Parenting Babies with Patience

Breastfeeding Baby

2011-06-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

It is ALMOST hard to believe that my previous post was so long ago. ALMOST, except that I have been spending the past few weeks, 6 to be precise, focusing my attention on my newborn baby boy. YES, a week late but he finally arrived.

What have the past 6 weeks looked like in our household? Mom breastfeeding and Dad changing diapers and Sister throwing tempers. I remember when my older child was a newborn, just 3 years ago, and the whole new parent thing was SO overwhelming. Now it is a piece of cake! (Yes new parents, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!) I think that it helps that my baby boy has a very laid back disposition. Anyway, let's get to the main focus of this post, breastfeeding.

It was never a question for me as to whether I would breast feed my children. I was raised in a family, where MY mom instilled in me the lesson that a woman's body serves the purpose of bearing children. (She had a grand total of one, me!)

If you are a new mother or a mother to be and are looking for a little advice on breastfeeding, I am happy to share my experiences with you!

My first child was BF until she was almost 3 years old and I am not ashamed to admit it. We weaned only last September so remembering the HOWs of BFing was not too hard the following May!

Before my daughter arrived, I read a TON of books (as you might have gathered, if you have read any previous posts).   From each I "stole" ideas that I kept in my "mommy toolbox" for future reference.

Some things that I want to share, that I hope will make it easier for new moms, I hope!

Your first milk that comes in, is almost nothing!   Don't freak out if you think that you are starving your baby when he is a newborn, as the milk is hardly drops. Luckily he has stored up nutrients for for this case!   Don't freak out and just relax.

To get a good latch, you can gently open the babies mouth, with your thumb. This will almost be as big as they can open. You are looking for a YAWN mouth. I have to do this sometimes, even with my 6 week old. When he is feeling lazy or extra hungry he latches on with a fish mouth!   If you do not get a good latch, you will get sore boobs! : (

When you are a new mommy, your boobs will be sore, but it should only last a few days. IT IS WORTH IT! I've heard advice of "roughing up" your nipples with wash cloths before birth, but I don't buy it!

After the baby arrives, get used to learning how to manually expressing milk.   The main and most important reason for doing this is so that you can learn how to release pressure for engorged boobs. This might happen around the 3rd to 6th week.   Also if you start to get soreness due to back pressure, you can be sure that the flow is not happening enough and an infection will start to fester. The last thing you want is to have mastitis at this point.   Practice expressing in the shower or while sitting down watching TV into a washcloth. Focus on massaging the sore spots and to unclog ducts.

Remind yourself that you can do it! Mothers have been BFing forever!   Not until the invent of "formula" have woman NOT BF their kids (unless you were an aristocrat with money for a wet nurse!) : )

Finally- Throw out or donate all of the formula samples that you get. DO NOT let Gerber sabotage you by their consumerism.

Supplies you will need/ want:

Pads- you will leak like crazy!!

I have tried many pillow and the Boppy is my favorite!

and YAY! Dr. Sears! :)

materials that you MIGHT need

a hand pump if you are planning on running errands and need a sitter (or dad!) to feed the baby

bpa free bottles with the lowest flow nipple (to simulate breast milk flow)

You should avoid pacifiers. It messes with their good latching habits.   BOTH of my children have never had a pacifier (in fact my 3 years old saw a peer with one and asked me what it was!)

You won't have to wash bottles very often, and won't have to buy expensive formula.

A plus for moms, you will loose an extra 500 calories a day while BFing (think, same calories as running for an hour!) and there are instances of less chance of breast cancer for BFing moms!

I would love to hear about your BF stories and ideas (I am sure I have forgot some great ideas in this post).

Search Amazon.com for breastfeeding

New Mommy Again

2011-06-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am a new mommy AGAIN! He arrived just in time to help me celebrate Mother's Day!

My goal for this pregnancy was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian). As it seems to turn out with most pregnancies things did not go as planned.

Luckily the result is a beautiful baby boy that is enjoying his time with his family, and made it home just in time for Mother's day.

After an emotional week, we spent Mother's Day with family. My husband started the day with a yummy breakfast of fresh fruit, and waffles. During the meal, my daughter (3 and a half years old) presented her gift with a flourish. She yanked open the sliding glass shades to releal my surprise. A darling fountain of a little girl and a boy (representing each of them) and flowers. My hubby did well this year! : )

Nothing New

2011-04-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I blogged anything about babies. As it is, my new addition, has decided to hang IN THERE for a while longer. I do not really want to complain, gosh, I am ONLY 38 weeks today!

I think my hubby is getting anxious, as he has texted me from work the past two days, wondering if he needs to leave work early.

While I wait, I re-read some of my favorite books and check out a few of great websites (http://www.babycenter.com/).

I have also been doing a little preparation for the NEW obstacle of being the mother of a little girl, who may or may not be struggling with sibling rivalry. YIKES! I am sure it will be a topic in which I will reflect upon in a future posting on my other blog http://parentingpreschoolerswithpatience.blogspot.com/.

Midnight Cravings and Foot Massages

2011-03-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

What am I doing wrong?   I have not ONCE sent my hubby out in the middle of the night to pick up a crazy snack food treat!   Nor have I gotten a sympathy foot massage.   With my due date looming in the near future, I think I am MORE than due for a pickle and ice cream run, don't you?

Maybe it is because this is my second child that he does not feel the need....

Maybe, just maybe I should set my expectations on a different level. Either way, this is something that I am going to plan and scheme on for a few days and get back to you!   Hehehe! : )

Or maybe I will just be happy that I have put him in charge of getting the 3 year old off to bed each night.

Nursery Necessities

2011-03-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

As I was preparing for my first child, I was like most parents, I am sure. I researched EVERYTHING that I bought, I even used the Consumer Reports book to do it! AND I did get the best, most researched, mattress, organic, of course. I got the least smelly diaper pail for my cloth diapers. I got the best clothe diaper covers. The highest rated car seat. You name it, it was researched!

This time around, I am just trying to save a few bucks and get a couple of Bargains. (Oh, and I read that book the first time around, since I was pinching pennies then too!)

My mission, as I discovered at my 20 week appointment was to change everything that I already own, and hardly used the first time around, from PINK to BLUE! Oh no!

Not, oh no, we are having a boy, but oh no, we ONLY own girl colors! Her crib was lavender, and not a single item of clothing was gender neutral.

'What do I do???!' I though. Along came etsy, one of my favorite websites before this ah-ha moment!

Did I also mention that I had about 100 yards of baby girl fabric? It was all so very cute, but oh so very GIRLY. I contacted several people on etsy and made some trades, my fabric for their crafts!! I got a car seat cover, boppy covers, and burp covers! Not only were they original, but they were CUTE. I love to

I love to support individual artists, as well as creative moms! I was able to complete my nursery with just a few extra dollars and I feel great about the purchases.

http://www.sweetpotatopieonline.com/

The greatest quantity of my "stuff" has been the clothes. Those have been taken care of, as well. I took them to my local baby consignment store and have been earning a nice little bit of store credit so that I can purchase Baby Boy some new clothes. (Along with my other interests, I LOVE consignment stores!)

35 weeks- 3 to 5 more to go!

2011-03-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

As my belly continues to grow and shape, I am starting to feel as though that baby will come any minute! Luckily we finally have the crib all set-up, the baby's room is basically as ready as can be. Maybe I should start packing my bags, and brushing up on my birthing techniques.

This time around we are shooting for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) and my doc and nurse-midwife are very much in favor of it.

Some of my favorite times with Daisy, my 3 year old, when she was a newborn was the close times that we spent together, nursing and snuggled up to me in a wrap or Ergo. The process of "wearing" your baby goes along the same concept that the marsupials in the animal kingdom, (think kangaroos) follow. Your little one has spent the past 9 months warm, snugly and cozy inside of your belly, why should that change absurdly?

Read a book on attachment parenting, and you too will be sold on the concept! I also liked to brag that I would take a baby on a walk and nurse, concurrently, doubling my calories. Search Amazon.com for attachment parenting

For new parents, this may all seem SO overwhelming to you, at this point. When I was pregnant with Daisy, I was recommended "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and I knew that I was now ready to be a parent!

While I read the book, (I AM a reader!), my hubby watched the DVD, both give the same advice, though the book offers more details and insight.