2/3: Thoughts from the week
-The stability ball has become a permanent fixture in here- thank you to those of you who recommended using it as a rocking chair. Of course, Livi is a huge fan. I think it’s because I spent most of the last 3 weeks of pregnancy on the stability ball, gently bouncing and encouraging her to flip. Word to the wise: not the best idea after the little one has had a full meal. I had a back full, and hair full, of spit-up in the middle of the night. All I could do was laugh.
-This book is awesome:
Not only can you skim it page at a time, but it gives you reasonable things to do with your child each day according to how old they are. By reasonable, I mean they’re things you can actually do with a full baby schedule and getting out of jammies is a task. Some examples: take the baby with you to a coffee shop and read a book or write thank-you notes while they snooze, practice babywearing (already love this one!), and have a PG makeout sesh with your significant other, since mattress mambo is on hold.
-The best thing you can say to a new mom: you’re doing a great job. During those first two insanely crazy and taxing weeks, you’re recovering, emotional, and trying to do the best you can based on experience, what you’ve read and intuition. I’ll never forget when Meg’s mom and sis were over here, I hadn’t showered in who knows how long, was having a really horrible time breastfeeding and emotional, and they told me I was doing a great job. It warmed my heart, and the encouragement meant a lot to me.
-When you’re breastfeeding around the clock, how do you go to the dentist, especially when they’re notoriously running late with appointments?
-Sleeping in 1-2 hour increments makes for some CRAZY dreams.
-Is it possible to have nursing cravings similar to pregnancy ones? I feel like I’m back in my first trimester as far as vegetables go- they’ve been slightly MIA from my life, mostly because of the prep time and also because they don’t sound that great to me- and calorie needs are even higher than they were in my third trimester.
-I’m convinced that my pump talks to me. After every feeding session, I turn the pump on and cringe a little (excuse the pun, but pumping sucks). Even though I’m not stoked about it, the pump seems to be saying “’Wahoo! Wahoo! Wahoo!” At least someone is excited 😉
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Funny… my pump said “hello, hello, hello”. Ha!
My pump would speak to me, too 🙂
And you are doing a great job!
When you need to go to the dentist, you just have to get someone to watch the baby for you and have them feed her a bottle.
I had TONS of food cravings while breastfeeding! Really I craved tons of fat, dairy, and carbs. It is normal…eat what you need for your body to do its job.
I once had a dream that I had to compete on Fear Factor- I had to nurse my baby on national television. Weird.
I hated that silly pump! Sometimes I could hear it making its whirring noises when it wasn’t even on!
You are doing a great job! =) Even us “old” mommies need to hear that every once in awhile!
Haha, i have the same pump and it talked to me too!
I loved Livi’s pic where her daddy was reading her a book in your other post. She looked so adorable!
When you have time way later on…it would be cool to have a page with your favorite books. I trust your judgement and would love to refer to some of the same resources later if/when I ever need them. 🙂
And you truly are doing an amazing job! I love that you read to her even now, when she’s so little.
LOL! I think after a while all of our pumps start talking! And You are doing a GREAT job!!!
I craved carbs carbs carbs while nursing, and they definitely helped. Helped my supply, and I always looked forward to those 3 AM cookies.
I rented my pump from the hospital, and it was pretty quite but used a Pump In Style when we traveled. Hello LOUD. I was the one talking – telling it to BE QUIET. OK, so I told it to shut-up, but whatever. 🙂
*pretty quiet. Oops.
P.S. You’re doing and AMAZING job. 🙂
You are doing an AMAZING job. I am sorry about getting all sicked on!
My pump totally talked to me 🙂 Some of my most constant company in those early weeks 🙂 And then those crazy dreams during the 1-2 hour sleep seshs would be ABOUT the pump…seesh 🙂 You ARE doing a great job!
In the first few weeks of breastfeeding all I wanted was cookies, cold milk and orange juice! I also had a week or two, when I was pregnant (I think around 20-21 weeks), when I went through a jug of milk in two or three days… Thank goodness it went away – well, I just stopped buying the cookies and juice…
You are doing a GREAT job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you fall asleep on the pump at night? I always wake up, still sitting up in bed all hooked up with no idea how long it’s been since the pump timed out.
Girl I know…the 1-2 hour sleep incremental stuff does produce the most insane dreams.
I told you this before but don’t know if you comment replied because I don’t get email notifications from you and forget to check back but you have got to go rent a Medela Symphony. You will be amazed amazed amazed at how much easier your life is. It’s like using a Vitamix after using a $39 blender. It’s just night and day. It will shave HOURS off your day. The amt it can extract in the amt of time, and it doesnt hurt…it’s just so much more efficient. Trust me on this one. I pumped for two+ years 🙂
At the dentist either take her with you and have A friend also go so that they can watch her during the time you are in the chair!
Or pump. But I say have a friend go, that way you do the dentist appt and see a friend!
You are doing a great job! Ive been pumping for a year and craved far and carbs the whole time. If i cut too far back on fats my supply definitely suffers, listen to your body 🙂
*fat and carbs
I totally can relate to everything you said…when we first brought our little girl home I was so sleep deprived and sleeping at odd hours that when I had deep dream I would often, almost every night have a dream that I had fallen asleep nursing her and would wake up frantically checking the bed to make sure she was ok, only to realize that she was in her crib/bassinet. Luckily as she started sleeping longer and I got more sleep those crazy dream went away. I also laughed out loud when I read about your pump speaking to you, I have gotten so used to pumping multiple times a day that I have often felt that the noise the pump makes is making up little songs for me haha, glad I am not the only one 🙂
You are doing a great job!!! 🙂
I craved really healthy foods when I first started nursing, lots of salads and veggies. I definitely felt like I was pregnant all over again!
Ugh, I hate pumping as I told you before.
And yes, pregnancy cravings can be even worse than pregnancy cravings! I craved noting but salads, sprouts (before I found out about the bacteria thing that skeeved me from them forever), avocados, eggs, and did I say salads? It was Spring/Summer though too so I think I was craving lighter foods. I had to sneak in lots of high calorie fats, like I ate an avocado a day, because I was eating so many low calorie foods (high volumes, but still didn’t add up enough). When she was so fussy in the beginning I think it was combo gassyness until I cut out dairy, and other part maybe not enough milk. Once I finally started pumping after each feeding and calculating my -pro, cho, fat- I was a freaking dairy cow.
And you are doing an amazing job. You should be proud! I wish I knew about half the books you are reading! I learned hard knock style 😉
I meant nursing cravings…mommy brain
You ARE doing a great job! 🙂 And I agree, those words mean the most early on. I wanted extra carbs at the beginning of breastfeeding, too, and still whenever she latches I instantly become PARCHED.
You are doing a GREAT job!! Your little one is safe, healthy and so, so loved 🙂
speaking of “you’re doing great job?” – have you seen this commercial yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dikLOS0h3g
too sweet.
Sounds like your doing a great job!! I enjoy reading about your experience and learning lots for when the time comes that I want to be a mommy! 🙂
You are doing an amazing job! You seem to be adjusting so well to such a big change in your life and rolling with the punches. You rock Gina!
Just added that book to my baby registry 😀
You’re almost over the hump missus! Can’t wait to see Livy grow up. And you’re doing great! Being a mommy is tuff!
I swear my pump used to talk to me too! I am so relieved to hear someone else say the same thing!!! I could have sworn it was whispering the name of our pediatrician. I needed sleep – desperately!
You’re doing a great job! 🙂
That book sounds cute — I’ve got a few first time preggo friends who will probably be receiving it as a gift… 🙂
Olivia is beautiful and your are doing an amazing job!
I was an exclusive pumper since my son was a few days old. And yes my Medela pump talked to me. It sounded like it said breast feed, breast feed, over & over :). I am proud that I pumped & my son had breast milk for his first year, no supplementing. I definitely felt like a cow and people at work called my special room the lactation lounge! Haha.
One thing you will notice when you start to work out again is that the girls are heavier – wear 2 sports bras! It felt so much better. I probably had to do that for about 3 months.
Take care!!!!!
I didn’t like the pump thing either. Like a dairy cow!
LOL My pump said “the baby the baby the baby the baby” 🙂