When you are the mother of a newborn and are constantly holding and breastfeeding your new little one, there are a lot of things you learn to do one handed. Like me for example…I have learned the art of one handed typing and use it to do a lot of things. I write blog posts, for example (but at this moment, I am able to use two hands to write this post and it feels luxurious). I am also getting pretty good at one handed web design and development. I’m aiming for a personal record, how many wpms I can type with only one hand.
I’m also pretty good at one handed teaching, as I am often holding EM while teaching EL how to do something. The other day I was holding EM and teaching EL how to use two hands while carrying the iPad…(is that irony?) But the one thing I really excel at, is one handed eating. Something about breakfast, lunch and dinner time makes EM want to be held RIGHT.NOW. and daddy doesn’t cut it, she wants mama!!
Here is a list of one handed foods I often reach for while holding the Madster:
- Hot Pockets
- Campbells Soup at Hand
- Sandwiches – Tuna, Turkey, Leftovers thrown into a tortilla
- Baby Carrots
- Strawberries
- Yogurt
- Pringles
- Fish Sticks and Chicken Nuggets (usually left over from ELs plate….blech.)
There has to be a healthier way to eat one handed! Any suggestions?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a fan of smoothies. You can make them as healthy or unhealthy as you like. I had twins 9 years ago and had NO hands to do anything as I nursed them both at the same time. I learned to move meal times for myself and eat when I could really.
I also had the benefit of being able to squish both babies into the stroller together to keep each other company while I “strolled” back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, taking a bite here and a bite there from my plate in the dining room on our way thru. It was good exercise for me and they had each other to keep them cozy and share heartbeats.
But really I only got up to go to the bathroom and to change the washer load for like the first 3 months.
I found that putting a cloth diaper over their little cherub faces and eating while they nursed was a good solution until they began removing it with their little waving tandom arms.. lmbo.
I know there has been tons of bad press about the sling, but really I can see how they would be a godsend. I used one in front and one in back once the boys were big enough to not be hurt. But only for a short period of time as once the weight gaining started my body was not strong enough for all of that loving closeness.
At night I had both of them in bed with me we three selpt alone and dad slept on the couch. I would put one baby on each side of me and roll back and forth to nurse during the night. I also brought a box of cereal with me and mindlessly sleepily munched while they were nursing. Sometimes I ate an entire box of Life cereal in one night. But I needed the extra calories to feed TWO babies right? And my diet the rest of the day consisted of cut up fruit I could skewer with a fork in between nursing and changing. I do not remember eating truly hot food for a long time.
I hope you can come up with something that works for you, healthier foods, raw veggies cut up by hubby.. or smoothies full of good stuff are my only ideas for you.. unless you want to go the cereal route.. lol
I love your stories. Glad you have one hand to type them out for me!
Smoothies! Yes! Great idea!
And, thank you =) It’s always nice to meet another MI mama!