I LOOOOOOOVE that Kristen Bell is most proud of her accessories - her high heels and her breast pump.
Last summer, I was fortunate enough to be asked to be in two weddings! Giselle was still nursing, so my handy dandy breast pump came with me to 2 bachelorette parties, 2 showers, and 2 weddings. I pumped in the back of a "limo" on a Prom Dress Wine Tour. I pumped while riding in a car on the way to and from Boston. I pumped in a spa in Geneva before getting a manicure. I pumped in the car (EMX was driving) on the way home from a Dave Matthews Concert. I proudly carried that pump everywhere I went if G wasn't with me. I totally related to Kristen Bell when I saw this article!
Nursing wasn't easy for us. It was SEMI easier knowing that it would be difficult though. When I had Reed, I had no idea how many tears would be shed, only to stop nursing after a week, and then exclusively pumping for 4 more. Ultimately, I did stop pumping with Reed because my body was just not healing well from birth. I wasn't enjoying my time home with him, and that was more important to me than getting a few ounces of breast milk here and there. With Giselle, I made a promise to myself that I could make it 6 weeks. And then 8 weeks. And then, what's another 4 weeks? With the help and support of a lactation consultant (Donna was seriously a Godsend) and my family, slowly I kept pushing my deadline out and ultimately, after 6.5 months of nursing, I did stop. It definitely took a toll on my body - 3 bouts of mastitis (I've written about that here before), each one worse than the previous, an ER visit before hosting a birthday party, major hair breakage, vitamin D deficiency, and an emotional roller coaster with hormones all over the place. But I don't regret one second of it. I feel a very strong emotional bond with Giselle, which I'm thankful for, because with Reed, it felt like it took much longer to have that strong bond. (Maybe it was the c-section drugs?)
Moral of the story: I tell every expectant mom the following if the conversation about nursing comes up. It's HARD. If you want to stop, stop. You will feel guilty. But guess what, you will feel guilty for EVERY decision you make for the rest of your life. Going back to work? You'll feel guilty about leaving your child. Staying home with your child? You'll feel guilty about not "bringing home the bacon." There is no right answer. Do what works for you and your family. Everything will work out just fine. :)
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Double D
OK. So this post isn't about cooking - and it isn't even really about "food." But I'm feeling very hilarious today (or as EMX calls it, corny) and felt the need to write and share.
If you are a mom, and have breastfed, and have had the devil infection called mastitis, you can totally relate. If you are grossed out by nursing, you may wish to close your browser window now. :) That was your warning.
So I've been proudly nursing Giselle for 6 months. Actually - 6 months today! My original goal was 6 weeks. Which is one week longer than Reed drank breastmilk. During the first 6 weeks this time, I was lucky enough to get mastitis twice. AWESOME. (Sarcasm!) The first time was actually not bad because I caught it SUPER quickly. I knew what to look for having had it once with Reed, just a mere week into his life. The second time, however, was probably one of the worst few weeks of my life. I won't get into details about it now, but I literally thought I was dying. I got past that (THANK GOD) and continued to breastfeed semi smoothly until this past Sunday. I woke up tired, but felt fine, and then a few hours later - BAM. I knew I had mastitis. Went to urgent care and immediately got on antibiotics. It took a full 48 hours for me to feel human again, however, the nasty little (big) blockage has decided to keep on keeping on.
I've tried compressions, massage, heat, no heat, pumping, nursing. You name it, I've tried it. Nothing is working. So yesterday, I gave a call to Dr. Google to see if other moms had some suggestions. That is when I came across this advice... which I wish I could say worked for me, but it hasn't yet. It has however provided me with some laughter over the past 24 hours.
A few moms recommended letting gravity work with you, and said to do the following:
Get on all fours and place your baby on the floor. Position yourself over the baby and let the affected breast "dangle" over the baby while she nurses. That should hopefully help dislodge the blockage.
So. Cut to me last night. I had to go away from my other loving family members so that I could concentrate (read: not laugh). Another tip I knew about was to position the baby's nose toward the blockage to help drain it. So our position was me on my knees and left elbow, with Giselle's toes near my head, and my right hand compressing the heck out of the dangler.
It was like some kind of weird yoga pose, involving balance and strength. So, to commemorate the pose, I decided to give it a yogatastic name.
The Downward Dangle. Or - the Double D.
I hope you laughed. I know my cousin K will when she reads this. She gets me.
You're welcome. :)
What is the weirdest thing you have found yourself doing since having kids?
If you are a mom, and have breastfed, and have had the devil infection called mastitis, you can totally relate. If you are grossed out by nursing, you may wish to close your browser window now. :) That was your warning.
So I've been proudly nursing Giselle for 6 months. Actually - 6 months today! My original goal was 6 weeks. Which is one week longer than Reed drank breastmilk. During the first 6 weeks this time, I was lucky enough to get mastitis twice. AWESOME. (Sarcasm!) The first time was actually not bad because I caught it SUPER quickly. I knew what to look for having had it once with Reed, just a mere week into his life. The second time, however, was probably one of the worst few weeks of my life. I won't get into details about it now, but I literally thought I was dying. I got past that (THANK GOD) and continued to breastfeed semi smoothly until this past Sunday. I woke up tired, but felt fine, and then a few hours later - BAM. I knew I had mastitis. Went to urgent care and immediately got on antibiotics. It took a full 48 hours for me to feel human again, however, the nasty little (big) blockage has decided to keep on keeping on.
I've tried compressions, massage, heat, no heat, pumping, nursing. You name it, I've tried it. Nothing is working. So yesterday, I gave a call to Dr. Google to see if other moms had some suggestions. That is when I came across this advice... which I wish I could say worked for me, but it hasn't yet. It has however provided me with some laughter over the past 24 hours.
A few moms recommended letting gravity work with you, and said to do the following:
Get on all fours and place your baby on the floor. Position yourself over the baby and let the affected breast "dangle" over the baby while she nurses. That should hopefully help dislodge the blockage.
So. Cut to me last night. I had to go away from my other loving family members so that I could concentrate (read: not laugh). Another tip I knew about was to position the baby's nose toward the blockage to help drain it. So our position was me on my knees and left elbow, with Giselle's toes near my head, and my right hand compressing the heck out of the dangler.
It was like some kind of weird yoga pose, involving balance and strength. So, to commemorate the pose, I decided to give it a yogatastic name.
The Downward Dangle. Or - the Double D.
I hope you laughed. I know my cousin K will when she reads this. She gets me.
You're welcome. :)
What is the weirdest thing you have found yourself doing since having kids?
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