My parents are here! And we are all sort of settling into a semblance of routine. (Which of course, makes me extremely happy).
I probably have just a few minutes before G wakes up and the kids return from swim class, so I will limit myself to a few catchup bullet points here . . . hopefully more details about NewbornMatLeaveLife to come 🙂
– Two Best of Both Worlds episodes have aired since my last post!
* Episode 19 features one of my podcasting/blogging idols, Anne Bogel. I’ve been following her blog and listening to her podcast for quite some time, and it was surreal to actually have book selections offered to me in her calm, soothing, amaaaazing radio voice IN REAL LIFE. We discuss finding time to read, ways to get back on the reading train when you have fallen off, and lots of book recs! I have already gone through 2 of her recommendations and This Is How It Always Is is one of my favorites, possibly ever. I don’t think Anne even knows that I treat children with gender dysphoria as part of my job, but it was basically a perfect-fit book for me. I plan on bringing it to a future book club.
* Episode 20 is the much-discussed PlannerSode, in which I blather on about planners/planning for almost the entire time. Feel free to ignore if that sounds boring (though if so, I am not sure you’d be reading this blog – ha!). I had so much fun doing it and I hope that comes across!
– The kids are adjusting. Slowly but surely. I think it will be a transitional few months, but so far I am just trying to give A&C (esp C) attention whenever I can, while making a big deal out of it (“Cameron, let’s go to your room to play trains together for special mommy play time”).
– G is overall a very good baby so far. She is sleeping pretty well – 3-4 hour stretches most nights, then a 2-3 hour one after that. She isn’t fussy overall. I know SO MUCH could change so not getting overconfident yet!
– Breastfeeding is good EXCEPT it’s super painful on one side. I am using the Medela Hydrogel pads and have ordered some lanolin. I don’t remember the pain lasting so long – and I can’t tell if it’s a latch issue or just that she destroyed that side during the hourly feedings she had the first 2 days or so and now it’s just having trouble recovering? I keep considering getting a lactation consultant to come (my pediatrician doesn’t have one in the office sadly) but am hoping it will get better and become a non-issue . . . if anyone has experiences to share/advice to offer, let me know!
Okay! My borrowed time is almost up, so I will leave you with teasers of things I want to discuss in future posts:
– our rhythms right now so far
– 2018 goals / word of the year
– what worked / what didn’t last year
– top 10 fave books of 2017 (definitely includes the one mentioned above!)
13 Comments
I”ve literally never commented but I”ve been reading (and listening now!) since the TTC days! I also had a difficult time with nipple pain/bleeding/general destroyment and I found the lansinoh soothies to be WAY better then the medala ones and earth mama angel baby nipple butter was better than lanolih. I got an LC to come see me and help at my house which was crucial. My peds office and hospital both had them but they were booked up for weeks. She helped me a lot . Mine was from the poor latch + frequent nursing sessions at first and once we both learned it got better. But omg it was awful at first. Good luck! And congratulations!! 🙂
So breastfeeding my first was pure misery for a week or so (like I literally winced when he latched). While I was waiting for a lactation consultant appt, I realized I had tiny blisters. Maybe this was not the best idea, but I sterilized and needle and popped them myself….misery was over! That was probably not what my dr would recommend, but it WORKED. Good luck!! Breastfeeding misery is the worst!!
Love the photos and loved the birth story. And you”re right…everything changes with kids, nothing is forever (although sometimes it definitely feels that way). You”re doing great. Xo
Oh man is she sweet! I know they”re controversial but bipolar sheilds were a godsend for me.
Oops NOT bipolar shields …. ***nipple shields … not sure how that typo happened! Lol
I loved This Is How It Always Is and as soon as I heard Anne recommend it to you on the podcast I was like YES you will love it. I bought it as a Christmas gift for my mom this year 🙂
With my first baby, I was in so much pain for the first couple of weeks because of just a few poor latches and overuse. The LCs told me to use expressed breast milk instead of Lanolin or the gel pads to heal/soothe the area. And they were absolutely right! I was better in days. The other tip I learned, which really helped when baby #2 was born, was to "not give in" to nursing if he wasn’t latched quite right. Basically, remove your breast and make the baby open wide again. I know you’ve successfully nursed two babies and pumped (ugh!), so I’m not sure if this will help. Good luck!
Ooh, can’t wait to listen to both of those episodes! I just got back into reading a few months ago, and I am always in search of book recs. I second Andrea’s comments–nipple shields helped me so much during those first weeks of breastfeeding!
What do your parents do to help? When my parents came, all they did was surf the internet, ask me to get them food and beverages from the kitchen, and explain to me that I was defective for being exhausted and lonely (they were not invited back). Am curious how this works with normal, functional parents.
I am not a commenter (is that a word?!)- but I can’t recommend a consult with a lactation consultant enough!! My pediatrician did have one, but I would say it’s well worth the time/money to have a visit from one. A good lactation consultant is a like a miracle worker!
Congratulations!!! The nipple pain is BRUTAL, even with my #2. I forgot how to nurse a newborn and let him have a shallow latch in the beginning….nipple destruction ensued. Even though all the LCs claim that it shouldn’t hurt if things are right, I’ve never met anyone whose nipples were not raw in the beginning! Mine were significantly better by 2 weeks, but it took a month for me to face forward in the shower. I echo the above re: lasinoh soothies. I slathered Honest nipple cream on there after each feed to help with healing.
Re: latching- I had to re-learn and found the following helpful: Put her nose to your nipple, chin to your breast to get her to open wide, then guide her with one hand behind her neck/upper back. Make sure her lips are flipped out. Have a helper pull down on her chin after she is latched to help her get on deeper. If it’s not a good latch, break the seal and start over.
Long-time reader, (maybe?) first time commenter! Congratulations on baby G! She’s adorable!
I wish I had breastfeeding advice but my baby #3 is 6 months old and I’ve already forgotten how long it was painful (though I know it was…). I do know from #1 that if there’s blistering, cracking, etc, definitely get help.
My book club also read This Is How It Always Is and we LOVED it. When I listened to the podcast and Anne said something like, "I think there’s a doctor in it" I was thinking "YES! The mom!" and I thought your specialty might have something to do with this so I was curious of what you would think!
Nipple pain is the worst! I just had my 3rd baby and after having successfully breastfed my first two for a year each I assumed this time would be easier. The nipple destruction and pain was worse then ever the first week! I live in Switzerland and hospitals stays after birth are usually about 5 days