#10 Tips And Hacks On Breastfeeding | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dawfsaf · 3 years

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the ruby seemed to pulse

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differentkryptonitebeard · 4 years

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Pin on Breastfeeding Tips

10 breastfeeding hacks for brand new moms! These smart nursing tips simplify breastfeeding and pumping and make feeding your baby so much easier.

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unabashedavenuetrash · 4 years

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Pin on Breastfeeding Tips

10 breastfeeding hacks for brand new moms! These smart nursing tips simplify breastfeeding and pumping and make feeding your baby so much easier.

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babynamestrendy · 5 years

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10 genius breastfeeding hacks for new moms. Tips and tricks that make breastfeeding life easier. Pumping tips, breast milk storage tips, newborn tips, nursing in public tips, and more! Awesome tips for new moms. https://ift.tt/32dJYXF

#IFTTT #Alexandra | Pregnancy and Parenting Blogger Coffee and Coos

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raiseveganus · 5 years

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Mom-on-the-go? Try These 8 Life Saving Tips For Busy Working Moms

I have mad respect for all of the busy working moms out there, it’s far from an easy job balancing your career, children and other personal affairs. It’s 7:43 AM- your bra’s on backward, your youngest is screaming that he no longer eats his favorite cereal, and you just realized that you’re out of coffee. Great. Do you want to make your mornings feel at least a little bit more organized? Check out these eight life-saving tips for busy working moms to make their job a little easier.

Credit: CoWomen/ Unsplash

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Tips For Busy Working Moms

Cold Brew, Anyone?

If making coffee every morning becomes a chore, why not prep it the night before? If you love iced coffee more than hot coffee (like I do) or if you just want to switch tings up for the warmer weather coming up, prepping cold brew in advance could be the solution for you.

Lay Out Everyone’s Clothes the Night Before

Credit: Renata Fraga/Unsplash Life-saving tips for busy working moms

Although everyone says to do this, it must be emphasized for those who don’t! Lay out all of your clothes, your husband’s clothes and your kid’s clothes the night before. Not just shirt and pants either. Lay out underwear, socks, shoes, outerwear, and any possible accessories. This will make everything so much easier in the mornings and you won’t be lost looking for matching socks at the very last minute.

Have Breakfast Pre-Prepped

Meal prepping lunch and dinner is great, but what about breakfast? Prep easy-to-serve breakfasts in the beginining of the week (vegan matcha pancakes you can quickly heat up in the pan, overnight oats or containers of smoothie-ready fruit) so that you can always have a healthy and nutritious breakfast, even when you’re running late.

Bullet Journal

Estérifia Janssens/ Unsplash life saving tips for busy working moms

Bullet journaling is one of the best ways to get organized. Compared to a typical day planner, you can fully customize a bullet journal to meet only your specific needs when it comes to scheduling, writing list, and even doodling. Not only is it super effective, but the process of bullet journaling is so therapeutic! Check on your bullet journal every night so that you are ready for whatever the next morning holds.

Set Your Clocks Ahead

As a kid, this was a trick that my mom used that I absolutely hated but after growing-up, I realized how great it actually is. Even by setting your kitchen clock and alarm clocks five minutes ahead, you can help get your kids to school on time when they try to push getting out the door to the last minute.

Which of these life-saving hacks for moms on-the-go will you be trying? What other tips do you have? Let me know in the comments below.

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The post Mom-on-the-go? Try These 8 Life Saving Tips For Busy Working Moms appeared first on Raise Vegan.

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savetopnow · 6 years

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2018-03-11 08 PHOTO now

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maggiecroushore-blog · 4 years

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Oh, the Places You’ll Pump: On Breastfeeding, Pumping, and Loving Yourself

I often find myself telling expecting moms about my breastfeeding and pumping journey and seeing one of several reactions: terror, horror, disinterest or disdain (very rarely the last, luckily). My goal is to never to scare new moms; I simply made a vow to myself after coming out of the haze of my first baby to be honest and normalize conversations about motherhood that often get ignored, pushed over, or hushed.

After going through the newborn experience twice, and in very different ways, I decided to write my story. This is not advice but rather a telling of my personal experiences in hopes that it may make another mom feel less alone.

When I was pregnant with my first, I always expected to breastfeed--it wasn’t even a question. While I was attempting to read up on so many other aspects of birth and parenting, I did not even think twice about breastfeeding. My mom breastfed; both of my older sisters breastfed; of course I would. It was a no brainer. I bought a breastfeeding book based on a suggestion of a colleague but, honestly, did not spend much time reading it. I would figure it out when the baby came; it couldn’t be that hard, right? Turns out, it can.

I had a pretty intense labor with my first but, after 5 hours of pushing, he arrived. I delivered in a hospital incredibly supportive of mothers—lactation specialists visiting your room was one of the many perks. My son latched quickly but my colostrum had not yet fully come in. He ‘nursed’ (aka was on the breast) a lot but I was not sure if he was actually getting anything. The nurses and lactation consultants said we were doing great and when we left the hospital, we were instructed to feed as often as he wanted and count the number of wet and dirty diapers. I was diligent and tracked every feeding, every diaper. We came back to the doctor for our two day check up, and, although he had the correct number of diapers and ‘nursed’ around the clock, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, causing some concern.

What happened next was a blur of lactation consultant appointments and weight checks (about every 2 days), and countless strategies to increase my milk supply. The doctor ordered me a hospital grade breast pump that was quickly delivered and became my new ‘best friend.’ I pumped around the clock (after every feeding, so around 10 times a day), took more supplements than I could count (fenugreek, blessed thistle, brewers yeast, goat's rue, etc.) and ate oatmeal and other foods that were supposed to help milk production. It is honestly hard to know if anything actually improved my supply, but I was determined. Then, at an appointment a week or so after giving birth, the lactation consultant suggested we try supplementing with formula. I lost it. Formula? I had been told consistently that “Breast is Best.” Feelings of failure and inadequacy as a mother poured in. But my poor baby was hungry, so I tried the formula. He devoured it.

Next came a strict regimen of feeding with a feeding tube/syringe inserted into his mouth/the side of my breast every time he fed with a mix of formula and pumped milk. I fed him a lot and pumped a lot. Breastfeeding in public was stressful--not only because I was a new mom but also because I couldn’t just pop him on my breast; I had so many things and my kid was often not that into it.

But I was determined, so I continued breastfeeding. And it was hard on me, my kid, and my whole family. I constantly felt judged for having to supplement with formula and was tired of hearing all of the “tips and tricks” to increase my milk supply.

Others: “Had I tried XX? Because someone else did and it solved all of their issues.”

Me: “Yes, I have tried that. Honestly, not sure if it’s working but I still put a bunch of time and money into it because I will feel like a failure if I don’t. I usually just end up crying about it, but thanks for the suggestion.”

Just kidding, I would usually just reply, “Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried it and it didn’t help much but it’s great to hear that it works for others.”

I know people are generally trying to be kind and helpful but to the mom who is trying everything and nothing appears to be working, suggestions along these lines just don’t help and often make it worse. What I wish I would have heard far more often is “Fed is Best. You are doing great. Your baby is lucky to have you as a mom.” If I ask for suggestions, suggest away. But, please, no unsolicited advice.

When I returned to work when my baby was 5 months old, I prepared myself for a whole new set of challenges--pumping at work. WIth such a low supply, it was critical for me to pump every 2-3 hours at the same time each day for at least 20-30 minutes. That was not a reality I could make happen. I had started a new job and really wanted to prove myself. Getting to the “state required” mother’s room was also a comical experience that took 15-20 minutes on both sides, putting the total I would ideally be away for each pumping session at around an hour.

Not possible.

I did manage 2-3 sessions a day and used my driving commute to pump as well, feeding as much as possible when at home. There were a few hacks that helped make it a bit more manageable, but again, I found myself getting frustrated (and slightly heartbroken) when others would tell me to “put it on the calendar” (I did; others scheduled over); “drink tea to increase supply” (again, I did; it didn’t); and “enjoy the time you get to breastfeed--it goes by fast,” (it was hard to enjoy, especially since feeding was more and more of a fight since my ever-hungry kiddo wanted food fast, and I (literally) just didn’t have it in me).

After 2 months back at work, pumping, I made what seemed like an impossible decision at the time and stopped nursing. I honestly couldn’t take the heartbreak of having my very strong child screaming and aggressively arching his back in protest every single time I breastfed him. I already felt guilty enough not being with him all day because I was working; I wanted to cherish every second together. So I spoke with my very supportive husband and decided to stop breastfeeding.

An enormous weight lifted, relieving some pressure, but I did feel some loss. I couldn’t help but feel like a failure. To this day, I struggle with it; I know it was the right decision, but the pain is still there. And it shouldn’t be. I loved my child so much and did everything I possibly could to ensure that he was fed--and he was thriving!

Baby #2: totally different. I had the same issues of a low supply, but he was SO into it and I made it about 13/14 months, basically twice as long. I was different as well. I was aggressively honest about everything--every challenge, every struggle, every accomplishment.

My second came into the world rather quickly and was a chill baby from the start. He took to breastfeeding right away and was happiest when touching me and nursing. And he did it often.

When we went to the 2 day appointment, I was expecting to hear that he had lost too much weight and I would need to supplement again. I was prepared for this. It didn’t happen. They shared that he was right on track and, when observed nursing, looked great. I shared my previous struggles with low supply and after some advocating, was able to convince them to rent me a hospital grade breast pump. I left the appointment feeling optimistically hopeful--maybe my supply was totally fine and I would be able to breastfeed without supplementing. I still took precautions and had the supplements and foods that were associated with increasing milk supply and drank my tea 3-4 times/day. Once my pump arrived, I pumped a couple of times a day on top of feeding 10-12 times. He was not an especially fussy baby and did great sleeping (touching me--he wasn’t very interested in sleeping anywhere else); I felt great.

After a couple of weeks, something felt off. He wasn’t extra fussy and had the right number of diapers (more than suggested, even). But I couldn’t shake that I should be supplementing. I was taking my older child to get his flu shot and decided to ask if I could get the baby weighed to ensure he was progressing. Weight check appointments were a thing (I wasn’t previously aware), and they had an opening with the nurse practitioner, so they squeezed me in. My oldest wowed the nurses with not reacting at all during his flu shot (seriously, didn’t even skip a beat). Then, we headed downstairs to wait for the nurse.

To all the mamas (and parents): trust your instincts.

The nurse weighed him and looked at his growth chart and said it was a bit concerning. He had lost weight and was not progressing as they would like--not “failure to thrive” but also not in the ideal range. Although I was half expecting to hear this, I was devastated and fighting tears. The nurse suggested I pump after every feeding and give him the extra milk. Then, I could see the lactation nurse who would be in the office in two days.

I pumped after every feeding (again, 10-12 times a day) and supplemented with the expressed milk. When I went back to the lactation nurse a few days later, he had gained some weight but was still not in the desired range. So, the moment I knew was coming (and expected coming) came. It was time to supplement with formula. Having done this before and seeing the amazing results (a happy, healthy, thriving kid), I was ready. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed in myself for not being able to produce enough milk through sheer will (and many interventions). In my heart, I knew I was doing my absolute best and giving my kids everything I could. And that was more than enough.

I did things differently this time. I still pumped around the clock and took all the supplements, but chose to use a bottle after every feed since that worked better for us both. I drowned out the “noise” and judgements (both real and perceived). I wanted to enjoy every second of this happy little man and nothing was going to stop me.

Then, after a wonderful 5 month leave, I went back to work and the real pumping began. Now, I had been pumping 8-10 times/day at this point but solely pumping and pumping after a feeding was different--more challenging and cow-like. The logistics of pumping at work are also just really hard. However, my baby LOVED nursing (low supply and all), so as long as he was into it, so was I. It was a bit easier the second time around, having learned a few strategies that worked for me: pump on the way to work in the car, schedule 3 sessions at the same time each day (and hope most don’t get scheduled over), pump on the way home, and be shameless and open about your needs. It was still really hard but, again, I felt an obligation to myself and other working moms to normalize pumping and not be afraid to talk about it.

I know that I made many of my male (and female) colleagues feel uncomfortable by talking about pumping at work and I did not particularly love having to get up and walk out of meetings, explaining that I would happily join via phone but needed to physically leave so that I could pump (cue: me being paranoid that everyone was thinking about my boobs). But, again, it was worth it to me. I ended up pumping for about 8 months at work--far longer than I had the first time around. It was exhausting and often frustrating since I had a very low supply and not much to show for a day of pumping. I felt lucky that I was also supplementing with formula so that I didn’t need to feel the enormous pressure of pumping for the entire next day’s milk. And I felt lucky that I was in a position in my career that I was able to be very honest about my needs and confident in advocating for myself, even if I found myself in uncomfortable situations regularly.

And now, reflecting after almost a year of not pumping at work, I feel lucky that I was able to nurse for just over a year and even luckier that I have access to quality formula so that my baby could thrive. I don’t miss pumping in the least but I do miss nursing from time to time. However, I am empowered by the fact that I made the decisions that worked best for my family. My kids are loved and well fed.

Fed is best. Loved is best. All mothers, fathers, and caregivers are different; all kids are different; and that is one of the many things that makes parenthood, and life, so incredible.

Bottom line, as a society, we need to do better to support and empower mothers to make decisions based on what is right for them, period.

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momtivationalblogs-blog · 4 years

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MOMtivational: An Inspiring Platform to Read Wonderful Motherhood Blogs

Motherhood: A phase that marks a new beginning in every woman’s story. It gives women a sense of purpose and most importantly, a kind of strength that women haven’t experienced until they have had children. Women provide unconditional love and care to their children, something that cannot be replaced by anyone. Although becoming a mother is the most wonderful feeling, it comes with a lot of responsibilities that should be taken care of. Just like students need teachers to enlighten their minds, new mothers too require a pillar of support that can help them through the journey of motherhood. MOMtivational is a commendable platform for all those women who want to enjoy the spirit of motherhood in a true sense. MOMtivational’s motherhood blog helps women to learn effective ways of taking care of a baby and allows them to cherish the feeling of motherhood. The objective of this inspiring platform is to inspire mothers with its useful motherhood blogs. Those women who are expecting a baby should rely upon MOMtivational for remarkable guidance. It has published informative pregnant mom blogs from where women can learn ways to handle pregnancy in a positive way. From preventing pregnancy nausea, reducing swelling to avoiding tearing during childbirth, MOMtivational has posted a vast-array of pregnancy-related blogs that would be of great help for women. It also provides a 72-page printable planner with which every mom-to-be can plan and prepare everything right from the baby’s name to doctor’s appointments. If you are also expecting a child within a few months, having this ultimate pregnancy planner from MOMtivational can help you stay organized! To get a pregnancy planner, all you need to do is to visit the official website of MOMtivational and buy it online. Simple, isn’t? Besides, you can also learn newborn baby hacks that can help you raise your new baby easier. Handling a newborn baby is indeed a tough and challenging task. With the help of MOMtivational, everything can become easy. In one of their blogs they have provided 10 newborn baby hacks that will help you take care of your baby perfectly. From breastfeeding to sleeping tips, you can get to know everything here. So, without thinking twice, read the amazing motherhood blogs from MOMtivational and throw all your worries into the air. To get all the latest updates, create your account on MOMtivational and stay informed! For more details, visit https://momtivational.com/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2Qxha8A

#motherhood blog

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ashafriesen · 5 years

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200 Plus Blog Post Topics For Times When You Hit A Writer’s Block

As a blogger you have to come up with niche ideas to write blogs every few days. It’s well known that Google likes posts above 1500 words but to keep coming up with ideas every now and then is a task. I suggest creating a three-monthly blog plan and sticking to it. That way even if you don’t feel like writing one off day, you will never be short of content. The other issue a lot of bloggers face is ideas to write a post, so just to ease that out to you, here I am listing 200 blog post ideas. So go ahead, make your planner and get to work Amigos!!!

1. Parenting and Motherhood Blog Post Topics;

Healthy Diet for Breastfeeding Mothers

Breastfeeding guide for fathers

21 Activities to do with your toddler

35 Indoor activities to do with your kids during monsoons

50 Ideas for activities for summer vacations

25 most googled baby questions

5 DIY Christmas decoration to make with your kids

Funny Things That Kids Say

How to raise a gifted child?

How to inculcate joy of reading in kids?

Life hacks for moms

How to manage hair loss after having a baby?

How to get back to pre pregnancy weight?

8 things my mother told me that are not true

How to build a mom’s emergency kit?

How to raise happy kids?

What to do if your child gets in trouble in school?

Figuring out a preteens mind

Back to school organisation tips.

10 Chores To Teach Your Kids This Summer

2. Food Blog Post Topics

Quick and easy lunch box hacks

Is organic food good for your baby?

15 Top Recipes for an occasion like – Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Holi, Thanksgiving etc

A-Z of spices in the Indian Kitchen

Guilt free healthy snack ideas

How to practice mindful eating?

5 mocktail recipes for summer

Dining etiquettes to follow on a dinner table

10 vegan recipes for the yogi in you

Nutrition tips for fitness geeks

5 minute chocolate brownie

Quick 5 minute recipes, explained step by step

10 easy salad recipes

5 healthy smoothie recipes to kickstart your day

5 no bake recipes for kids

Explain a Cooking Recipe Step-by-Step

Share the history of a popular grandma recipe

Share about failed cooking experiment

Recipes to Make Your Family’s Snack Time Healthy

Foods That Stop Sugar Cravings

3. Spirituality Blog Post Topics

Why is it important to be kind?

Why to indulge in early morning meditation?

Pointers to Practice to keep yourself free from negative emotions

How to Find Spiritual Freedom

Unwriting Family Beliefs and Behavior Patterns

Healing Silent Wounds

10 Simple Truths to Live by

What Is a Spiritual Awakening?

5 Types of Spiritual Awakening Sleep Problems and Insomnia

10 Most Popular Spirituality Blogs of 2016

20 reasons why to meditate

Letting Go of Resistance

Benefits of morning meditation

50 Best Meditation Room Ideas that Will Improve Your Life

How meditation works on your insides

Best meditation music

Best inspirational/motivational post with famous quotes

Happiness Myths That Make Us Miserable

How to find refuge in stillness

Meditation – The ancient science to inner peace

4. Yoga And Fitness Blog Post Topics

Start a 30 day challenge for your audience and ask them to participate in it. Share 30 poses with one pose to be done everyday

At the end of 30-day yoga challenge share your learnings.

40 health and wellness gift ideas

15 top yoga retreats to head to for peace and calm

5 winter workouts to keep you fit

5 yoga poses to combat belly fat

My running/ exercise playlist

How to introduce principles of yoga to kids?

Yoga for runners– 5 asanas to help them

Top 10 marathons in the world that you need to experience

Top 21 most scenic half marathons in the world

Understanding Pros and Cons of famous fad diets

Let’s understand the 7 major chakras in our body

Why is sleep an important pillar of fitness?

Common fitness mistakes that you make

Early warning signs of breast cancer

Running tips for beginners

Simple home workouts

Yoga poses to tone and detox

How to lose fat to tone up

5. Personal And Relationships Blog Post Topics

10 things that you don’t know about me.

Creative date night ideas to spice up your marriage

20 of my must-watch list of movies

My favorite childhood memory.

The day that was not meant to be- my most embarrassing moment/story

Are marriages made in heaven or are they incidental?

How to deal with the loss of a close one?

Things I want to tell my twenty-year-old version of myself?

A day in my life.

10 things that make me happy.

If You Could Change One Thing About Your Life, What Would It Be?

What is self-love?

Most important lessons you’ve learned in your life.

A habit that improved my relationship with money

How I motivate myself when I’m feeling lazy

5 goals I have for this year

Why growing old is exciting for me

How to deal with personal loss

How to survive a break-up

How writing changed me as a person

6. Travel Blog Post Topics

What inside my travel bag?

What to pack when travelling with kids on a road trip?

What to pack when flying with kids?

10 active family holidays

Top 100 destinations to visit for Indians

Travel hacks and packing essentials for a back packer

Create a travel bucket list and share it with the world

How to keep your fitness regime even while travelling

First time guide to a city

Fun road trip games for kids

What and how to pack for a trekking trip

10 unique experiences in Las Vegas

Top Offbeat Getaways To Take With Your Girlfriends/Boyfriend(s)

Travelling locally in a city

Why are the kids who travel, smarter?

Be a traveller and not a tourist

Top 6 must-do Himalayan treks for every trekker

My favorite place to travel as a child

Why Travel is the best way to teach kids about the world and it’s culture

10 hacks that you should know about staying in a hotel room

7. Beauty Blog Post Topics

Benefits of Green tea for your hair

How to keep your skin looking fresh even in summers

How to do monsoon proof make up

Winter skin care

Quick and easy hairstyles for a party

Eye care routine to avoid dark circles

How to style short hair?

Top 5 makeup trends for the year

Post swimming skin care tips

How to make your own DIY Lip balm

Hair care for active women

How to make DIY natural wax at home?

DIY Night routine

DIY body cream for extremely dry skin

Monsoon skin care

Monsoon hair care

All you need to know about magnetic eyelashes

Night skin care routine for Top 5 female celebrities

How to fix cakey makeup?

What are the ten commandments of beauty?

8. Fashion Posts

Trendy and friendly monsoon fashion tips

5 minute makeup routine for busy moms

Top ten styling tips for a working woman

Ten must-haves for the season

How to coordinate your jewellery with your wedding outfit

15 ways to wear a scarf

How to care for your jewellery

What’s in my bag?

How to pick the right footwear for your outfit

10 looks for summer time

Top beach looks

What are the weirdest fashion trends of all times

Top 10 styling apps

10 wardrobe essentials

How to create a capsule wardrobe.

My favourite online stores to shop from

How to organise your wardrobe

Body types and silhouettes that suit them.

Photography accessory every fashion blogger must invest in

Best tips to shop on a budget

9. Blogging Tips Blog Post Topics

How to start a blog?

How to start earning revenue on a blog?

200 plus blog post ideas

The best apps to edit your picture

Where to get free resources for pictures for your blog?

Create Infographics For Some Of Your Top-Performing Posts and Share Them

Share a blog planner for the year

Share social media calendar for the year

Create A List Of Online Tools which are useful for the blog

Talk about how Do You Develop Your Blogging Ideas?

What Top Things Do You Wish You’d Known When You First Started Blogging?

Top plugins that can drive traffic to your blog

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Blog Posts That Rank in Google’s Top 10

How to Get Traffic From Quora?

How often should you blog?

Busting some blogging myths

How to increase blog traffic?

10 best resources to refer to for royalty free images

Different social media tools to use effectively to get more visibility to your blog

20 Types of Blog Posts to Drive More Traffic to Your Blog

10. Lifestyle

Ultimate Guide to Blogging/Parenting/Travel

Struggling with your work at home setup? These tips may help.

Stretch Marks: A Mom’s Battle Scars

5 Creative Date Night Ideas To Spice Up Every Marriage

This Summer, Protect Your Family from Dehydration

List Of Streaming Shows To BingeWatch This Summer

Out-Of-The-Box Wedding themes 2017

10 Useful Tips For a Spic-n-Span Home

Why We Should Not Avoid Preventive Health Check Up

Unique Ideas To Gift To Your Brothers This Rakhi!

How to Explain Climate Change to Children

How To Create A Life bucket list

The Unsung Heroes Of Our Lives

Tips to get the most from your memory

Raising kids technology free

The dying art of letter writing!

What To Do If You Lose Your Mobile

Internet Safety For Your Kid

Easy Fixes To Make Your House Eco-Friendly

Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

The post 200 Plus Blog Post Topics For Times When You Hit A Writer’s Block appeared first on Maa of All Blogs.

200 Plus Blog Post Topics For Times When You Hit A Writer’s Block published first on https://parentcenternetwork.tumblr.com/

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kurtwarren54 · 5 years

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Breastfeeding and Pumping // Newborn to 4 Months

I wanted to share my experience with feeding our little Otis with you all today. I constantly get so many questions about our schedules etc and wanted to give a bigger update. Please know that everything I share has either worked or not worked for Otis and I. Every mama and baby are unique and special so just know that I am here to share my own journey and support all your other mama’s out there on your own unique paths. These photos are my everything. His little arm reaching onto me. These moments are the most precious to me and it warms my heart to be able to share them with you.

Beginning to Breastfeed Like all first time moms, I had NO idea what I was doing. While I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed and if it worked that would be wonderful. I was also fully committed to a fed and happy baby no matter what that meant. So if breastfeeding was not working for me or baby I would not put the pressure on myself either way. My approach was to keep an open mind and go one day at a time. Honestly there is so much pressure out there about how to feed your baby and at the end of the day, for whatever reason, not everyone is able to breastfeed for many reasons. So for all my mamas out there formula feeding, I see you, I respect you, and you are killing it.

To prep, I ordered my breast pump through insurance (ask your doctor about how to do this if you are interested and I signed up for a breastfeeding class at our hospital. I will be honest with you, while the class was informative, when I took the class to when I actually gave birth, I forgot a lot of the things we talked about. The big thing that lingered with me was “get a good latch.” That was about it. After giving birth and we had settled into our room, I felt comfortable to give this whole breastfeeding thing a try. In all honesty, I was intimidated to try my feeding at the first time, with an audience… not knowing what I was doing. So when we got to our room the nurse kindly offered to help me for my first time. I am SO lucky to have delivered in a hospital that is very breastfeeding friendly. Almost every single nurse offered to help with breastfeeding which was so valuable. Basically the key is really pushing their mouth onto the nipple when their mouth is wide open to ensure a nice big and open latch. When you have a shallow latch that is when you can start to have problems especially sore nipples. When you are dealing with an hours old baby, it’s scary to be jamming their head onto your boob, but slowly you start to get used to handling their little bodies. I was lucky to have Otis latch on the first try and I was so shocked! One of my biggest concerns was whether I would be able to breastfeed since I had breast surgery to have a lump removed in 2005 but I was so happy to see I didn’t have any issues. Now, I know everyone says that when done correctly, breastfeeding should not be painful, but when you have lived your life with nothing attached to your nipples, and then all of a sudden someone is attached to them every 2 hours 24/7… there is going to be some discomfort. The way my lactation consultant described it was that having the right latch can really minimize the discomfort. Everything was going great in the hospital. I felt like, “wow, I’m a pro.” So when they asked if we needed to see a lactation consultant I passed because things were going well and all the nurses were so helpful. Feeding was going well so we did not need to supplement in the hospital as well.

After about a week of being home and feeding Otis, my nipples started to crack and bleed and I freaked out. At this point, and for a while, my nipples were erect all the time (TMI I know) so it was just very strange what was happening in the boob department. But the bleeding freaked me out big time so I called the hospital to schedule an appointment with the lactation consultant. What I didn’t know is that typically these appointments are booked for a few weeks out but I lucked out and was able to snag a cancellation appointment the next day.

I can’t stress to you enough how valuable and amazing it was to be able to see a lactation consultant. I know it can be pricey to see one but be sure to check with your hospital because ours was only for a copay and not a fancy in-home visit. What was great is that when we arrived for our appointment, they weighed Otis, and then I fed him and they weigh him after the feeding so you know how much he is eating. This really put my mind to ease that all this hard work was paying off. It was also so valuable to have her look at my positioning and latch while feeding and have her be able to correct anything she could see and practice with her. Basically I found that my latch was great but could get deeper so she gave me some great tips. The bleeding nipples would pass and I actually never used any nipple creams. Hot tip: put breastmilk on your nipples. I know that sounds odd but she said there are so many healing properties in breast milk so it works great on cracked nipples and I also will squirt some onto any little cuts that Otis gets when he scratches himself.

The First Month It’s wild when you start breastfeeding because it takes so long. Otis was eating for 20 minutes on each side or more and when a baby is eating every 2 hours that means you feed for almost an hour and only have 1 hour break till the next feed. Even though breastfeeding was going great, I can’t tell you how challenging it still is. Turning into a human cow is a lot of wrap your head around. It’s incredibly demanding both physically and psychologically. I felt like all I was doing all day everyday was feeding little Otis. Eventually Otis started eating more on a schedule of every 3 hours and that started making the schedule a little bit easier with more time in between feeds.

My milk ended up coming in a little less than a week after birth. How did I know? My boobs turned into ROCKS!!! I remember being in the shower one day and feeling my boobs being like, “why are they so rocky?!?! WHY ARE THEY SO HEAVY!?” That was the day. I never had any supply issues so I consider myself very lucky. The only supplements I am taking specifically for breastfeeding right now is sunflower lecithin. Other than that I take my regular prenatal vitamins as well as drink as much water as possible.

As far as nighttime feeding go, somewhere between 2 and 3 Months Otis started to sleep longer stretches at night. Anywhere from 5-8 hour stretches. THIS WAS A GAME CHANGER. Basically anything over 3 hours allows you to feel like a rested human again!! But, I would wake up with boobs that felt like rocks and were read to explode. I noticed that my boobs would hurt so much since I sleep on my side and some days I would wake up with soaked pajamas from leaking milk. I actually cut all those night feeds out cold turkey when Otis started sleeping through the night because I just desperately needed to sleep. So I never woke up to pump in the middle of the night and thankfully it did not affect my supply.

Clogged Ducts. OUCH. I won’t forget the day I had my first clogged duct. It was all fun and games until this day. I have no idea what set it off but in the morning one day I felt some pain in my breast and a bit of a lump. I didn’t think too much of it until each feed got increasingly more painful and my boob was painful to the touch. Just brushing up against it made me cringe in pain. I was hysterically crying to my sister asking for advice on what to do. I quickly figured out that I had a clogged milk duct. That was the day I got out my breast pump. I was between feeds but I wanted to immediately do something to help relieve my pain. Everything I read and what I learned from my sister (a mom of 2 kids) to work out the clog you really have to white knuckle massage the clogged area and push toward the nipple while feeding or pumping. I know this sounds glamourous. And let me tell you… it’s not fun. It hurts BAD. My clog was more on the bottom of my boob so it was hard to get to while feeding. So I decided I had to pump that clog out. I pushed and massaged as hard as could. It sucked. But you know what, it worked. After a few more feeds I was feeling normal again. One thing I do now to help to prevent clogs is take this organic sunflower lecithin from Legendairy Milk. I take 1 pill in the AM and 1 pill in the PM and it’s supposed to help to keep milk flowing and reduce the “stickiness.” Ever since starting this supplement I only have clogs occasionally now. I do know that I can work them out with good old massage. I also sometimes apply heat and get in a really hot shower before I pump or feed to help bust the clog. I recently also bought a Haakaa hand pump to try a hack to bust clogs. I filled it ⅓ of the way with warm water and epsom salt and let soak for 10-15 minutes. I had a hard time with the suction but I think this will be a great little hack for the next time.

Feeding on the go Everyone always ask, “How are you out all the time when you have to breastfeed?” The answer is, I am breastfeeding while I am out. I am not shy when it comes to feeding Otis outside of our home. Of course the first few times it’s a little intimidating just getting in your rhythm when your used to your breastfeeding pillow and routines but I needed to take small outings to get out of the house so I became a feeding on the go expert. HA! I always bring a nursing cover or a light blanket with me to cover myself up. It’s not that I am shy, I will wipe my boobs out with friends and family with no shame. I just don’t want anyone strange ogling at me. No thank you. So for now, I still cover up unless I am in a nursing room. It’s all a very personal thing so however you feel comfortable feeding is up to each and every mama. What I do is I plan to be somewhere whenever I need to feed. Whether that be home, anywhere else, or in my car. I can’t tell you how many time the inside of my car has seen my boobs. Too many. But you do what you need to do to keep that baby happy and well fed. What I have found is that some of my favorite places have nursing or family rooms! I would have never noticed these until I became a mom but some stores or malls have incredible nursing friendly areas that make you feel a little more at home when you are feeding your little one on the go! (Nordstrom has great nursing areas!)

Feeding + Pumping Schedule + Starting a freezer stash Otis typically has himself on a pretty good schedule. He eats every 3 hours during the day. Of course there are times during leaps and growth spurts that he might want to eat earlier, he is pretty set into his eating and sleeping schedules. I put his sample schedule of what his day looks like below. Just remember, this is what his day looks like in a perfect world if he is waking and sleeping in an exact minute to minute schedule, which is, 100% not realistic. I feed him on both breasts each feeding. He is eating about 4oz in a feeding right now at 4 months.

Wake + Feed #1 7am Pump 8am Feed #2 10am Feed #3 1pm Feed #4 4pm Feed #5 7pm Bedtime 8pm Dream feed #6 10:30pm

I started pumping around 3 weeks (on the advise of my lactation consultant and because I had a clogged duct). I used my medela pump in style from the beginning. Since I wanted to start a freezer stash of milk for use later, I didn’t replace any of my feeds with a pump and instead I added 1 pump session in between my feed #1 and feed #2. I make sure to pump between 1-1.5 hours after my first feeding to make sure that I will have enough milk to feed Otis for feed #2 of the day. I typically pump anywhere from 2-6oz a session. That is total from both boobs. Sometimes more or sometimes less. I know this sounds vague but I think it makes a different if I pump too early after feed #1 or wait too late. Sometimes it’s hard to stay on schedule because obviously I am taking care of Otis as well and then coordinating pumping. After each pump session, I label and freeze my milk. Most days this milk gets frozen so it’s going straight to my freezer stash. Somedays if I know I might have a challenging time feeding Otis on the go, or if I need to be away for 30 extra minutes from Otis, I will keep the milk in the fridge so that myself or Blake can give Otis a bottle. We introduced a bottle week 2 at home to try it out and see if he would be agreeable to bottle eating. It was a success so every once in a while we give Otis a bottle and it’s a great opportunity for Blake to feed Otis and get that time with him. In the case that Blake gives him a bottle of pumped milk because I miss a feed, I try to pump as soon as I get home to make up for the missed breastfeeding. Basically to keep your body making the same amount of milk that baby is drinking, you always need to pump if you aren’t feeding from the breast for a meal. So I try to limit how many times I skip a breastfeed because it makes more pumping work for me. I have missed a pump session here and there because of being able to give a breast milk bottle but man do I pay for it. My boobs will turn into rocks because my body made that meal which wasn’t eaten. As far as when I will be using the milk, in the next month or two we will likely need to start thawing some milk for bottles since I started pumping in October. I plan to use the milk when I start to wean etc. I am not exactly sure what that whole process will look like but I am so proud of my little stash so far and know that I can still continue to feed him this nourishment in the future. What is great is that you can also mix breastmilk with formula so I can mix and match down the road as well. Lots of possibilities. Frozen milk will also come in handy if I need to be away from Otis for any work related time and Blake will need to feed him.

As far as pumps go, I started off using my Medela pump in style until I got the Willow Pump. For those of you who follow me on instagram I have shared my thoughts on Willow Pump and man… it’s a serious gamechanger to be hands free and cords free. I love having both now because I can still pump faster with Medela in 10 minutes while the Willow usually takes me 30 minutes to pump. I use the medela more to work out clogs now and the Willow pump more on a day to day basis because I can wear it while I shower, while I work, while I play with Otis. So I don’t have to be tethered to a wall in one spot. ITS EPIC.

Breastfeeding Now I get asked a lot how long I plan to breastfeed. The answer is the same as it’s been from the very beginning. I take one day at a time, don’t put pressure on myself, and just want to do everything I can to keep my baby happy and healthy. I feel very fortunate to be able to breastfeed so what I do is make small goals taking it one month at a time. If I had to put a number on it I would say 1 year. But again, I don’t know where Otis and I will be. Really it’s seeing what is right for both of us along the way. I recently thought about what it would look like if I wanted to wean 1 breastfeed from my 6 feedings a day. I tried to replace my dreamfeed with a pump session for a bottle and I felt sad not feeding him directly and ended up breastfeeding him anyways. I never thought I would be so emotional about it. Breastfeeding is one of the most challenging things. It keeps your tethered to your baby in a way that is hard to explain unless you have been there. But there is something so special about that time we have together. I never thought I would be so gushy about it… but man… as hard as it all is, it’s also the best most special thing. That time together, his little body pressed against mine. Oh man… my heart. When the day comes to wean and make a plan it will be tough but we will deal with it then.

Otis and I are in a great rhythm now. It’s true that it really does get easier with time. It’s been 4+ months and I am so proud of everything we have accomplished with breastfeeding. It’s amazing what mothers are capable of and the lengths you go to to care for your little ones. Otis is my greatest accomplishment to date. Hands down. My biggest joy.

Breastmilk Bottles We try to give Otis a bottle every once in awhile just to keep him used to accepting bottles as well as breastfeeding. What we noticed is that he will not take breast milk bottle if it’s cold. So we need to warm the bottle before we give it to him and then we are good to go. We usually give him 4oz and that usually satisfied him. We either thaw the milk the day before by placing the frozen milk bag in the fridge overnight or we run warm water and slowly defrost the milk in the sink. Otis is not picky with bottles at all luckily. We have mostly been using Dr. Browns bottles but I also use the medela bottles that I use for pumping or the baby brezza bottles.

Tools for Breastfeeding Breastfriend Pillow: Otis is 4 months old and I still use my breastfriend pillow to this day. I don’t use it for every single feeding since I am on the go alot or sometimes I am too lazy to get it from the other room when I feed him in his nursery. It’s basically amazing because it helps you position the baby to get a great latch etc. It has a firm and stable surface so the baby isn’t rolling around which is so helpful. I tried to use other pillows that were softer and they just didn’t work for me. The breastfriend is so helpful and it’s one of my favorite things I registered for. Also my lactation consultant had one to use so you know it’s a good one!

Bras: After some trial and error, I found 2 bras that I am loving for breastfeeding. I wanted to find ones with removable padding since (TMI) my nipples were so hard in the first month and I needed something to kind of protect them. Does that make sense? I know it sounds strange… but if you know you know. I have loved this CAKE bra and I own it in both nude and black. I also love this bravado bra which I have been using while I pump with my Willow Pump. Most used bras: Cake bra / bravado bra / boob bra

Haaka hand pump: I have used this only once and I wouldn’t say I had the easiest experience with it but I now have it in my tool kit to bust a clogged duct. What I did was fill it a third of the way up with warm water and epsom salt and soak my nipple for 10 minutes. I had a hard time having it stay suctioned but I hear the hack is to flip the top inside out and then suction it on. I will be trying this next time! Also another hack is to use it and suction it on in the shower so you can keep refilling it with warm water.

Nursing Cover: I have a few different ones. I particularly love the covers from Copper and Pearl. They are super lightweight and have tons of cute patterns. They also double as a light blanket or a car seat cover!

Legendairy Milk Instagram: This instagram account has been SO incredibly helpful along the way for me personally. They sell the supplements I have been using but even if you never visit their shop, their account is filled with tons of great knowledge where moms share their experiences. It’s been amazing to have this as a resource.

Tools for Pumping Medela Pump in Style Pump: I got this pump for free through my insurance. It’s a pretty easy process which you can ask your doctor about since each insurance has a different process.

Extra Medela Parts: If you plan on pumping regularly, I highly suggest investing in an extra set of parts (I have 3 full sets of pumping parts) so that you aren’t constantly having to wash things right away etc. Trust me, the last thing you have time to do is pump and take your grand old time washing breastpump parts. I typically rinse them and then soak them in hot soapy water and then come back and clean them.

Hands free pumping bra: This is essential so you can at least do something while you pump. I use this bra and I am able to sit with my laptop and work.

Willow Pump: This has been a game changer for my everyday. I use this pump the most now because I can be both hands free and wireless. I can get ready after a shower, sit at my desk, or take care of Otis no problem because of full mobility while I pump. This pump is pricey but in my opinion it’s worth every penny for the freedom it creates.

Baby Brezza Bottle sterilizer: I have used this sterilizer since before Otis was born to prep bottles and pacifiers and my breast pump parts. It’s so easy to use and I don’t have to mess with boiling water. It just makes sterilizing things very easy and not a chore. It’s takes up a good amount of space on the countertop but it’s worth it in my opinion.

Baby Brezza Bottle warmer: We found that Otis doesn’t like to take cold bottles so this bottle warmer has come in handy at home.

Advice on how to prep for your breastfeeding journey: -If you plan on getting a breast pump, order your breast pump through insurance and ask your doctor how to do it! I did it all online and it was super easy.

-Ask for Help! Take advantage of your nurses knowledge in the hospital. I know it can be intimidating when you literally do not know what you are doing but remember that everyone is here to help you.

-Lactation consultants are AMAZING. One of the best things I did was see one and she helped me so much and gave me the confidence to know I was feeding Otis as best as I can. She gave me great customized tips based on myself and Otis and I could not recommend this more if you are able to.

-Bring your breastfeeding pillow to the hospital. This is something I WISH I did. Of course I managed with some extra hospital pillows but seeing how helpful this tool can be at home, I would have loved to bring it to the hospital.

-Prep your Boobs! I started massaging my breasts in the shower while I was pregnant to just increase the sensory experience so it wasn’t so drastic once you have a little baby attached to them. Also make sure to run your loofa over your nipples to start to take down your sensitivity. Not gonna lie, your nipples will most likely be sore no matter what but every little bit can help you prep.

-Go with the flow and don’t pressure yourself. Breastfeeding is not for everyone. Not everyone can do it. Even if you can do it, it’s a really intense job. As a mom, it’s your choice how you choose to feed your baby. Just know I have your back because a happy mom means a happy baby. You are all rockstars mama!!!!!

If I get more frequently asked questions or if I find other super useful tools, I will add onto this post for you all. Happy feeding!

Otis pajamas: clover baby / robe: eberjey / slippers: ugg

The post Breastfeeding and Pumping // Newborn to 4 Months appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.

from Wellness https://www.eatsleepwear.com/2019/01/11/breastfeeding-and-pumping-newborn-to-4-months/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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elizabethcariasa · 5 years

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Breastfeeding and Pumping // Newborn to 4 Months

Wake + Feed #1 7am Pump 8am Feed #2 10am Feed #3 1pm Feed #4 4pm Feed #5 7pm Bedtime 8pm Dream feed #6 10:30pm

Hands free pumping bra: This is essential so you can at least do something while you pump. I use this bra and I am able to sit with my laptop and work.

Baby Brezza Bottle warmer: We found that Otis doesn’t like to take cold bottles so this bottle warmer has come in handy at home.

-Ask for Help! Take advantage of your nurses knowledge in the hospital. I know it can be intimidating when you literally do not know what you are doing but remember that everyone is here to help you.

If I get more frequently asked questions or if I find other super useful tools, I will add onto this post for you all. Happy feeding!

The post Breastfeeding and Pumping // Newborn to 4 Months appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.

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spiritualgravity · 5 years

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The Crusade.

BC. AC. Before child. After child.

From October 2, 2017 — onward, that is how the days will be categorized in the Dewey Decimal System of my life.

Countless people told me over the years how they don’t remember what their life was like before they had their child(ren).

Not me. I remember all of it.

BC = Jeans with zippers. Working out whenever I wanted. A social life. Sleeping. Dates with my sidekick.

AC = Leggings. Not working out for a year. Rarely seeing friends for quality time together. Dates? What are dates?

Maybe I vividly recall BC because I had my first child later in life than the average gal. I got pregnant & gave birth at 38 years old, so I have many memories of what life was like pre-baby.

As I chronicled in this blog during and after my pregnancy, I really just wanted to know that I’d be able to keep my daughter alive and safe. That was it. “You’ll figure it out, you just will.” And they were right.

I had girlfriends from all walks of life give me invaluable tips about the actual labor and what to expect. I thanked them profusely for giving me all the gory details and useful product hacks to care for my mangled body immediately following birth and onward for several weeks, and have even passed those insights onto other ladies over the last year who have a little one on the way. But no one, not a single person, talked to me about postpartum depression.

Which is shocking, because evidently lots of women suffer from postpartum depression. But most are never diagnosed, which is frightening to say the least. According to the CDC, nationally, about 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression.

There is some kind of unexplainable gag order on the subject. Are we embarrassed? Do we think we’re the only one going through it? Will people judge us who don’t get it? Whatever the unspoken rules are, it isn’t an openly discussed topic. Only when you proactively bring it up in conversation, will others confide that they survived PPD.

How often postpartum depression symptoms occur, how long they last, and how intense they feel can be different for each person. The symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to symptoms for good old fashioned depression, but may also include:

Crying more often than usual.

Feelings of anger.

Withdrawing from loved ones.

Feeling numb or disconnected from your baby.

Worrying that you will hurt the baby.

Feeling guilty about not being a good mom or doubting your ability to care for the baby.

After childbirth, the levels of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in a woman’s body plummet. This leads to chemical changes in her brain that may will trigger mood swings. In addition, many mothers are unable to get the rest they need to fully recover from giving birth. Constant sleep deprivation can lead to physical discomfort and exhaustion, which can contribute to the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Sleep deprivation. Bingo. I 1,000% attribute my PPD to lack of sleep. My daughter has never liked to sleep much, not from day 1. Breastfeeding around the clock + not sleeping are unequivocally responsible for the erosion of my wellbeing.

Never in a million years did I anticipate the troubles my husband and I would face. A “colicky” baby. The most helpless I have ever felt, is not being able to soothe my baby. A baby with several food allergies. A baby that would not sleep in any contraption, whatsoever. A baby who had to be physically rocked to sleep every single time. A baby who was chronically unhappy. A baby with reflux. A baby who didn’t eat enough and slowly slid down the weight ratio scale for her age. A baby who. A baby who. A baby who. The fill-in-the-blank baby list was endless, and the list suffocated me. On a few occasions, the things I thought about her and about myself during the darkest darkness, I cannot yet find the courage to type here. But, I promise when I write my book about the experience, I will tell the whole truth because I know I’m not alone.

I am a master preparer; I inherited that attribute from my father. Planning, road-mapping, tracking, the whole nine yards. I organized a binder for labor, birth and after birth, highlighted, underlined and marked up with copious notes what I learned from my Doula and the hospital classes months leading up to birth. But no where in there did it talk about PPD.

Not that anyone could have prepared me per se, but I never even saw it coming. For some reason, I convinced myself that I was fine, and would be fine. On a handful of occasions, maybe two or three times, ladies used PPD in conversation during my first six weeks as a Mother, and I immediately wrote it off. Maybe I was in denial. Maybe I truly didn’t think I had PPD, besides which, I had no context or experience. I figured all of my dark thoughts and feelings were “normal.” I figured crying, everyday, throughout the day, was par for the course. Being sleep deprived and having your world flipped upside down overnight would bring anyone to their knees…right?

At six weeks postpartum, exactly 1 day before my OB/GYN check-in appointment, I was accidentally diagnosed with PPD while being seen for a stye in my eye. The universe has a funny way of intervening. If it wasn’t for that one-eyed monster stye, I would have never gone into a medical office for assistance with mental help. I filled out a new patient intake form at the PCP, and evidently whatever questions I answered, was a blazing red flag for the doc. I’ll never forget the look in her eyes, or the sound of her soft, concerned voice when she said, “You have moderate to severe post partum depression.” She literally made me promize, multiple times, to talk to my OB/GYN doc about it the following day.

Zoloft only exacerbated my sleeplessness and caused insomnia — so the coveted minutes I actually could have slept, I didn’t...I moved onto Wellbutrin, a pharmaceutical alma mater of mine. You see, I had a bout of depression when I was 20-years-old in college. That drug saved my life. I try not to pop Advil every time my head hurts, but to say I’m an advocate of getting treatment for a chemical imbalance would be a massive understatement.

I have stayed on Wellbutrin, fluctuating the dosage up and down for many months since first being diagnosed. Then, the Universe intervened, yet again. I got another stye in my other eye when my daughter was about 10 months old, give or take, so back to the primary care physician’s office I went. And what did we talk about in the examination room? PPD. Of course we did. Ugh. She prescribed another medication for me to take on top of the Wellbutrin. I can’t exactly explain the scientific rationale, but it has something to do with a special concoction — the two meds work better together, I suppose like Jack Johnson beautifully sang? Eating only peanut butter on bread just isn’t the same sensation as when you add jelly to the sandwich.

Within a few weeks on the new PBJ duo prescription, I felt remarkably better. All of the sudden, I could cope. Things in the past that would seemingly debilitate me, I could now handle. And handle fairly well if I do say so myself.

My daughter is now 14-months-old; I’ve been taking a prescription for PPD since she was six weeks old. A part of my intellect is at peace with the current reality — at least I’m functioning, and dare I say it...happy. But at the same time, my ego is bruised. Am I artificially content? Is my happiness manufactured? What will happen if I stop taking the medication? Will I go back to the constant crying? Or am I past it and no longer need the chemical crutch? I’m too afraid to find out, yet.

So instead of having anxiety about having anxiety, I’ve been trying to focus on my self-proclaimed, Self-Care Crusade.

Ever since the doctor added jelly to my wellbeing sandwich, I’ve been knee-deep in activities that involve “doing me.” Individually, they’re pretty small, but collectively, they have rocked my world in the best way possible.

Every night before bed, I take a few minutes to roll out my back/spine. My chiropractor gave me those directions, and while I’m a compliant patient who always follows directions, I never realized how such a trivial task could quite literally lift the weight of the world off of my shoulders. Five minutes later, when I roll into bed, I feel 10 pounds lighter.

I started to read again. Sure, maybe I’ve only completed four chapters in a month, but it’s better than nothing. I’m convinced that, “Girl, Wash Your Face” was written for me. It’s about lies that we tell ourselves as women, and calling out our own bullshit. When the author was writing her pitch document to find a publisher, under target demographic, I am absolutely sure that it said: Mary Beth from Virginia.

I began to eat better around the middle of August. I’ll have to dedicate another blog post to this undertaking, but my God, fitting into JEANS…with a freaking ZIPPER, is glorious.

I joined a gym around my daughter’s 1st birthday in October, which is sort of like joining a church in my book. It’s a holy experience to reflect, meditate, and turn off the noise. To have solitude and lift weights and sweat. It is cathartic and an outlet for renewal. It took one whole year after becoming a Mom to feel like I could muster up the energy to purposefully move muscles. My daughter continued to keep me on my sleep-deprived toes for nearly 12 months. She graduated from sleep training school at 4 1/2 months old which was a massive success, but there were inevitably age-related sleep regressions, sicknesses, and Mercury Retrograde for all I know along the way, causing her to wake up every night and leaving me looking and feeling like a Mombie Zombie. After she finally hit her snoozing stride around her first birthday, the next challenge was getting my daughter acclimated to leaving her alone with complete strangers in the gym’s daycare; that endeavor took a few brutal weeks of separation anxiety adjustment on her end. But it worked. I finally earned an hour all to myself to focus on moi…three times a week.

I started saying daily affirmations, along with following a program called Aura Soma. In a nut shell, I take a few minutes, twice a day, while closing my eyes, and focus on my highest self. I could never adequately explain what Aura Soma is (otherwise I’d describe it as essential oils on steroids), so the company’s description will have to do: “Harnessing the vibrational powers of Mother Nature, Aura‑Soma is a system of colour, plant and crystal energies that enhance happiness and vitality. Created using the highest quality organic and biodynamic ingredients our products bring ease, balance and calm to your energetic system. While strengthening and protecting the aura they empower and elevate.” It makes me feel heavenly and has awakened a part of my consciousness that has been dormant for, well, probably since forever.

While I do still very clearly remember my BC days, my early AC days are starting to fade…which I never, ever thought was possible. I thought the darkest, lowest moments of despair would always be engraved in the Temporal Lobe of my brain. So much so, it made me second guess if I could fathom having a second child, something I always envisioned. But it turns out that our minds have a way of protecting us over time. I suppose like when people who have been through horrific traumas, and their subconscious blocks out the memories entirely.

The manual swinging, and rocking, and willing my baby to sleep in a pitch black bathroom with no windows, while tears were drenching my cheeks and my lower back was in agony — all day long — I rarely, if ever, think of those days anymore. What’s more, on one or maybe two recent occasions, I had a case of baby fever, and it’s worth mentioning that I was conscious when those thoughts happened.

I am now finally on the other side of suffering, artificial happiness or not, all that matters is that I made it through. Today I’m truly enjoying my daughter, virtually every moment, of every day. She is hilarious, loving, smart and simply the best human I’ve ever known. I’m grateful that I’m finally at a point, and she’s at an age, where we can absolutely adore each other. I love her to pieces, and even miss her when she’s asleep {which is crazy since I’m with her all day long} — I’ve got a really serious, undiagnosed case of infatuation going on for baby girl. The stars are brighter than ever and I can see the constellation of my heart shining again.

Are there problems orbiting in my shiny world? Of course, too many to count. But all that matters is that I’m capable of coping with them, and crushing this crusade like a boss.

#postpartum #postpartum depression #mental health #pregnancy #mother #first time mom #daughter #fitness #working out #blog #writer #aura soma #girl wash your face #wellbutrin

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