Test

Breastfeeding...for me

Well I thought I'd just write a few things on breastfeeding as it's been over 6 months and all has gone really well.

I know I'm really lucky as so many of my friends have had problems, I think it's an amazing thing the body does and if your lucky enough not to get mastitis and have enough supply for the demand it truly is wonderful, yes I know who'd have thought it??? ME an earth mother!!!

I use to think it was an odd thing growing a 'thing' in your body then it feeds off you! I also found some people too in your face about breastfeeding bearing breasts in public daring confrontation, which put me off ( see earlier post ie ' its the most natural thing in the world, so is sex but we shouldn't do it in Starbucks, well we should at least be discreet!!! With bf not sex!!)

As soon as I was pregnant I knew I would breastfeed for aslong as I could (up to a year if possible, not one to have an 8 year old on my boob!)
And I thought I wouldn't get hung up if I couldn't, now I realize they were just the words of prepregnant me, and if I hadn't been able to breastfeed for any reason I would be devastated!

Ah prepregnant me, my ideals, views, thoughts....I didn't know jack!!! But that's a whole other post.

Back to bf, my tips?

Get advice before (from a friend who's done it and loved it! Who will be your go to girl if it gets rough, your 'come on stick it out' girl, I didn't need this luckily, cause she'd have scared the s*** out of me! Only joking jen x )

Get advice when you are at hospital, I got the lactation consultant there as many times as I could, she was great and great fun too which helped take away from the fact she had my boob in her hand! She would get me set up with pillows around me so baby was laying across me, then grab my boob wait for baby to open wide the push baby right into boob squish right up til it latches! You almost feel like your smothering the baby, then ease off.
So grab boob...stroke nipple near mouth...wait for mouth to open wide...quickly ram babies face into your boob, hey presto nipple in mouth & attached V quick forceful motion and relax.

I also wanted to feed as soon as she was put in my chest after delivery, but I ended up with a csection - so in recovery I asked the nurse to help me feed and get her latched on... I did it (my eyes were rolling and I was repeating myself but she latched on for a few minutes!)

When you first feed it doesn't feel like much a little dragging then eventually sore nipples, then once milk comes in you get the real dragging pain like gravelly sand being sucked out your nipple for a few seconds at the start of each feed, this sometimes is accompanied by searing stabbing pain...but all totally bearable minor pain and soon disappear, I honestly can't remember how long it hurt for as it hasn't hurt now for so long.

When your milk comes in, approx 3-4 days after birth you boobs swell like melons tight and fairly sore. After this time they may start to leak, mine started a week or so after the birth so I wore pads day and night and only stopped recently as I had good supply!!

I started off 5-10 mins each side, every 2/3 hours sometimes 4, occasionally she'd sleep six and they say to wake her, crazy I couldn't wake her!
You start on alternate boobs each time ie the last boob you fed her you start with that one next time ie
8 am Left - right
12 right - left
4 left right
Etc

Few weeks later...
She started feeding closer together so I took it to 15mins each side.
Few weeks after that...
she started only taking one boob, so I dropped it back to 10mins each side every 3/4 hours
From about 6 weeks she was sleeping 10 hours at night, Though I'd wake up with super-tight painfully engorged boobies, but the sleep was heaven!
After 3/4 months she just takes one boob at a time now (two boobs last thing at night) sometimes I forget which boob I gave her last because you should alternate and give her the same one twice and end up with a massive melon!
I pretty much feed on demand.

I recommend 3-4 hours apart feeds in day but from about 4-5 weeks I started feeding the last two feeds before bedtime closer together like 5pm 8pm 10pm so she's full for bedtime.
I also always did the last feed in bed lights low and generally put her into her bassinet awake but sleepy unless she'd actually fallen asleep on the boob.

I used a 'hooter hider' the first few months now i go under my T-shirt from the bottom, this hides your boobs and babies face a little and because i always wear a tank my skin is covered too I can do this quite discreetly even in Starbucks!

If we had lots of people in the house I'd feed upstairs, bad? Good? She now is easily distracted if there is a lot of noise when feeding! If theres kids around forget about it! She loves kiddies!

Ameda gel breast-pads the lactation consultant gave me some but it might be worth having some just in case (you'll use more than one set anyway they go a bit weird after too much use)
Wear them in your bf tank first few weeks, take out while feeding, wash with cold water and let air dry somewhere cool we left on windowsill they were then perfect cool temp to replace ahhhh! Feels nice when nipples feel tender in first few days!

Forget getting fitted for bras, honestly they never get size right! Also they feel too bulky for easy feeding. Just a personal choice, but I go for bf tanks target do great starter ones, just cotton with a bit of hidden support, get the size you normally are prepregnancy, I went bigger and they now don't fit right (they are generous in the body)
I also got two nighttime feeding bras like loose cotton crossover bras these were great in first few days under nighty and nightshirt now.
I also just bought a new tank a little more form fitting for under all my summer white ts & tanks it's via amazon again! Motherhood maternity spaghetti strap double front clip down, I love it as it holds me in and up!

Get breastfeeding log sheets, again I got these from my wonderful lactation consultant but you can also download off the Internet, I like them when they have a page a day,(I'll post a photo if one) places to note pee, pooping amazingly you can forget with all that lack of sleep you wont remember if it was todays poop or last weeks you are remembering! and if your little ones poorly it's the first thing the docs ask how many wet diapers, my doctor took copies of mine for reference in my notes they were so concise! I also used mine as my brain as I seem to have checked it in to the hospital and forgotten to pick it back up!
So what also went on the sheet ... shopping lists, when I took pain meds, if I gave Bailey Tylenol, list of presents & who bought & if I sent thank yous, doc appointments, moods & if when she cried for long periods, if we'd been out all day, when we went in long walks and most importantly when she slept or napped!
It was brilliant I kept it going for 3 months! Kinda miss it now!
You also start to see patterns, she cried before bedtime sometimes 2hours when she didn't have long naps in the day or if we hadn't been out in the fresh air, I maybe wouldn't have known this if i didn't relook at my log.
You amazingly start to realize you and baby are getting into good sleep patterns! And can use the log to tweak your baby's sleep routine (b slept 10 hours a night at 6 weeks- as I realized she slept longer if I put her to sleep later 11pm or after, any time before that she cried and would then wake a few times at night also walks in evening tired her out to sleep longer : )

Breastfeeding definitely is a suck it and see kinda project, read books (I read breastfeeding for dummies and what to expect when your expecting) talk to friends who have, did your mother bf? Chances are you'll follow her pattern, my mum had so much she donated it to the neonatal baby unit (without use of a Breast pump! My dad would drop it off each morning!)
Talk to your partner, I knew Steve was weirder out by bodily functions! We'd spoken about it and I knew he was ok with it but didn't want nitty gritty now he doesn't care it's all natural in caring for our baby, but had he though it weird or off putting I know I would've felt differently about it, you need their support esp if you're having problems or are exhausted.
Steve also made sure I didn't fall asleep whilst bfing by just being aware and in the first few days in hospital we would wake together and try and keep each other awake, he also took winding job for while he was off work, that really helped me.
Good luck enjoy!
R x

...peepo...

We walked down to the green, a daily outing in our household!
This time for chipotle, veggie burrito bowl, extra guacamole, and an arnold Palmer! (green tea & lemonade, not the fizzy pop style the homemade style yum and refreshing all in one)

On the way back she played peepo with her blanket!
(yes it's 100 degrees but it's a uv blanket from coolibar, it's been a lifesaver when the sun gets her legs no matter how far down we pull the sunshade!)
I would recommend this blanket, even just for playing peepo!

R x
Ps under that buggy there is a wedding cake cupcake, I just happened to pass the cupcake truck on the way home! Ah life is grand!

...cuddles with dada...

Isn't this just the cutesy?
Dada comes home from work and gets serious squeals & attention.
This is her new thing, ahh bottle those moments, cherish and remember.
I see Steve's eyes go shiny, loves his little girl so much, it makes my eyes go shiny, happy R x

...fat pussy...

WT?
Really is this not animal cruelty, in the Colorado heat!
Thyroid problem?
Too many mcDonalds?
Wrong wrong wrong

But Bailey thought he was just super, she was mad for him, the squeals and hand gestures said, 'mummy mummy mummy gimme gimme gimme NOW!
Love our Bailey and us walks!
Rx

Handmade by me!

...chubby Leggies...

Awe don't you just love these chubby leggies, soon they'll disappear as she is on the move! Constantly like a Duracell bunny!
Au revoir little chunk!

Bonjour little toddler!
Boo hoo
R x

...camelbak baby...

I have been using a water bottle like this since before my pregnancy, it was a lifesaver during my pregnancy for making me drink more water and always having it on the go during breastfeeding!
I think not feeling sick during my pregnancy was due to this waterbottle & apples (that's another post!)
And I never got that dry thirsty feeling during feeding time as I always had this bottle handy.
So much so that Bailey is as obsessed by it as my iPhone! And as soon as it is in reach she's on it, and knows how to use it! These were taken 2nd sleepless night in the Uk (she spits most of the water out, sometimes quite a distance!)
R x

...go pod...

The trip back to the Uk was saved by this little contraption!
The go pod on Amazon
Amazing!!!!
We use it now trips out to friends & when I shower.
She even got to lounge in it, with legs up - see second image!

Hindsight I would've bought this instead of my exersaucer!
Love it
R x

...roll over...

While I was pregnant you are supposed to lay on your left side, to aid blood flow to your uterus, this became harder and harder for me and I'd start off that side and then end up more comfortable on the right side.

Now I want to be lying on my right side so I have my sweet little Bailey in my sights, but can't seem to stay comfortable and end up on my left side facing away from her! Crazy huh?

Talking of rolling over, Bailey has taken to rolling over all the time at night and scaring her paranoid parents to distraction, by laying face down on the mattress (which is firm and has well fitted sheet, no blankets) and I take her owl snuggy away from her once she is asleep, both of us check her during the night so paranoid, why oh why won't you sleep on your back little lady?
Poor Steve got up for work this morning looking like he had no sleep at all, spare room tonight darling???

R x

Watching the doctors re cancer

They suggested a test for this deficiency if relative have had lung cancer and didn't smoke?

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency

Worth a test or talk to doctor as if you have it you just need an injection regularly to help deficiency!

Just a thought!

R x

Also up your vitamin D, eat cauliflower & cabbage!

...hot out here...

June/July in Denver = hot, hot, hot!
Gotta keep that little girl out of the sun, the blanket is coolibar uv blanket we have got a lot of use from it, mostly it covers her bare legs in her stroller, the bit the large summer infant shade doesn't cover.
She also gets slathered in badger suntan lotion or thinkbaby lotion, which is why (although advice over here in Denver is to not bath baby that often) we have been bathing everynigh, to either wash of the suntan lotion or the pool clorine.
Luckily the doctor put us on to vanny cream, so she's still soft as a baby!
R x

...feeding shadows...

...baby in a box...

My Mum bought so many pairs of Merrels while she was here we had to use the boxes for something!

R x

...smart girlie...

Look at this little smart cookie in my parents car in England.
She pick things up so quickly.
I think this is her action/reaction skills?
R x

...feeding times nearly up...

Ahhh gonna miss these moments

Lisa Bloom: How to Talk to Little Girls

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html

...a day in my life...

We are back in the us, and getting back to normal...

My life is...
Steve's away for a few days! (lonely & bored = me, missing bailey & sick of travel = him)
Though he is meeting the President Monday!!!! V exciting!
It's ridiculously hot!
Its Hibernating weather! Or serious sunscreen weather.
I did get to the pool and it was bliss.
I have sunscreen in my eyes!
Bailey is sleeping better (jetlags a bitch!)
I even got up for the Sweet William craft market, looked but didn't purchase...shock!
I'm doing heaps of washing, but the pile doesn't seem to get smaller!
I haven't even picked up the iron! So that pile is scary!
Bailey makes a mess when she eats! I clear it 3x a day...tonight she crawled under the highchair and ate all she'd dropped on the floor! (still hungry? Just greedy!)
I only ate one chocolate bar tonight! Well done as it has been a battle, we always bring back lots of English chocolate, and normally my will powers great, (steve loves chocolate) this time 3...4 bars a day, baby weight will be going straight back on if I'm not careful!
Bailey took 1hr 17mins to go to sleep tonight, exasperating!
Have you ever noticed your buggy is never where you need it, your going out for a walk...it's in the car, your going out in the car...it's in the house, I spend my life moving the darn buggy around....solution 2 buggys? Mmm will ponder that one!

Here's some piccys of Steve Bailey & I enjoying the sun!

R x

...help please...

Anyone reading this know of a 'green' environmentally sound way to get rid of poop stains on babygrows & onsies?

Bailey likes to blow out of her diaper every so often and currently I'm soaking in oxi clean before I was with method laundry detergent (seems wrong to put the two things together)

So anyone any recommendations?

While were at it, I also need a bleach-
like toilet bowl cleaner but without the environmental effects, I've come back from the Uk to almost orange toilets - maybe because they weren't flushed so much? (not bleach and not seventh generation as it's rubbish)

...jet lag, Denver style...

Oooh jet lag not so good this end for Bailey, she's so tired this evening she hardly ever cries like this ahhh, feed then B.E.D for Y.O.U!

Also this morning after a wakeful night she got up played and cuddle with me in bed then for no reason almost mid giggle broke down in tears, not hurt tears, really tired 'I feel like poo mummy' tears.

...late night snuggles...

With Auntie Bethan x

...dancing for grandad...

...peepo...

M25 car park! Bailey was still sweet, but bored & wrestles, she decided to play peepo with Lucy mouse!

...me & grandad lookalike...

Forget the silly headgear, all grandparents do silly things to make their grandkids laugh!
But how much does Bailey look like grandad g?

...Crawling mechanics...

Grandad g goes over the mechanics of crawling with our...I can roll over & crawl backward girl!
Mastering forwards motion is hard grandad yes!

...The way we use to bath!...

Before gadgets & ramps & specially moulded baths!
And boy did she love it!
The kitchen floor was soaking by the tine we finished, my little water baby x

...I don't want to sleep!...

Denver - England 7 hours time difference is so hard, she doesn't know what time of day it is!
Neither do I good news is she doesn't cry about it just wants to play at 12,1,4,5,8!!!!
And then bang sleep comes (with the help of ANOTHER feed!