Breastfeeding Blog

Bye Bye Boobie – Baby self directed Weening

I was going to post about this last night, but our internet pooped out on us – I hate when that happens! Sorry for the missed day.

L has decided – without me weening him in any way – that the boob is no longer a necessity. I knew that I would probably try to stop nursing him around 1 year, but just like he did the binky when he was 8 months old, I didn’t have to. He latches on and just kind of gets bored and stops… He can fall asleep with out it… he doesn’t ask for it anymore… he’s just done. And since he has started to let go, my supply is pretty non-existent now.

Am I kind of sad? Yes. Am I a little relieved – possibly. Am I proud I stuck with it when breastfeeding was such a hard thing on me and my body to get used to? YES! He made that part easy though, he didn’t want a bottle ever, and hated the taste of formula.

It is nice that now I can go out without him, and not feel engorged – or feel I have to whip it out whenever he gets upset – and he can be nourished in different ways now so I know he won’t be starving if I go to a movie (YEAH RIGHT!).

If you remember, I had issues with pumping.

Breastfeeding my baby was such a great experience, and made me feel close to him from the get go! I was all he needed. Now, he eats solid foods, has almost 10 teeth (!) and is learning to say eat.

Is it bad to say I miss being needed every 2 hours for the thing that only I could provide him?

*sigh*

My baby is growing so fast.

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No Whammies…No Whammies….Baby with possible Ear infection

I am DETERMINED to have a good weekend! I have been in a funk the last two weeks, and I realized the other day that I hadn’t gotten dressed all week. Yeah, I worked in pj’s all week. Something is wrong with that. Not good.

So here I am, showered and dressed and trying to concentrate on work.

Not doing a good job with that last part obviously — but hey! I am dressed!

Baby L is at the doctor right now with his Daddy trying to figure out why he isn’t feeling better. We have been dealing with fevers, runny noses, ear pulling and overall crankiness all week. I just want him to feel better! Plus, he’s been sleeping like poo, so we have been sleeping like poo and that’s not good.

Tomorrow, though, I am getting outta here! I am stamping with my SU! upline, and her customers! It’s always fun to craft, or do art around other people. It’s a Stamp-a-stack, so that means we get to leave with some cards. 20 dollars for lunch, stamping and lot’s of laughs. I am kind of nervous because I won’t know anyone, but it’s good step towards old Meg.

Speaking of post-partum-dom I think after 11 months, I am finally getting my body back. Lately, I have noticed little changes…my posture is better, my stomach muscles aren’t making me look pregnant anymore, and it seems my organs have finally shifted back into place. I have also noticed that after my period two weeks ago (my first one in two years!! YIKES!!) I don’t look like I am filled with water. My boobs are also shrinking, as I think I am losing my milk because of L loving his solids so much – he only breastfeeds in the morning and at night x2 now.

Still not skinny by any means…but at least I don’t still look pregnant when I walk around.

My Disney Giveaway ends tonight! I am excited to pick a winner. I have a couple more lined up that will last one week each – so stay tuned!! Very very good stuff coming!

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National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

In honor of national breastfeeding awareness month, I thought I would post about my current journey through breastfeeding.

I’m not going to lie, girls, in the beginning I was down about it. I felt like a cow. I felt like I couldn’t get up off the couch or even get a wink of sleep. And it hurt. I had thoughts of “is this really worth it? can I handle being the baby’s only source of nourishment?”
They say if you are doing it correctly, then it won’t hurt. To them I say HA! “They” must be a bunch of men who have never had a baby stuck to their sore cracked nipple every hour during a clusterfeeding marathon the first week a newborn is alive. Yes, I was doing everything correctly. Yes, the baby was latched on right. I even worked with a lactation consultant.
The truth is, you need to toughen up. Your nipples that is. Just like playing guitar (which I do) you need to build up a toughness in order for it to be, dare I say it, enjoyable. Now, exactly 3 months later I am wiz at the breastfeeding. I know the hungry cry, I know the positions, and my baby is happy after every feeding. And I feel good about sticking with it. Breastfeeding is another way after giving birth that you can feel like super woman.
I do have a funny story though. When I was in the hospital after having L, I whipped out the boppy pillow to lay the baby on to learn how to breastfeed. Now, ladies, I was well endowed in the boob area to begin with – but when my milk came in WOOBOY! My lactation nazi came in (we lovingly call her that, as I have known her for a very long time) took one look at me and laughed. “Oh hunny,” she said “I’m afraid your nipples aren’t up high enough for that pillow!” And she was right! I am really jealous of those women who can lay their babies on a pillow hands free and feed their babies…But on the other hand, I do love holding my sweet baby close 8-10 times a day.
So if you have gotten past the soreness, and the sudden feeding schedule – good for you! And keep going!! You and your baby will benefit in the long run.

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Friday Night/Saturday Morning Ramble!

What? It was Friday?

Really? Man, time goes by fast when:
1. You are breastfeeding 24/7
2. You can’t put down your 2 month old. If you do he starts screaming.
3. You are worrying about the frequency of your baby’s bowel movements.
4. You are learning how to eat with a baby stuck to your boob.
5. When you finally do get to sit down, your brain isn’t hooked up to write a smart or witty post about breastfeeding, cranky babies, and poop.
Oh and You are secretly wishing you were at BlogHer chatting it up with the other smart people!
Perhaps next year.
L has been going through a growth spurt this week, so of course his growth spurts make me hungry, which doesn’t help the diet. Neither does exhaustion, when McDonalds is literally a block away. And so is Taco Bell. And Burger King – Why did we choose a suburb so close to burger row???
Plus I had to buy a new phone because mine can’t keep a charge for an hour. Ditched the iPhone (couldn’t get over it’s flaws. Plus, I have an iPod anyway.) and bought a Samsung Impression. Will report on it later. Spent some money on it… but didn’t charge it! Trying to get out of the habit of charging everything. We paid off all of our credit cards in the beginning of the year with the nice rebate we got for buying a house last year, and now…not up to the balance we were at but still a lot more than I wanted to incur at this point.
Still manageable.
Thank goodness L was back to his giggly, drooly self today though. Still eating like crazy, but not screaming. So that’s good. He swats at things now, with his left hand. So he might be a lefty. I don’t know how to handle that. Both Mommy and Daddy are righty’s. Does this mean he uses a different part of his brain than we do? Mommy and Daddy are artists, rockstars, writers, punkers and designers…will he be like…an accountant or something?
=D
I could use a good accountant.

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Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper

New Mommy Review: Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper

When I decided to breast feed baby L, the biggest concerns of mine were:

#1. How big my boobs were going to get

#2. How I was going to conduct feedings during the night time.

The Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper Mini Bassinet was my answer. (To the second concern, of course. The first one is still up for discussion!)

Pros:

  • Mommy has easy access to Baby – Just lean over!
  • Baby can fall asleep while looking at Mommy – this helps them feel comfortable in their new environment.
  • Mommy can easily comfort Baby.
  • Mommy can easily check if the baby is still breathing or help quickly if baby is ever in distress.
  • Its a safe way to co-sleep with your baby without worrying about blankets or pillows or rolling over onto baby.
  • Folds up to umbrella size for easy travel!

Cons:

  • Doesn’t use regular bassinet sheets. You must purchase Arms Reach brand to fit.
  • There are only wheels on one side. if you are using it as a bassinet outside of the bedroom during the day, you must use the “wheel barrow” technique to move it, and the non-wheeled side gets caught on rugs easily.
  • Using said technique makes it hard to move with baby sleeping inside.
  • Difficult to raise and lower the side that faces the bed. Again, if you are using it as a bassinet during the day, this manuver can be annoying as you have to unlock all sides to lower or raise one side.
  • It’s a bit pricey, higher than a pack n’ play.

Description from site:

 

The Mini Co-Sleeper® Bassinet is portable and converts from a free-standing bassinet, to Co-Sleeper® bassinet. The Mini was created to accommodate smaller spaces and for those who did not want a playard style Co-Sleeper®. Two caster wheels make it easier to move around the house. The Mini also has a built in liner, less parts, and is simple to set up and break down. Includes travel bag. 34″x 20″x31, 24 lbs
My Thoughts:
I have been using this co-sleeper bassinet ever since we brought L home on his second day of life. He sleeps in it every night next to my side of the bed, which makes it easy to breastfeed, comfort him when he is crying and to watch him sleep – okay, check on his breathing (because we all do that right?)

This past week, I was blessed with the opportunity to use a pack n’ play next to the bed instead of this co-sleeper while visiting my sister and niece, and I have to say I feel that L is safer in the co-sleeper. The hanging piece of the PnP made me nervous, and I could see how with one false move the whole thing could come crashing down, hurting baby in the process. The ARCS is much sturdier, and the quality of the materials and construction are very high. Even though the bassinet can be folded, the way the bars lock and unlock on the top an bottom make it impossible to accidentally collapse the co-sleeper onto the child.

This bassinet was a lifesaver that first night when L wasn’t so sure about his new surroundings and woke up 4-5 times a night to feed. Now, that he is a two month old baby, he wakes up once or twice but the convenience is still there. L is already 10 pounds, and this unit only holds up to 24 pounds but by that time he should be sleeping through the night in his crib.

I am happy that I was able to receive this as a gift at my baby shower – and would still be happy with this product if I had bought it myself (which I planned on doing anyway). It’s ease of use, convenient design, travel/storage capabilities, and piece of mind makes this product a great addition to any new mommy’s registry. Although it’s not a vital piece of furniture, it’s a bonus to have this at my disposal – so I give it a 4 out of 5.

4 of 5

*****


Next Review: Cloth Diapering – Kissaluvs, Thirsties and, Green Mountain, BumGenius

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previously on MaM