Getting those Zzzz's

As I have said in previous posts. my LO sleeps through the night. She started doing this at about 6 weeks. When you are home with a newborn, You can never imagine sleeping through the night again. Especially when you are feeding the baby every 2 hours. People always ask me how I did it! Well, it was actually quite easy. We made a schedule. Not a strict, by the minute, must be followed schedule (we are so not that type). But a works for us schedule. One that is easy for us, that matches our schedule.

The truth is, our bodies do well on a schedule. We sleep better, eat better, feel better and their little bodies are no different. The first place to start is getting them adjusted to day and night. When they were in the womb, they were rocked to sleep by your movements. I'm sure you felt (or feel) less kicks during the day when you are most active, but at night they are little swimmers, moving and kicking non-stop. Well, now they need to learn daytime and nighttime. During the day, keep them out in the house where it is bright and loud. Put the TV on, play music, do the dishes, clean the house. Let them nap where you are and around everyone. Pack-n-Plays, Rock-n-Plays, portable bassinets are all great places to nap, which in the beginning will be most of the day. At night, start making it darker and quieter. We dimmed the lights starting around 7, lowered the tv, made sure the dog was fed and walked and would not bother us or make noise. Our bedtime (well, mostly Dad's because he went back to work) was around 9 PM. Usually closer to 9:30, but we try, lol. By 9, all of the lights in the house are off (night lights help a lot). DD sleeps in a wooden bassinet that rocks in our room with us. We go into the bedroom, start the humidifier, turn on the night light (which is part of our humidifier and makes starts on the ceiling) and feed her. There are many places that say not to nurse to sleep, and honestly I agree, but if she is tired or we are a little off schedule (like going out to dinner and getting home late), sometimes she falls asleep while nursing and I think it is ok. Just don't make a habit out of it. After her feeding, I hold her a little bit and rock her. I think this might be more for me than her, but we enjoy it. Then I put her in her bassinet with her pacifier. She was a major thumb, finger and fist sucker from day 1. The nurse got us a pacifier while we were in the hospital because she hated being swaddled because she couldn't get to her hands. We waited 2 weeks before we gave in to her, lol. But, it soothes her and self soothing is a great way to make bedtimes work.

What also works really well for us is that our bassinet rocks. There is a lock on it, but our LO has learned that if the brings her legs up and then pushes them down, that the bassinet will rock. My little smartie pants. Between this and her paci, she will put herself to sleep with little help from me. When she is very awake, we sill take turns sitting next to it and rocking it until she falls asleep, but most nights she goes down herself and falls asleep quick. I am not saying that you should go out and buy one of these, but it worked out very well for us. Just not sure where we are going to store it once she moves to her crib....

Swaddling is also a great way to get them to sleep. Some babies love it, some hate it. But, in the beginning it is very helpful. We had the most luck with ones that zippered because they were quick and easy. Our DD was also very petite. The Velcro ones were big on her and would tend to slide up over her mouth, which made me very nervous. She always managed to get her hands out of every one too. From blankets (even when the nurses did it), to the Velcro, to the zipper (which surprised the Hell out of me), she ALWAYS got her hands out to suck on them. We even tried swaddling with her arms out, but she would still get the swaddle undone or off her body. We stopped at 2 weeks and used sleeper blankets instead and she loves them. We use the long sleeve ones since it is winter and they fit her better and she loves that she can move her feet in them.

Once your baby learns night and day, starts to self soothe and learn a night time routine, they will start to create their own feeding schedule. I hate that everyone says to feed them every 2 hours. Yes, it is a good guideline, but in reality it is not true and tends to confuse a lot of parents. The more accurate statement, and usually the one you will hear from experienced moms, is feeding on demand. I love my Baby Tracker App because it lets me know when her last feeding was, how many dirty diapers she had in a day and how much pumped milk I have, but I never use the timer to tell me when it is feeding time. If it has only been 30 minutes to an hour since her last feeding and she is cranky, I will try other things before feeding her again. But, if it has been an hour and a half, she may be hungry again. Or, if she is sound asleep and it is 10 pm and It was been 2 hours, let them sleep a little more (if they are showing no signs of being hungry). Also, trust your boobs. They will tell you when it is feeding time, lol. Babies also can Dream Feed. This means that they can latch on and feed while not waking up. So don't pinch or undress your baby and force them to feed if it has been 2 hours. Try and if they don't feed, wait a half hour and try again. And at night, if you fall asleep because they are asleep and you go 4 hours without feeding, don't freak out. Just pick them up and feed. They may go longer, but that is a good thing. It teaches them that they can go longer and get as much as they need. My DD feeds twice as long right before bed than she does any other feeding during the day. She in preparing for a longer stretch. NEVER make your baby wait to feed, especially if they are hungry, but following a "every 2 hour'" rule is not an exact science. Don't let it stress you out.

Some mothers also find (especially later on) that a feeding schedule works for them as well. At 3 months, I still feed on demand. Some days we sleep a little later, our naps are a little longer, or we are more active and hungry earlier. Most of the time, she now goes 3 hours between feedings and drinks more during them, but sometimes it will be an hour and a half and she wants some more before a nap. I do what works for her, and me, but that may be something to look into if you think it is best for you and your LO. Also, I hear a lot of parents say that they like to give their LO a bath before bed. I find this hard for me to do, and a bath every day can dry out their skin *always use lotion after a bath, but avoid hands and feet and anything else that goes in their mouth). Some babies also hate baths. Luckily, mine is not one of them, but yours may hate it. About 3 times a week is fine. You clean the most important parts several times a day anyway.

Do you have any more advise on how to help moms and babies sleep through the night? Let us know! Leave a comment below!!

It's all about the Boobs. 'Bout the Boobs. And Bottles...

Because in reality, no matter how hard you try to feed only from the boob, the day will come when you will need a bottle. Whether it be pumped milk or formula, the day will come. And it will not be easy. Maybe your LO will take it from you, but no one else. Maybe you have to try 1, 2, or 10 different bottle before you find the "right" one, aka the one your BABY chooses, not you. I already covered a lot of things about breastfeeding, but that was just the beginning. And, I am sure there will be more in the future as I learn more myself. I am a first time mom (FTM) as well....

Some things I have not even touched base on yet are clogs and mastitis. I have only had a clog once. It took about a week of massaging and hot showers and pumping to get it out. It was not painful, but quite annoying. I could tell DD (Dear Daughter) was frustrated too with how little was coming out of that boob. I am lucky enough to not have had mastitis, but it has only been 3.5 months, so it is still early (knock on wood). I have read up on it and tried to find ways to avoid it, but it seems like there is no sure way to do that. I have even read up on how to reduce pain and engorgement from that and other breastfeeding related issues, but find that hot water, ice packs, massages and feeding/pumping often are the best things (and a prescription from your Dr. when necessary, esp when it comes to mastitis).

There are a lot of people on the internet (the WORST place for treatment) that claim cabbage leaves are great for breasts.  Here is my major issue with that.... it cannot do everything and is dangerous. What do I mean? Well, you will find a lot of pages about how it is great for breastfeeding moms when they are in pain or engorged. First, if you are in pain, please see a Dr. or LC (Lactation Consultant). It could be something as simple as nipple and breast tenderness that happens around your period or when you are ovulating (yes, that will happen), or it could be a sign of something serious, or that something may be wrong (latch, ties, etc). Second, if you are engorged, and not close to a feeding, than pumping would give relief as well as help you to build up a stash for that bottle I warned you will be needed. Third, there are also a lot of pages that tell you how it helps dry up your milk when you are weaning. If that is the case, that why would you EVER do it while breastfeeding???? That is extremely counterproductive. These people are completely contradicting each other. Finally, the most serious thing is that cabbage can cause Listeriosis. This is a SERIOUS infection that comes from eating contaminated foods and primarily affects pregnant woman and newborns because of their weakened immune systems. While you are not ingesting it, are you sure that after hours of them on and even after taking a shower, that all of the germs are off of you and dead before you go to feed your baby?? Maybe, but I would never want to take that risk!!

Back to those bottles. I needed them early on because of cracked, bleeding nipples (as I'm sure I have mentioned several times already). I repeat it because on top of my DD have a lip tie, NO ONE told me that your nipple has to be at the top part of your LO's mouth. Maybe you do not have to worry about this, Some nipples naturally point up. Lucky you. Mine don't. Apparently they point slightly down. Who would have ever thought? I sure didn't. Strangely enough, it was my best friend who pointed it out while I was struggling to get a latch my first week home. Two seconds later, I'm feeding without a problem. The reason I bring it up is because bottle are the same way. In order for your LO to get a good latch on a bottle, it has to be at the top of their mouth. You figure somewhere this would be taught, but no. The classes I took at my hospital before giving birth went over diapering, swaddling, and breathing, but not different was of feeding or how to put a baby to sleep (which will be my next post).

And now we are back to why I have a blog to begin with. I love my DD more than anything in this world. I call her Baby Girl, Peanut, Sweetie. But, I still call her my little brat as well. When she pinches my nipple when taking a break while feeding. When she pulls my hair, Covers me with puke. Pees on the changing table. Throws her paci (yes, takes it out of her mouth at 3 months and THROWS it). She may be my brat, but she is teaching me everything I need to know about taking care of her and more. She is teaching me how to be a mom. The best job in the world.

Breastfeeding, Easier Said Than Done.

Breastfeeding is easy. Right? I don't think that there is anything more untrue! I have already posted about our issues with a lip tie and how painful it was before that. But, it does not end there. There are so many moms who try to and can't for so many different reasons. I wish more moms knew about lip ties and that more hospitals and doctors checked for them, but that is only the tip of the breastfeeding iceberg. Some moms have to, or choose to, go the pumping route, but that is just as difficult, if not harder. Pumping does not empty as well or as quickly as a baby does, which makes it more time consuming. On top of cleaning parts, pumping on a schedule, making sure to get new parts when you need them and finding a place to pump (which can also be harder than finding a place to feed because you often need an outlet), you ALSO still have a LO to take care of.

But, back to breastfeeding and the things no one told me about it.

One thing that pumping has over feeding straight from the breast is that you know how much they are getting and how much you are producing. Several times my daughter has acted like she wants more. My boobs are soft, I can't hand express anything and I am sure they are empty. But, yet she is fussy and crying and luckily we keep around formula as a backup. I try to make sure we always have some pumped milk fresh or frozen and ready, but it is hard to find time to pump when she eats every 2-3 hours and I am exhausted by the time she goes to sleep (which luckily is through the night, but I go to sleep when she does, so I am NOT staying awake another hour to pump, lol). I also make sure to have oatmeal and Mothers Milk tea every day. When I pump, I get between 6-7 oz usually, less when I have my period (which yes, I already got back even though I was told I wouldn't if I breastfeed and she is only 3 months old). I am a "just-enougher". Not an over or under producer, but just enough to feed my baby what she needs. This is a good thing, but does make it hard to build up a "stash".

We try not to give formula, but sometimes it is necessary. One day, my LO just WOULD NOT latch! She screamed and cried every time I offered her the boob. She just did NOT want my milk. After 8 or more hours of not eating for more than a minute, Dad finally offered her a bottle. We were out of milk in the fridge, so formula was all we had. We started with 2 oz, which she chugged down in no time. At this point, I started to cry. I knew she was hungry, but why wouldn't she let me feed her? And she just cried most of the day. I was definitely producing, but she didn't want it. I got nervous that this may be the end of our BF journey. Was she done with it? Was it not enough. She drank between 5 and 6 oz in under 5 minutes. I left her with dad who finished feeding her and put her to bed. It was an emotional night. Luckily, the next morning she latched right back on and it was a normal day again. I still do not know what happened or why, but this is just part of the BF life that no one tells you. Not every day is easy, even if you are able to feed this way.

Oh, and do you want to also know what you NEVER hear about??? The fact that for many moms, BF has a laxative effect. The urge to poop while breastfeeding can be awful. Sometimes it comes on so quick, I have to stop and run to the bathroom mid feed. It is not easy, believe me, to wait for a baby to take a break and then get up quick while grabbing a baby, dropping a Boppy, finding something to put her in and drag it quickly near the bathroom door so you can get on the toilet before.... well, you get the idea. Sometimes I can wait until she's done, or it goes away completely after, but other times it is strong. And OMG, the itching!! Why does breastfeeding make you so itchy??? It is only while you are feeding and then it stops! Crazy, right?

Also, not all moms leak. I heard stories about moms leaking onto their clothes when they skipped or were late to a feeding, or even when they are out and hear another baby crying. I have heard stories of swollen and engorged boobs. I was told early on that you knew you were empty when they felt soft. Well, the truth is that this is not true for everyone. If my baby sleeps for more that 8 hours at night, I MAY wake up from or with hard rock boobs. Though, more often than not, they are still pretty soft. Maybe not as soft as when they are completely empty, but not hard. Sometimes they hurt a little, but not bad. I also VERY rarely leak. I was lucky enough to get a whole bunch of free pads from a mom on FB, but I may never need any more than that. I wear them all the time, just in case, and since my nipples sometimes stick to my shirt and not to the pads, but I don't really NEED them. I have only started leaking 3-4 times, and every time it was after a hot, long shower.

And another thing. Who are these people that say breastfeeding is cheaper? We all have heard that it is better for the baby, and that is reason enough to try everything you can to do it, but it is NOT cheaper. Well, I have not actually done the math and each baby is different and takes different amounts at different ages and stages, but even if it is, it is not by much. You have to factor in the costs of nursing/pumping bras, tank top and shirts. The cost of breast pads and pump parts, as well as pumping bottles, replacement parts, storage bags, and, if you so choose, a way to sterilize it all (I use the Avent microwave sterilizer and LOVE it). Then there are things to help you keep up or increase your supply. This includes everything from oatmeal and Gatorade to tea, cookies and even pills if you need them. And you may not be completely on top of your nutrition, so you must continue to take prenatals to make sure your LO is still getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need. Speaking of, you also need to buy Vitamin D drops because breastfeeding does not give your LO enough Vitamin D (I highly recommend Carlson Baby's Super Daily D3 drops. One drop on your boob before feeding once a day is 100% of the daily intake requirement). And, the most important thing.... nipple ointment. It does not matter if you are just starting out, or months or years into it. At some point you will need it. Usually it is more during the first few weeks, when your body is getting used to it. But even once your nipples adjust and stop cracking and bleeding, they can still dry out or become sore at any time. As your baby grows, they can go longer or cluster feed, which can do a number on your poor little nipples. I really love Motherlove Nipple Cream because it dries quickly, a small amount goes a long way, it helps them heal quickly and it doesn't smell bad. Also, Lanolin may not be safe for babies to ingest (it is still being tested and studied) so anything organic is a good idea.

What have you experienced? Did I miss anything? Leave a comment and help other Mama's with their journey....

The Bad Days and The Best Days Ever

These are the best days of our lives. Even when they won't stop crying. When you can't stop crying (damn hormones). When it is the 10th time you have had to do laundry this week. When you are so tired that you can't wait for these days to end. Stop. Breathe. Stare. Just stare. Hold onto the moment. Before you know it they will be gone. The days and months to come will be amazing, but you're going to miss this. Don't believe me? Read this again in a couple of weeks.

Everyone says the first few weeks are hard. Physically they were, but I still loved holding her. They were easy compared to what came next. It is always easy when they sleep. When they wake up and they cry and you feed them and change them and burp them and hold them and they still cry..... that's what is hard. When your heart breaks because you do not know what they want, or what is wrong. You try everything for gas and colic and it seems to help and you all finally get some sleep. They good news is this will pass. It may be a growing week or they are just tired (yes, they cry over that too), or in our case it could be a lip tie.

A lip tie? Yes. This is apparently something that is known, but not looked for. Many children have it and it is not something that is worried about. After I heard about it and researched it (and saw she had it), we called the pediatrician and they told us not to worry, it will tear on it's own. On it's own? Yes. By the age of 2, usually, they will fall and hit their mouth and it will tear and bleed. Then they will be fine and it will be over. OK. But, what about the problems it is causing now. The pain while breastfeeding, the clicking while eating (which is apparently her sucking in air), the puking all the time, the gas EVERY night. The future orthodontic issues it can cause. Why wait if we can solve this problem now? Well, because there is no proof that taking care of it now will improve any of these problems. No proof? But, what if it does?

That is what it came down to for us. A trip to the ENT and a decision to take a chance, To help our baby girl if we can. And the hardest moment of my life. Holding my 6 week old down while they take scissors to her mouth. I closed my eyes. Turned my head. They gave her sugar water (aka baby heroin) and done. Some cries. A lot of blood. And right to the boob (they said it helps the blood stop and calm her down. It did.). No clicking. At least we know one thing is an improvement.

The next days are not easy either. We have to rub out finger over the wound before each feeding to make sure it does not re-attach. It clearly bothers her during feedings. She wants her paci all the time. It seems to help with the pain and comfort her? Is that ok? who cares.. But, as the days go by, we see improvement. We do not scream with gas pains every night. This does not mean we never have gas, but not for hours every night. The normal burps we now get that have less or no puke with them. We sleep longer and fall asleep faster. And best of all, we have an aware week.

Nothing to do with anything else, but when it happens, everything else disappears. When you smile and they smile back. When they play and wave their arms and legs and coo. They cutest sound you have ever heard. You stare into their eyes and they stare back. And all you feel is love. Pure love. These are the best days ever!!

I Wish I Knew.... Newborns 101

There are many things that I knew about Newborns that most people don't. I have worked with them for 15 years as a photographer in daycare centers. You hear things, see things, learn things. Talk to teachers and parents who tell you things and show you things that you never even knew to ask about or look at. I will share some things I knew and learned since that may be interesting, or even helpful.

Like, for starters, did you know that newborns do not have bottom eyelashes? They won't for the first month, maybe longer. And they have skin flaps in their noses that they use to close to keep stuff out because they do not have nose hair. I found it odd that some family members that came to visit didn't know this. And they have kids. Maybe they forgot?

Babies hands get cold. It does not mean that they are cold. Blood flow to their hands and feet is slow in the beginning and gets better in time. Usually a few months. So, when they wake up and they are in a full length, long sleeve onsie and a long sleeve blanket sleeper and the house is set to 68 degrees (which is ideal for newborns and infants, did you know that?), yet their hands are ice cold.... it is normal. You are not doing anything wrong and they are not cold. You are doing great mom, keep it up. And do not put hats or gloves on them while they are sleeping. They can suffocate themselves and it is not necessary. They actually release heat through their heads so it help them regulate their body temperature and reduce a risk of SIDS.

Babies move and make noise while they sleep. This, I did not know. It kept me awake and I kept checking on her. They will suddenly straighten out their arms and legs and make a little noise. I called her spastic, but apparently it is normal. And a good sign that they can hear and are aware of their new surroundings. They are not awake, or waking up. And it may take some getting used to, especially if they sleep in the same room as you, but you will soon be able to block it out. Don't worry, when they wake up, you will wake up. They will make sure of it.

You cannot overfeed a baby. They eat when they want and how much they want. When their stomach is full, they will spit up. If they spit up a lot, they may actually want a little more. But, they will not eat more than they can take. So even if your LO is having more than anyone says they "should", don't worry about it and feed them what they want. They are growing, and fast. They may need more, or less, during a growth spurt and then change again. There is no exact amount for every baby.

Baby poop from EBF babies looks like diarrhea. All the time. It is very liquidy and somewhere between yellow and brown. It is supposed to look like seeded mustard, but doesn't always. Especially if you occasionally supplement with formula (like we do as I try to build up my supply for my ever growing and feeding baby). They are not sick and do not have an upset tummy. If they are formula fed, it may look thicker, and smell more. Apparently EBF babies have better smelling poop. Sorry, lol.

Babies, especially EBF babies get calluses on their lips. They may be more predominant right after a feeding. They will look like white bumps on their lips. Sometimes their entire top, bottom, or both lips will look completely white. This is normal, and good. It help them to latch and keep a good latch while feeding. It will go away on it's own, in time.

Babies will shed their skin. Well, everyone does. You do more regularly that you realize. As they grow, it will peel and flake off. Give them a bath once or twice a week, even up to three if you feel you need to. Use warm water and a little bit of mild soap, but don't scrub. Let it fall off in it's own time. It is not good to rush the process, it can cause skin irritation. You will see it most around 3-4 weeks. They may also get a significant amount of baby acne at this time as well. It is completely normal (so if you plan on taking newborn photos, you should make sure to get them done before this time, otherwise you may have to wait until they are over a month old.... a little late for newborn photos).

Newborns have stuffy noses. Since they breathe trough their noses, you may hear it often. Especially when they sleep. A humidifier in their room will help to clear it out. You will also hear them sneeze often. It is normal and good, not a sign of a cold or allergies. Try to keep an eye out for boogies in the nose. They may need your help getting them out sometimes. Especially the big ones.

Tummy time can be started after the belly button falls out. This is also when you can give the first bath. This usually happens at about 2 weeks. If it happens earlier, check with your pediatrician before starting both of these things. In my case, hers fell out at 5 days, but was still oozing and bleeding a little. We had to clean it twice a day with alcohol to keep it clean and help it dry out. At our 2 week pediatrician appointment, we got the ok to go ahead. Now, "tummy time" at this age does not mean put them directly on the floor and see how they do. And it does NOT mean take your eyes off them for any length of time. It is more of an assisted tummy time. You can put them on your chest and make sure their head is either up or to the side at all times. It helps a little if you put their hands together, though this will also probably lead to them sucking on their hands. As long as their face is not buried in your chest and you can see their nose and mouth at all times, you can do this as long as they will let you (meaning until they cry or cannot hold their head up any longer), usually about 2-5 minutes. You can also use a Boppy pillow, if you have one, but be extra careful, as they can suffocate in the pillow if they slide down too far or put their face down on the pillow. You also have to make sure that they are flat with their legs out and not in a "sitting" position. Until they are about 3 months old and can hold their head up by themselves, NEVER leave them unattended for a SECOND during tummy time. Even then, it is not a good idea. This may make you nervous to start tummy time, but don't be. Just be attentive. Tummy time is good for babies. It helps strengthen their head and neck muscles (which is good for when they sleep and need to move their head, like when they spit up, and help them roll over and be able to pick up their head when they roll over) and it also helps to prevent flat head (which happens when they spend too much time in things like a swing, rocker, car seat or anything else that is angled that they spend a lot of time in).

Don't worry Mama (Dad, Grandma, Grandpa or anyone else reading this)! You are doing great. Learn things you didn't know? Even better! I am just trying to help make things easier for you. Any more tips or advice? Questions? Leave it below!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

The first week, or even two, after giving birth is a blur of crying (both of  us), cuddles (the best part), and pain. So much pain. But it will subside, even if it is torture and feels like it will never end. When you wonder if it was worth it, but then you look at the beautiful face and wonder how you could even think such a thing..... and then more pain, and new pain, and wondering what will hurt next and when it will all stop pain. And everyone will tell you give it two weeks. That it will get better, That you, too, will forget this. That each day will get better. And it will be the longest two weeks of your life.

But, you look for advice. Help from people who remember how they made it through. Even if it is only one thing from each of them. Every one thing helps, or doesn't, so you try something else and that works. What worked for me may not be what works for you, but it is a place to start when you don't know where to turn. Some for you, some for your new little one (LO), but all made a world of difference for me.

1. Dermoplast. Why did I not know about this earlier? It is a spray that cools and numbs the whole area. Helps with pain and feels great when putting on. The down side? It is hard to find. It also does not kick in right away, but what does? There are a few different ones, so make sure you get the blue one, hospital strength pain relieving  spray. It can be found in some pharmacies, but Amazon is the easiest. Order it before to prepare. Luckily I only needed one, but they are cheap so you can order more if you'd like.

2. Depends Silhouette. I bought them because I read online that a lot of people did not like what they got at the hospital to wear after birth for bleeding because they were uncomfortable. I wanted to be prepared, but the mesh hospital briefs were very soft and quite comfortable and very easy on my stomach (which was still large after birth so anything tight sucked), so I really enjoyed using them and trowing them out. The pads from the hospital were good too, and even though they did not stay well, I also wasn't moving much and they were free and I was in the hospital anyway, so it didn't make a big deal to me. I even took a bunch of both home and used them until I ran out. Regular underwear was annoying to put back on, but the purple overnight Always pads came in handy after I ran out. But, back to the Depends. One thing no one tells you is that after birth, you may have some problems holding in your.....bowels. Most of the time you will be able to make it, especially if you are close to the bathroom. But, sometimes and some days will be tougher. Having them handy, especially on the bad days, is a life saver. They are so uncomfortable and annoying (I felt like a newborn wearing a pull-up), but what you need when your stomach is trying to get back to normal and everything is shifting back into place (now that there is no one taking up most of the space).

3. Medela Pump. Whatever pump you get will be great. A lot of people love the Spectra and the Bellababy, or the Haakaa Manual Pump, but every person is different. I have very small nipples and need small flanges. This is a hard thing to find out before hand unless you know a lot of people with different pumps and sizes you can try. Or order a bunch and test them, but have to return them and pay for shipping. Most of you will not have a problem, but Medela was the only one that went down to 21mm. I also read a lot of reviews and posts in pumping groups on Facebook and learned that a lot of people love different pumps, but also love or use Medela parts (apparently they are better quality). I understand that the different settings and comfort of some pumps may be better, but I did not have the time or energy to figure out which parts to use with what pump, so I got the one that has the parts to begin with. I only use it at most once a day anyway. And I love that it came with a bag and a battery pack, which was also highly recommended to me. Next time, I may try a different one. Or, if you have to exclusively pump (EP), you may want to see what is better for long term (this one or something else), but I love mine and it is perfect for me. Below is a guide I found online that may help you find the best one for you.

1. Spectra S1 & S2	Best Electric Breast Pump	4.75
2. Medela Freestyle	Best Hands Free Pump	4
3. BelleMa Double Electric	Best for Working Moms	4
4. Medela Pump in Style	Best for Large Breasts	4.25
5. Philips AVENT Single Electric	Best Single Electric Pump	4.25
6. Medela Harmony	Best Manual Pump	4
7. Haakaa Silicone Pump	Best Milk Catcher	4.5
8. Lansinoh Signature Pro	Most Affordable Electric Pump	4.25
9. BellaBaby Electric Pump	Best Pain Free Pump	3.75
10. Medela Sonata Smart	Best Smart App

4. Procare Wrap. Ok, so I got this for free from the hospital, but it is great. Adjustable and comfortable. While I do think it helped my stomach to shrink, it is good at helping everything get back into place (which will help you to feel better faster). It is also easy to put on, so if it starts to feel too tight, it does not take a lot to adjust it. I also like how you couldn't see it under mt clothing.

5. Motherlove Nipple Cream. If you are breastfeeding, you will quickly learn that it is easier said than done. And, it does become easier in time. But, in the beginning it is hell. Pure hell. And extremely painful. Especially your nipples. They will be dry, cracked and bleeding. And only time will heal them. But, you still have a baby to feed. That means you do not get the time needed to heal. Unless you supplement with formula (which I had to do for a few days), but getting them to latch again is very difficult and frustrating. Either way, you NEED to have nipple cream to put on after EVERY feed. I tried Geritrex Lan-O-Soothe, Lansinoh Lanolin and Motherlove and this one is by far my favorite. It is quickly absorbed and light, which makes it easy to put on. The others are thick, so I think a lot ended up on my clothes and pads. I felt I healed faster with the Motherlove and feel better quicker after feeding.

6. Mother's Milk Tea. I am not 100% sure if it works or not, because it is not something you can prove or see, but every little thing helps. Especially in the beginning. It is easier to become an over-supplier and pump and store than it is to try and increase your supply. Oatmeal is good too, as well as many other things, but the tea tastes good, has a lot of the same ingredients as Sleepytime tea (which is nice when you are on a messed up sleep schedule) and it is easy to order on Amazon (and cheaper), though also available at almost every supermarket.

7.  Swaddle Me zipper swaddle. Swaddling is hard. Especially for first time parents. Honestly, we got it down pretty quickly. Still, easy swaddles are better and yes, easier. The Velcro ones are great, but a little big. And, with both regular swaddle blankets and Velcro swaddles made me nervous because they would cover her mouth in time. Now, newborns breathe through their nose, but I didn't like it and was scared it would cover her nose in time. Maybe I was over-thinking, or maybe she was just really small, but the zipper one fit her perfect (they go as small as newborn which a lot do not),  and it was the easiest to do while her arms are moving. It is also stretchy, which allows her to move them still and not break free (which she is a master of). It will be a life saver. Trust me.

8. Burt's Bees Burp Cloths, All burp cloths are great. There are none that don't work. I love the ones that are shaped to fit perfectly on your shoulder. And the blankets from the hospital work great to have around for massive spit up that gets everywhere, or to cover yourself when burping (because stuff always comes up). But the Burt's Bees ones are soft and small and easy to keep anywhere. I can shove it in a back pocket, the side of the car seat when we take it out of the car and go into a store or somewhere quick. She even loves to hold it (kind of like a blanket) while feeding. I have also used it when she was in the carrier (the one that you wear) to cover my shirt in case she spits up while we are walking. The softness is a bonus and perfect for their gentile skin.

9. Aquaphor. For your everyday (or every hour) diaper change, we use Baby Vaseline. But, in the beginning, we had a bunch of free samples of diapers that we used to see which ones we liked the best. This did cause a little diaper rash. Luckily, we had Baby Aquaphor ready to go, knowing we would need it at some point or another. It cleared up in 2 days, and has yet to come back. We know which diapers we like and she has not irritation. But, it is handy and ready to go if we need it again. One should be enough to start. You can always get more if you need it. And there are always coupons.

10. Pampers and Honest Diapers. We tried many different types of diapers (as I said before). As first time parents, we were unsure which ones we would like, or which ones would work best for our little one. We did not have a big opinion about most (like Up and Up or Huggies), but there were some we really like and really hated. The worst were Seventh Generation and Parasol. We had awful leaks with both and they just never seemed to fit right. Our favorites were Pampers and Honest. They both fit great and never had a leak or blow out problem. The only thing we liked better about Pampers are the wet lines. There is one in the front for pee and one in the back for poop. Very helpful and prevents you from having to put your nose to their butt to find out if they pooped or farted. Keep in mind, each baby is different (and diapers will fit differently), but if you need a place to start (and you don't have a bunch of free samples), I would get a pack of each to try. Stocking up is great, but unless you know what you need, you can end up with a bunch of diapers you can't use. If this is something you need to do, SAVE RECEIPTS!!! We also used newborn diapers for a month, but some never use them at all, so it is hard to predict what you will need. Plus, there is Amazon. I love Amazon. Can you tell??

11. Mam. You haven't heard of Mam? It is not as popular as Dr. Browns and Avent, but that doesnt mean you should ignore it when looking at bottles. And pacifiers. Both of those are great. We even use the Avent ones sometimes, and may more later, but Mam has been the best. Early on, we had to supplement with formula, even though I didn't really want to. I was in so much pain, I could not handle feeding as often as she wanted to eat. At first, it was fine. But, then she got nipple confusion. It took work and 2 days to get her to re-latch. We were scared to introduce another bottle for fear that we would have to stop breastfeeding all together. Then, we gave in and tried a pacifier. Again, a re-latch problem. Not as bad, but we stopped that too. And she hated it. So we tried different pacifier nipples. The fourth one we tried was Mam. And no re-latch problem. Not after the first day, second, third....ever. We love it, and she was happy to have her paci back. So, we tried the bottle with some pumped milk. No re-latch problem. And we love that it can be sterilized by itself in the microwave. Easy cleaning for when we travel. Remember, each baby is different. And so is every boob. So, this may not work for you, but I have had a lot of other breastfeeding moms say the same thing. You cannot choose your child's bottle. They will choose it, so options are great. Two of a few different kinds is good until you know which one you need to have, but Mam should definitely be one of them.

12. Little Remedies Gas Drops. This product works fast and lasts. The only thing I wish is that I had known to buy this before she was born. We were told to get it from our Pediatrician when we asked about her poop. We went and got it right away. We probably didn't use it for at least a week, but one night, when the crying wouldn't stop, we gave it a try. She stopped crying within minutes and fell asleep a half hour later. Now, we have several of them. Always on hand and ready to go for when she needs it. Who knew gas could be such a problem until you hear the awful screams. This will be the best thing you ever buy!!!

Welcome to the World Madison Fynn!

At 6 am on Sunday September 9 2018, I was woken up by abdominal pains. They were no worse than previous pains/contractions I have had, but they were definitely different and lower. I started timing. 7 minutes apart. Every time they come, it's seven minutes apart. By 11 am, they are getting more painful, but no closer together. I am supposed to go to a friends house with my sister to look at baby clothes and toys, but I'm not sure if I can. But, they will probably stop again. They always do. At right about this time. So, I shower. I go. I wait to see what happens. At 7 minutes, they will send me home anyway.

So many cute items. It was so much fun going through everything. Me and my sister's babies have so many new items to last a long time. But, the contractions have not stopped. They are not getting stronger, they are not getting closer together, but I am now starting to bleed. I called my doctor's office and talk to the receptionist, but they say that if I'm bleeding than I have to go to the hospital. So, off to Labor and Delivery we go. I have the feeling this is going to be another visit there that is going to be a waste, but off we go.

By the time we get there, it is becoming hard to walk. The pain is getting more severe. The waiting room is packed. I was warned that there can sometimes be a wait, but no one else there seems to be in pain, so I am assuming that most of them are there for appointments and not labor (this happens at some hospitals). They take me in for a pre-admission check and say that there is a wait, but that since my contractions are so severe and I'm bleeding, that I should be pushed towards the top of the list. I sit down and start timing them again. 6 minutes. And so painful I can barely sit.

45 minutes later, they call me in. I now have a room in triage. They hook me up to machines and get a nurse to come in and check to see if I am dilated. They say I am still 1cm, but at risk for rupture. Not 10 seconds later she says I have ruptured. Wait, what? What does that mean? Me and my mom are shocked. Dad is waiting to find out if he needs to leave work and come to the hospital. We ask the nurse, unsure what the next step is. She says that I am being admitted. Since I am ruptured, I cannot go home. No matter how long it takes, I am staying. I could be a couple of hours or a couple of days, but I cannot leave. I am in for the long hall. We call Dad. He is on his way.....

The next 15 hours are a blur. I cannot get any pain meds in triage, so they start working on getting me a room in delivery. This takes about 4 hours with a lot of "ow's" and "omg's" (which is apparently what I say when I'm in pain). 4 hours later, they finally get me a room. And immediately order me an epidural and start an IV. Within a half hour, I am getting fluids and an epidural. I am not making any progress. I have to be induced. They start me on meds to thin out my cervix. Dad arrives. I fall asleep.

I have no idea how long I slept, but I remember them waking me up to check me again. My cervix is good and they are now starting me on something to get me dilating. At some point after that, and in a lot of pain, they check me and say it is time to push. They get the doctor and I try with all my might, but nothing happens. Apparently, she is not ready. They are going to wait and try again in a little while. I get an epidural boost for the pain.

Some time later, they pain gets worse and close together again. Contractions are on top of each other, They call the doctor again. How long has it been? It is a different doctor. I try everything I can to get her out. I can't feel anything below my waist. I don't know what muscles I am using. I try to use the ones they are telling me to. I am trying to do what they say. But, this poses more difficult than thought. They want to stop, but I cannot stop pushing. She is right there. I am in so much pain, I actually ask if I can get a C-Section. I am not sure if I can actually do this. It's too late. They said that they might have to try another approach. They recommend a vacuum and start explaining it to me. I have done my research. I don't even wait for her to finish. "Get it", I say. I trust my doctor. I feel like I'm failing, but I don't know what else to do. They get a whole team in the room. What was a doctor and two nurses is now a team of 10. We are all hands on deck. We get everything ready and one big push, nothing. We get three tries and that is it. What happens after that? Here comes round two. Another big push. I give everything I have. And there she is. Head is out. One more push and she is completely here. Just like that. They put her right on me and I can see and hear her. I want to grab and hold her, but my hands are still clenched and there is still so much pain. I still have to deliver the placenta. Dad cuts the umbilical cord and turns right back to me to see how I am doing. They take her to the table next to me to get cleaned off and checked. Dad is still with me, telling me how great I am doing. I tell him to go to the baby. I quickly deliver the placenta. It is the best feeling. Now just for the stitches. I have a 3rd degree laceration. It takes 15 minutes. Then another blur. I know that I hold her and wait for a room in the recovery wing on the 6th floor (we are now on 3). I remember them putting me in a chair and her on my lap and wheeling us up. I am not even completely sure what day or time it is anymore.

Madison Fynn was born at Katz Women's Hospital on Monday September 10 2018 at 9:24 am. She was 7 lbs 2 oz. 19 1/2 inches long. We stayed in the hospital until Wednesday morning. A lot of pain, little sleep, and learning how to breastfeed. So many questions. So many amazing nurses, doctors and lactation consultants. I don't know what I would have done without them. They helped me at every stage. Even when I was crying in pain at midnight trying to feed. They recommended I try a bottle if I was in that much pain. I was hesitant, but could not take it any more. We had already been going for 3 out of the last 5 hours. By the time I put on nipple cream and got covered up, she had finished half of the bottle. She was hungry. I am going to try to continue, but I physically cannot for now.

I was discharged with a manual pump, formula, diapers, and everything I need to take care of my stitches for the next few weeks. In major amounts of pain, I leave the hospital. Everything hurts, but me and baby are in perfect health and ready to go home. Her borderline jaundice is gone (probably because of the bottles) and we are cleared to leave. After an hour of packing up, dad gets the car and out we go. That is where the real story begins.....

I Will Be Right Here Waiting For You......

The waiting game is afoot. What is the last thing that I have to share in the long list of "things they don't tell you about pregnancy"? That you can have contractions for days. Even weeks. No joke. And we are not talking Braxton Hicks contractions. Actual contractions. Ones that very slowly open your cervix. It has been almost 2 weeks since my mucus plug fell out and a week later I was still at 1 cm. This week has been the toughest.

On Monday, I started getting contractions that never really stopped. They would get really strong and then let up, n=but not actually stop. For about 2 hours, I felt uncomfortable and I couldn't sit still. They were also really high, not low like labor contractions. I called my Dr, but it was Labor Day so only the nurses were in and a Dr On-Call. They made me an appointment for Tuesday. 30 minutes later, my stomach started shaking uncontrollably. I decided to go to the hospital, not knowing if this was something that could be harmful to me or the baby.

Apparently, it is not common, but not abnormal. Most women do not get the shakes, but some do in early labor. It is from the amount of strain on the stomach muscles that have not been used much in the past few months. Great. And I have progressed to 1.7 cm. Nothing to stay for, so we went home. Luckily as the night went on, they subsided and I was able to get some sleep.

I was told to keep my Tuesday appointment to follow up, so I did. The contractions and shaking started again Tuesday afternoon until the evening, around the same time as the day before. They told be nothing different and told me to keep my Friday appointment to see how things are then. Was not expecting anything different. My girl is taking her sweet time.

Then, come Friday morning 4am. Regular contractions have officially started. And I'm pretty sure my water broke, or I am leaking amniotic fluid. They are more intense than what I have been having but not painful. Very regular at every 7 minutes. I try to get as much rest as I can, since I am exhausted, but this just means closing my eyes in between and staying in bed. The heartburn is insane and I am hungry, but nauseous at the same time. Too nervous to eat. Ready to go to the Dr and see what they say. Hoping we are nearing the end, because I don't know how much more I can take of this.....

Ready to meet you Baby Girl!

First is the Worst, Second is the Best,, Third is the one with.....Is it over yet????

The third trimester wasn't all so bad. The beginning of it was like an extension of the second trimester, with a few random Braxton Hicks contractions. Luckily, they are not painful. A lot more peeing and getting up at night, but nothing major.....yet.

At 36 weeks, she dropped. Now, I hope that yours goes after this point and definitely not before, because once it happens, you will want baby out! Every movement from the upper body is in your uterus and bladder. It is quite uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. And the pressure down there is beyond annoying. Forget sitting with your legs closed or crossed. Anything but spread eagle is severely uncomfortable, ,so stock up on those long dresses if it is hot out, or at least nothing too short.

As time goes on, the contractions will become more significant and tight, but it will still be a while before they actually start to hurt and do anything productive (like push out a baby). Practice contractions are normal for the last month or two as your body gets ready to give birth. Doesn't sound like fun? It isn't really. But..... you are almost there!!!!

Usually the first sign that you are getting close is your mucus plug falling out. It can be all at once, or like me, you can lose it in pieces. Mine came out in two, 2 days apart. The first one was like a massive booger, followed by a lot of what looked like a lot of snot that required a change of clothes (luckily I was at home). It is very often referred to as the "bloody show", but after mine came out and I did some research on it (to be sure), I found that it is not always bloody. I had some spotting a few days before it started coming out and called my OBGYN. They told me to come in to be safe, but it was probably just the start of my mucus plug coming out. After everything checked out ok, they sent me home and sure enough 4 days later it was out. But, just yellowish in color, no pink, red or brown as I was told it would be (sorry for the TMI). The contractions after that became more regular (especially at night), but have yet to become more severe.

Now, at 38 weeks and counting.... I am ready to go and over it. I hope she comes soon. I am ready to meet you, Baby Girl!!!

Lists

Hospital Bag Checklist
	Need	Packed		Gifts for hospital staff?
Mom	Liscence
	Insurance Card			Toiletries:	Hairbrush
	Baby Binder (empty folder)				tootbrush
	Robe				toothpaste
	Nightgown/PJs				chapstick
	Warm Socks/Slippers				deodorant
	Phone Charger				makeup
	Headphones				hairtie/clips
	Camera (charger, card, batteries)				bodywash
	Toiletries				shampoo
	Snacks				conditioner
	2 Extra Outfits (maternity)				lotion
	2 Nursing Bras				witch hazel
	Tank Top (easy access)
	Loose fitting dress
	Eye mask for sleeping
	Ear Plugs
	Maternity Underpants
	Heavy Duty Pads
	Notepad/pencil
	Baby Book
	Flip Flops
	Disposable Underwear (Depends)
	Nipple Cream/ointment
	Nusing Pads
	Towel
	Breastfeeding Pillow (leave in car)
	Bottle of water
	Extra bag or 2
	Tablet/charger
	Plastic bag for laundry
	Coconut water
	Loose pants for after birth (2-3)
	Cleansing face wipes
	ziploc bag for keepsakes
	Baby bands/stomach support
Dad	Pillow
	Blanket
	Toiletries
	Snacks
	Cash for vending machines
	Change of clothes (2-3)
	Eye Mask/Ear plugs
Baby	Going home outfit (1-NB, 1-0/3mo)
	hat
	Some newborn diapers/wipes
	Carrier/Carseat with base installed
	Receiving blanket for carrier (cold)
	Gloves
	Warm bodysuit for in hospital (2-3)
	Pediatrician contact info
	Burp cloths
	Bow/props photos
Post Pardum Supplies
Mom	Maternity Underwear		Pads:	Depends Silhouette S/M Maximum
	Heavy Duty Pads			(3-7 days/about 20)
	Nursing Bras
	Nursing Pads			Always Maxi "purple" overnight
	Nipple Cream/ointment			extra heavy flow (About a week/25-30)
	Stool Softener
	Flushable Wipes			Always regular for about 4-5 weeks
	Hemmroid Pads/Ointment			(6 weeks total)
	Tylenol
	Nursing Tank Tops
	Loose Clothing
	Disposable Underwear
	Witch Hazel/wipes/spray
	Ice Packs for after birth
	Seamless high waiste mesh panties