I could easily do with only one free hand.
Then we got Joaquin's bili level results and found out they had gone up. We were instructed to feed him formula only for 4 days. I freaked out and thought that this would ruin my attempts to get him to latch. I had read a ton about nipple confusion and was so worried that he would never go back to nursing after four days with bottles. But, we had to do it. So, Jay took on the task of bottle feeding while I pumped.
When we were finally given the go ahead to re-start nursing by Joaquin's pediatrician, I was nervous that it was going to be difficult to get Joaquin to eat. It took a little bit of patience, as Joaquin got frustrated at first with having to work harder for his meals. But, he got the hang of it again quickly.
So, here are my tips for the early weeks of nursing:
1. Don't let all of the nipple confusion talk freak you out. A bottle or pacifier here and there is not a big deal (and may actually be a good thing, which I will discuss in a later post). Babies have a sucking reflex that is very strong especially when they are brand new.
2. Be patient - you will spend a lot of time sitting. Think of it as forced healing time for your body.
3. If you can afford it, buy a Kindle or something similar. You won't be able to hold a book open while nursing and computer games get very old, very quick. I don't recommend TV while nursing either, as it may distract the baby from the task at hand.
4. Be prepared for your milk to come in. You will get a hint when you start to feel sore. Stock up on nursing pads while you are pregnant and keep some in your purse to avoid any embarrassing situations.
5. Buy a pump while you are pregnant. You never know when you will need it. Plus, sometimes you might need to pump just to relieve pressure. Read all of the directions and clean all of the parts before your baby is born. You will be too tired to figure all of it out after your baby is born.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Six Months and Still Nursing (Part 2)
Immediately after Joaquin's birth, I was able to nurse him. It was amazing. I was thrilled to have the experience so many women have shared - that first moment of cuddling and nursing your newborn. This is one of the many reasons I am so thankful that I did not have a c-section.
The next few days at the hospital were not as easy as that first moment.
The hospital pillows were crap and I had forgotten my nursing pillow - the "My Brest Friend" (yup, that's what it's called). Newborns are tiny, especially when they are preemies, and a good nursing pillow makes a huge difference.
We were able to manage without the special pillow, although it took a toll on my back for a few days. The lactation consultants and nurses provided by the hospital were, well, less than helpful. I'm not even sure if they were well-intentioned, to be honest. They used a lot of fear tactics and gave vague instructions, all the while seeming perfectly comfortable man-handling my breasts. It didn't help that the hospital procedure for preemies was to test blood sugar every 4 hours with a foot prick (ouch!). If he failed the test, they would force me to feed Joaquin formula - something I was reminded of so much I almost wondered if they wanted that outcome. Luckily Joaquin passed all of these tests and we didn't have to feed him formula at the hospital.
By day three, we were starting to get the hang of nursing. Each meal took at least 40 minutes, which was a bit draining on both of us, but I knew it would get easier eventually.
As some of you may know, for the first 72ish hours after a baby is born, the mother produces colostrum, rather than milk.
Tomorrow I will discuss the adventures in nursing at home, the experience of having your milk "come in" and why we had to feed Joaquin formula for almost a week.
For now - here are my nursing tips for the hospital:
1. BRING YOUR NURSING PILLOW! I recommend the Brest Friend over the boppy because it is a flat surface and the boppy is rounded, allowing tiny newborns to slip too low. Plus, the brest friend provides much needed back support. Later on, you will also enjoy it's ability to snap around your waist, allowing standing and nursing.
2. Read a book on nursing and attend a class on nursing before giving birth.
3. Make the nurses/lactation consultants work on your schedule. Do not allow them to wake your baby up to teach you how to nurse. YOU are paying for their services. They work for you.
4. If you are committed to nursing, do not feel pressured to feed your newborn formula at the hospital if he/she has lost a little weight or has low blood sugar unless your pediatrician says it is absolutely necessary. You DO NOT have to listen to the nurses.
5. Don't freak out if your milk hasn't come in by the time you leave the hospital. This is normal. Your baby is fine with colostrum until your milk comes in.
The next few days at the hospital were not as easy as that first moment.
The hospital pillows were crap and I had forgotten my nursing pillow - the "My Brest Friend" (yup, that's what it's called). Newborns are tiny, especially when they are preemies, and a good nursing pillow makes a huge difference.
We were able to manage without the special pillow, although it took a toll on my back for a few days. The lactation consultants and nurses provided by the hospital were, well, less than helpful. I'm not even sure if they were well-intentioned, to be honest. They used a lot of fear tactics and gave vague instructions, all the while seeming perfectly comfortable man-handling my breasts. It didn't help that the hospital procedure for preemies was to test blood sugar every 4 hours with a foot prick (ouch!). If he failed the test, they would force me to feed Joaquin formula - something I was reminded of so much I almost wondered if they wanted that outcome. Luckily Joaquin passed all of these tests and we didn't have to feed him formula at the hospital.
By day three, we were starting to get the hang of nursing. Each meal took at least 40 minutes, which was a bit draining on both of us, but I knew it would get easier eventually.
As some of you may know, for the first 72ish hours after a baby is born, the mother produces colostrum, rather than milk.
Tomorrow I will discuss the adventures in nursing at home, the experience of having your milk "come in" and why we had to feed Joaquin formula for almost a week.
For now - here are my nursing tips for the hospital:
1. BRING YOUR NURSING PILLOW! I recommend the Brest Friend over the boppy because it is a flat surface and the boppy is rounded, allowing tiny newborns to slip too low. Plus, the brest friend provides much needed back support. Later on, you will also enjoy it's ability to snap around your waist, allowing standing and nursing.
2. Read a book on nursing and attend a class on nursing before giving birth.
3. Make the nurses/lactation consultants work on your schedule. Do not allow them to wake your baby up to teach you how to nurse. YOU are paying for their services. They work for you.
4. If you are committed to nursing, do not feel pressured to feed your newborn formula at the hospital if he/she has lost a little weight or has low blood sugar unless your pediatrician says it is absolutely necessary. You DO NOT have to listen to the nurses.
5. Don't freak out if your milk hasn't come in by the time you leave the hospital. This is normal. Your baby is fine with colostrum until your milk comes in.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Six Months and Still Nursing! (Part 1)
I haven't talked a lot about nursing on the blog. So I am going to start because, honestly, it's a big deal.
I have felt very strongly about breast feeding ever since I was pregnant. I didn't want to sound preachy while I was pregnant though because there is nothing more obnoxious than someone talking about something they know nothing about.
But it's been over six months now and I definitely know what I am talking about when it comes to nursing.
So first, let me start with an up front disclosure: I firmly believe that nursing is the healthier choice for Joaquin. I understand that many women choose not to nurse for various reasons and respect that it is a personal choice. But I chose to nurse (and will continue to nurse) because I think formula is not as healthy for Joaquin. So that's that.
So, that being out of the way, I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on the topic.
I started my adventure in nursing when I was pregnant. I knew I wanted to breast feed and I also knew that despite being something completely "natural", nursing wasn't always easy. So (and this shouldn't come as surprise to those of you who know me), I bought a book (ha!). I read The Nursing Mother's Companion and it was a great resource, despite the incredibly unimpressive cover. Jay and I also went to a class at our hospital on breast feeding while I was pregnant, which nicely reinforced what I had learned from the book. For any pregnant readers, I suggest encouraging (or forcing) your significant other to attend such a class with you. It is important that both parents are informed and supportive.
Armed with information and determination, I felt ready to start nursing as soon as Joaquin was born.
Check back tomorrow (hopefully!) as I describe the first days and months of my experience nursing and give some tips I wish someone had shared with me.
I have felt very strongly about breast feeding ever since I was pregnant. I didn't want to sound preachy while I was pregnant though because there is nothing more obnoxious than someone talking about something they know nothing about.
But it's been over six months now and I definitely know what I am talking about when it comes to nursing.
So first, let me start with an up front disclosure: I firmly believe that nursing is the healthier choice for Joaquin. I understand that many women choose not to nurse for various reasons and respect that it is a personal choice. But I chose to nurse (and will continue to nurse) because I think formula is not as healthy for Joaquin. So that's that.
So, that being out of the way, I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on the topic.
I started my adventure in nursing when I was pregnant. I knew I wanted to breast feed and I also knew that despite being something completely "natural", nursing wasn't always easy. So (and this shouldn't come as surprise to those of you who know me), I bought a book (ha!). I read The Nursing Mother's Companion and it was a great resource, despite the incredibly unimpressive cover. Jay and I also went to a class at our hospital on breast feeding while I was pregnant, which nicely reinforced what I had learned from the book. For any pregnant readers, I suggest encouraging (or forcing) your significant other to attend such a class with you. It is important that both parents are informed and supportive.
Armed with information and determination, I felt ready to start nursing as soon as Joaquin was born.
Check back tomorrow (hopefully!) as I describe the first days and months of my experience nursing and give some tips I wish someone had shared with me.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day 2011
Mother's Day 2011 was wonderful. I am a very, very lucky woman.
Jay and I had a lovely day with Joaquin. We enjoyed a delicious brunch and took Joaquin to the Long Beach Acquarium, where we had a fabulous time watching Joaquin get excited about all of the new sights and sounds around him. There is something magical about watching your child experience something for the first time. It is almost like reliving your first experience all over again. He couldn't tell us how exciting it was to see little fish swimming by, but his little kicking legs told us he had a lot of fun.
Jay also went above and beyond with gifts and flowers, and a beautiful card. He is such a wonderful husband.
But being a mother is the best gift of all. I know that sounds like a sound bite - like something that a lot of people just sort of say. But I am reminded constantly of how true it is. Some of my dear friends have gone through hell trying to have children. They are true heroes. I wish there was a way to make it easier for them or make life more fair. Sometimes it seems like all I can do is truly appreciate what I have, to never take how lucky I am for granted.
So, a belated happy Mother's Day to all of the women reading this who have fought, and are fighting, to finally bring home a baby. You may not have a child in your arms yet, but you are all mothers who deserve to be celebrated. And your babies, whether they are not yet born or are resting peacefully, are lucky to have you as their mothers. Hugs.
Jay and I had a lovely day with Joaquin. We enjoyed a delicious brunch and took Joaquin to the Long Beach Acquarium, where we had a fabulous time watching Joaquin get excited about all of the new sights and sounds around him. There is something magical about watching your child experience something for the first time. It is almost like reliving your first experience all over again. He couldn't tell us how exciting it was to see little fish swimming by, but his little kicking legs told us he had a lot of fun.
Jay also went above and beyond with gifts and flowers, and a beautiful card. He is such a wonderful husband.
But being a mother is the best gift of all. I know that sounds like a sound bite - like something that a lot of people just sort of say. But I am reminded constantly of how true it is. Some of my dear friends have gone through hell trying to have children. They are true heroes. I wish there was a way to make it easier for them or make life more fair. Sometimes it seems like all I can do is truly appreciate what I have, to never take how lucky I am for granted.
So, a belated happy Mother's Day to all of the women reading this who have fought, and are fighting, to finally bring home a baby. You may not have a child in your arms yet, but you are all mothers who deserve to be celebrated. And your babies, whether they are not yet born or are resting peacefully, are lucky to have you as their mothers. Hugs.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
My favorite newborn photos of Joaquin
Here he is with an adorable grin:
An here he is looking like a little angel:
Thursday, May 5, 2011
On our eighth day of bliss
We took amazing newborn pictures when Joaquin was 8 days old. Here is a gorgeous shot of our elated family.
Milestone!
Joaquin hit a major milestone today - his first teeth!
When he came to work for his afternoon snack today, he started nibbling on my finger and I thought, "Hmmm.. that feels different." I took a look and saw his two tiny front lower teeth.
My little guy is growing up!
When he came to work for his afternoon snack today, he started nibbling on my finger and I thought, "Hmmm.. that feels different." I took a look and saw his two tiny front lower teeth.
My little guy is growing up!