Mommy and the Terrible. Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

I am assuming you know Alexander and his Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. If not, it is a definite must to your child's library. But, in my case I am referring to the first cold that just happened to sync up with our 4 month sleep regression. Yes, all at once. We are doing better now.....better.....but, it has really been a tough one.

It all started about a week ago. I started to feel a lot of sinus pressure. I knew from the mom groups I'm in how important it is to continue to breastfeed your baby when you are sick, so I knew it was only a matter of time before she would show signs of feeling sick as well. We were already past the 4 1/2 month mark, so while I was hoping we would skip the regression, I knew there was a chance it was still going to happen. She has always been a pretty good sleeper (even though her nights and days were reversed in the beginning, as normal), so when we had a few days when we woke up at 6 am and went back to sleep, I was hoping that would be it.

And then came the cold/sinus infection. I did not get checked out, so I am not really sure what it was, but it was bad. Sinus pressure, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, stuffy, sore throat, tired.....you name it. Luckily, no fever. The first couple of days, she seemed fine. I thought maybe she would be ok. But, then she had 2 days of fussiness and more feedings and a lot of sleep. I could tell she was not feeling great. I called the Pediatrician, but they said if she is eating well, peeing enough and has no fever that there is no reason to bring her in unless I really want her to be seen. I decided to hold off unless she got worse. Especially since my body would produce antibodies for her that she would receive through my breast milk. It was a little heart wrenching to see her feeling so under the weather, but luckily after the two days she started to return to normal.

And then the nights started to get worse. Maybe it was brought on by the cold, or they just happened to sync up, but it just added to how awful I felt. She seemed to have it easy. Me, on the other hand, am trying to rest and get better and she has started waking up between 2 and 3, again around 6, and for the morning at 9. Maybe this does not seem so bad, and it isn't when she goes to bed at around 9:30/10, but when she used to go to bed at this time and sleep straight until around 10, with an occasional 6/7 am feeding, it is hard. Especially when sick.

The worst part is that my nephew was born a few days ago (Welcome to the World Dylan!). We are so anxious to meet him. I am hoping that our plan to see him 2 weeks from now comes with better sleep and no germs that we may still be carrying. Also, some tips on how to survive a sleep regression, lol. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that we are teething like crazy and growing (my peanut at almost 5 months is still at 24 1/2 in and almost 13 lbs). Sophie the Giraffe is luckily helping us out with the teething part. We love to read the books as well. The fact that we soak our clothes with drool several times a day causing more laundry than ever is just more to add to everything else we have going on, but the easiest part of it all. For now.....

Have tips on how to survive a sleep regression? Tips for teething? Leave a comment below. I'm sure I am not the only one who could use some advise.... ;).

It's a Long Way to the Top if you Wanna Rock and Roll

No, this post does not have anything to do with music. I am just recovering from surgery to have my perineum repaired (finally) after giving birth. That is what tears when you give birth, and mine didn't heal all the way. I thought the recovery was going to be worse, but it is actually not to bad. I am assuming this is more what a lot of woman feel like after a week or two from giving birth when they have a stage 1 or 2 tear, not like me a month later after a 3rd degree.

Anyway, one of the things I want to talk about is something that always seems to be on the list of things that moms say was a waste of money and they never used, but I love and uses 10+ times a day.... my changing table. Are their really people who never use this? Some people say they use their bed, couch or floor. I have and I find that VERY annoying. Maybe my bed and couch are just low enough for it to be annoying, but after labor and now after surgery, getting up and down is REALLY hard. Harder than going up and down stairs, and more painful. Also, now that my daughter is rolling over, I can't leave her unattended for 2 seconds on any surface other than the floor. The changing table allows me to stand, has everything I need within arms reach and has a strap on it so I can walk away for a minute (to pee or grab a change of clothes from the closet) and not worry about her rolling off onto the floor. We also put a mobile on it to help keep her distracted during changes (and because they are not safe to put on a crib in case they fall or the child grabs it and pulls it in), so it has become one of her favorite places to be. She watched it spin, listens to the music and grabs and kicks it as it spins.

Another item that we heard was a waste or dangerous were crib liners. Well, what you don't hear about it how some kids like to stick their legs through the bars. Yes, you read that right. Why, you ask? I honestly have no idea. But day after day, we would wake up to find she had BOTH legs through the bars of her cradle. Many people use bassinets that have mesh or something else before the crib, but we have a wooden cradle (that I LOVE), so we are experiencing this earlier than many parents would. I asked other mothers about this on FB and found that there are plenty of kids that do this (YAY! My kid is now weird!) and that mesh liners helped a lot. Several of them also said that their kids got stuck (which was a major concern of mine as she got bigger) and that is when they decided to get the liners. And that the mesh ones are the only ones safe to use. We found a bunch online that were plain and simple, but settled on ones from Buy Buy Baby that had stars on them. They are cute and we still have a bunch of gift cards to use there, lol. I am happy that I did not buy them before (in case I didn't need them), but I would never put them on a list of useless items. Just maybe not for everyone.

Every child and every family is different. I do not think I will ever say any baby item is useless. Maybe just not for you or your baby. Or, maybe you think it is useless now, but use it later on or with a different child (you never know....). I write this blog for me (so I remember) and for other moms who are looking for help, tips and advice. But, what works for me may not work for everyone. Do you have any experience with these or something else that you heard was a waste? Share below for other moms that may be in the same boat. :)

It's Getting Hot in Here.....

No, not that kind of hot. I'm talking about my babies first temperature. Not a fun night for Mommy. It was nothing major, just a side effect from her first shots, but she just was so sad. It broke my heart. Luckily, the pediatrician told us to get Infant Tylenol for her to help with any pain and discomfort she may have. We went right to Walmart after we left and picked it up so we were ready physically, but not emotionally. I think that night was worse for me than the shots themselves. It was over in 2 seconds, she cried, I put her on the boob and she was fine. Boob power!! Lol. But that night was long and sleepless. We were not sure how high it would go, so we kept taking it and watching her. It never went over 100 degrees, but I'll admit it, I was nervous. I'm sure every Mama is when their little one is under the weather.

The next morning, she seemed to be feeling better, but was over cuddly. We spent a good amount of time cuddling in bed. I know that this is not something you should EVER do, but I will admit I do sometimes. She is so happy and LOVES to sleep on her side, so when she is very cranky, I lay with her until she falls asleep and put her in her cradle. It usually lasts about 5-10 minutes, but lasted a little longer after her shots as she started to fuss every time I went to get up. But, I didn't mind. I love my cuddle time. I could stare at that cute little sleeping face for hours.

So, something to make sure you have on hand ALWAYS is Infant Tylenol. And Gas Drops!!! I think I have said that before, but it is a DEFINITE must!!!! Gripe water can help relieve an upset tummy, but does not work the same way. When your LO is crying in pain, they work so fast, it is like a miracle. These are 2 things I do not think I could live without. Just make sure you call the Dr. before giving any medication like Tylenol to your baby. Only they can give you the proper dosage, and that is not something you want to take a risk with.

Anything you think is a must? Leave a comment below! Let us know!! ;)

The Terrible 2's.....Months That Is....

When they are newborns and they cry, you try everything to figure out what is wrong. They get so upset, but at the same time it is super cute. My Baby Girl's cry was so funny and adorable that it made us giggle sometimes (when we weren't exhausted in the middle of the night). And then the day came when she learned to scream. An ear piercing, blood curdling scream that makes you wonder if  there is something REALLY wrong. But, no. You just took too long to get the boob out, or she decided she does not want to be undressed at that moment, even though she is covered in poop. And man, does it hurt your ears!!

Also starts the baby tantrums. Kicking of the feet, flailing of the arms and arching of the back. All because the boob we are on is now coming out too slow and we want to switch to the other one, or  we do not want to burp (even though we have to), or something as simple as that. It feels sometimes like everything is a battle. Feeding, changing, trying to find out what activity she is in the mood for....

But at the same time, it is also amazing watching them grow. They are no longer your little baby (well they are, and always will be....), but they are starting to become a person. Holding their head up, staring at you, cuddling you, rolling over, learning about their body. It is amazing to watch the wonder in their face, the smiles that come every time you smile at them, and listen to the noises they make as they discover new things. Even the sounds they make when they get frustrated, but they resolve it themselves in a minute.

They love to look at things (mine especially loves the TV), feel things (and pull on things, so watch jewelry and hair!) and hold things. You can start giving them toys like keys and rattles and watch them punch and kick on activity mats for long periods of time (hurry up and pee, now's your chance...). My LO also started playing in her Activity Center at around 2 months. She did not want to lie down as often, so one day I decided to set it up (ok, I admit it may have been to save my sanity). She was very small in it, so I used her blanket sleeper with it (which is also what I did when I carried her around the house or on a walk in her carrier) to boost her up. I also had to make sure her arms were up and not stuck down by her sides. She loved it and I started attaching other toys to it for her to reach better, like a crinkle book and bunny that have attachment hooks on them. As she grew, we did it without the blanket. As soon as one foot touched the floor because it made her wobbly. It is still her favorite place.... and mine. I need mommy time. Even if it is sitting on the couch next to her writing my blog and checking on her every 5 seconds....

So, when the screams are loud and the nights are long, remember that smile.... and grab a glass of wine. :)

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....