Thankful for baby shower gifts

Yes, you need diapers, onesies, and footed pajamas.  You will go through a ton!  But, what about those gifts that last?  I have a few gifts that I am most thankful for from my showers.  These gifts have lasted me 12 months!

First, washable and disposable diaper changing pads.  My aunt gave me machine washable diaper changing pads.  I have one in pink and one in green.  They are perfect!  We have used them every day since my daughter's birth.  They are so easy to throw in the wash and have another one on hand.  You need extra protection during diaper changes for sure.  A friend from my work gave me these: Huggies disposable changing pads.  These definitely come in handy during the first couple of months.  Newborn babies have diaper mishaps all the time, and you never know when they're coming.  The disposables are great for BIG mishaps :-)

Second, a large hooded towel.  My cousin gave me a cute yellow duck hooded towel.  It is adorable!  We definitely have used this throughout the year.  The hood is especially helpful if your baby has a lot of hair like mine.

Third, music.  My aunt gave me a 2-disc CD set by Fisher Price.  It's a rain forest theme with lullabies and playtime music.  I never knew how valuable these songs would be!  We've been playing them for our daughter since she was born.  She instantly recognizes the music.  Even today the lullabies help her go to sleep, and the playtime rhythms calm her down when she's in a bad mood.  Great stuff!

Fourth, larger sizes.  Lots of baby shower attendants think of only newborn sizes and then you have tons of only one size.  I was so thankful that I received a few clothes and diapers that were larger than newborn.  The largest size I received was a 9-month footed pajama.  It took a while until she was able to wear it, but I was glad we had it!

Fifth, keepsakes.  I am thankful for handmade keepsakes.  Several of my relatives made handmade blankets, and one of my aunts made a picture frame with my daughter's name.  Keepsakes last forever and have special meaning.  I cherish these, and I am thankful that my daughter has them for years to come.

 

Babies talking in their sleep

My little one wakes me up with her talking if I leave the monitor on all night.  She is asleep, but she makes all kinds of noises.  Apparently this is normal.  Please visit this link on Baby Center for more information on baby's sleeping habits. 

While she was a newborn she would sometimes cry during sleep.  She would also make funny grunting noises or laugh.  Now, she mimics what she says during the day.  Last night around 11:00 pm, I heard her saying "da da" but was still asleep.  So cute!

Timing Feedings

Some breastfeeding books will tell you not to time your feedings, or in other words, look at the clock.  Personally, the clock has helped me tremendously.  This may sound crazy, but in the first months of sleep deprivation I couldn't tell the difference between 10 minutes or 20 minutes.  While breastfeeding, you don't specifically know how many ounces of milk your baby receives.  For me, I would measure it by the minutes. 

I conveniently had a digital clock nearby, so I would watch the clock.  In the beginning my baby would nurse about 20 minutes per side.  Sometimes it would be necessary to unlatch her or encourage her to keep nursing. Most newborns will fall asleep at the breast, so it's important to know how much longer they need to feed or if it's okay for them to stop.  If they've gone too long, then it's like you are now the baby's pacifier.  I'd rather switch to the other side when that happens :-)

After a while, I was so used to the clock that I would watch it while on road trips.  We would stop at a gas station or resting area for me to nurse.  I would watch the radio clock.  I would think to myself "as long as we can get at least 10 minutes on each side, we'll be okay".  If I am somewhere that doesn't have a clock nearby, I use my cell phone. 

This tip has helped me to not only measure each feeding, but also see the progression of weaning.  It has been interesting in these last few months because sometimes she'll only nurse 3 minutes per side.  It's amazing how weaning happens naturally.  What a beautiful thing! 

Pre-Pregnancy Jeans

Pre-pregnancy jeans.  They are our dream and our fear.  Dream that we can be the size we once were.  Fear that we may never be.

I am not an expert on exercise.  I am also not a model for Fitness Magazine.  However, I want to encourage you that it can happen.  You can wear your pre-pregnancy jeans again! 

It took me 7 months and 11 days.  I give most of the credit to lifting weights.  I had never been much of a gym person before.  It was a little intimidating, but I did some research and gave it a try.  I started noticing results after one full month.  All of these weight loss products and gadgets make you think that losing weight is easy or fast, but that is far from the truth!

Lifting weights is so important for women.  Mostly we think lifting is for men only so they can become big and muscular like Hulk Hogan.  However, that is a myth. Lifting weights is very important for our health.  Read this article about why women should lift weights. 

Let me share with you a few resources that have helped me understand exercise.  The first is the book Fitness For Dummies.  It is excellent!  Here are a few excerpts that are my favorite:

Why you've gotta lift weights

The only way to increase your metabolism is to build muscle, which you can best accomplish by lifting weights.  How does this work?  First, a couple of definitions: Your metabolism refers to the number of calories you're burning at any given moment, whether you're watching The Weather Channel or riding a bike.  But when most people use the term, they're referring to your resting metabolism, the number of calories your body needs to maintain its vital functions.  Your brain, heart, kidneys, and other organs are cranking away 24 hours a day, and your muscle cells are constantly undergoing repair.  All of these processes require energy in the form of calories simply to keep you alive.

But here's the key: Your resting metabolic rate depends primarily on your amount of fat-free mass - everything in your body that's not fat, including muscle, bones, blood, organs, and tissue.  The more fat-free mass you have, the more energy your body expends in order to keep going.  So, you want to be muscular.  You can't do anything to increase the size of your liver or brain, but you certainly can make yourself more muscular, and lifting weights is the primary way to do just that. 

If you don't lift weights, your metabolism will slow down every year, as your muscles slowly waste away.  And with a more sluggish metabolic rate, you'll gain weight even if you eat the same amount of food.  How's that for incentive to hit the weight room?
 

Another resource to learn exercise routines is www.muscleandstrength.com.  This link will show you how to work each muscle group.  You can click on each muscle and view videos of so many exercises!  It's awesome!   They have routines for beginners, intermediates, and advanced.  Try it out!

Vaccinations & Baby Tylenol

I wish I had known to give my baby Tylenol or baby acetaminophen before and after her first doctor visit.  We know that it is rough getting those first shots.  I think it was harder on me than her! However, I didn't know what was coming later.  A few hours afterwards she turned into a complete mess!  She was crying uncontrollably and it was impossible to calm her down. 

The doctor said "give your baby Tylenol if she gets a fever". The key word here is "if". I was waiting for a fever to arise and she never developed one.  Finally, without a fever, I gave her Tylenol and within 30 minutes she was back to normal.  Thank goodness!

All babies are different.  Your baby may not respond as mine did.  But just in case, this is what I learned... give her Tylenol at least 30 minutes before her appointment and 4-6 hours afterwards.  By the next morning the crankiness should go away.  Every appointment since has been okay for us. 

I use this acetaminophen chart as a dosage guide.  Keep in mind that not all droppers are the same.

The Mommy Club

Becoming a mother is like you're now a member of the "Mommy Club".

When I am out in public and see other mothers I can instantly relate. Just yesterday I saw a mom breastfeeding in the waiting area of a restaurant. She was doing it so well! She had a pretty scarf wrapped around her son's head and was very discreet. I definitely noticed her.  I admire mothers who can breastfeed in public and do it well. 

I also noticed another mom with a newborn.  Her baby couldn’t have been more than three months old.  Instantly, when I see these other moms I just want to reach out to them.  I want them to know that they’re not alone.  Many times, in the midst of another diaper change or bath time, I feel like I’m the only one feeling totally exhausted. 

We are not alone!  I have found that the best advice comes from connecting with other mothers.  What a wonderful club! 

I'm currently reading a book called Mom Connection: Creating vibrant relationships in the midst of motherhood by Tracey Bianchi.  In the second chapter she writes:

"Never Alone Yet Lonely: Motherhood, while marked as a life stage of peppy bliss, can produce tremendous anxiety and isolation all, interestingly enough, while a woman is not physically alone. As moms we have little people literally hanging on us all day. We sleep with kids, nurse kids, strap kids to our chests like kangaroo-like-carriers. We cannot leave the house, the car, the restroom without them. We are never physically alone and yet our souls starve for connection.

Often our best efforts at connection can be hijacked. Perhaps we finally make plans to connect with a new friend, only to wake up to a toddler with a fever of 102.9. Your poor pediatrician has just become the conversational high point of your day.

No amount of balance, wisdom, or insight can shape a perfect mother. Everyone struggles. We should find this tremendously freeing because it helps to know we do not struggle alone. The old cliche "misery loves company" applies.

At this life stage where emotions feel crisp and near crumbling, even a simple invitation can shape our days and weeks. Author Adele Calhoun says, "Invitations challenge and remake us. They can erode and devastate. And they can heal and restore us. Being wanted, welcomed, invited and included are some of the most mending experiences on the planet."
 

I can definitely relate to these words in Tracey's book.  I am comforted to know that I am not alone.  I hope this information is helpful to you as a mom.  We all have different struggles as mothers.  Just know that we can lean on each other.  :-)

Nursing Strike... Ouch!

A few weeks ago, my baby went on her first nursing strike.  It was an emotional and yet puzzling experience.  I found this article on BabyCenter.com that answered all of my questions. Please see below for some helpful information from the article:

What is a nursing strike?

A baby who refuses to breastfeed (and is not in the process of being weaned) is said to be on a "nursing strike." A nursing strike is your baby's way of telling you that something's wrong. And it'll probably take a little detective work to figure out the problem.

What causes it?

Here are some reasons your baby may go on a nursing strike:

• Mouth pain from teething, a cold sore, or an infection (such as thrush)
• An ear infection, which may cause pressure or pain while nursing
• A cold or stuffy nose, which can make breathing difficult while nursing
• Reduced milk supply or a slow letdown
• A major disruption in your baby's nursing routine or schedule
• If your teething baby has bitten you and your reaction startled him, he may be afraid to nurse after that.
• A change in soap or other toiletry that causes you to smell different to your baby
• A change in the taste of your milk, caused by a vitamin or drug or by hormonal changes (from pregnancy or your period, for example)

What can I do?

A nursing strike can be tricky for even the most dedicated breastfeeding mother. With patience and support, though, you can get through it.

A nursing strike usually lasts between two and five days, but it can go on longer.  While you continue to encourage your baby to nurse, you'll need to pump (or express your milk by hand) every few hours, or about as often as your baby had been nursing. This will help keep up your milk supply, prevent plugged ducts and engorgement, and provide your baby with the milk he needs. You can offer the expressed milk in a sippy cup, a bottle, a spoon, an eyedropper, or a feeding syringe.

Here are some ways to overcome a nursing strike:

• Try nursing when your baby is very sleepy. Many babies who refuse to nurse when they're awake will breastfeed when they're sleepy.
• Visit your baby's doctor to rule out medical causes (such as an ear infection or thrush) and seek feeding advice.
• Vary your nursing position. (Your baby may be more comfortable in one position than another.)
• Nurse in motion. Some babies are more likely to nurse when you rock or walk them than when you're sitting or standing still.
• Nurse in an environment that's free from distractions. It's common for a 6- to 9-month-old to go on a nursing strike as he becomes more aware of the world. Babies this age are easily distracted and often prefer to "snack" at the breast instead of settling down for a meal. Try nursing in a dimly lit, quiet room, away from the sound of the radio or television.
• Give your baby lots of skin-to-skin contact (try nursing without a shirt on or in a warm bath). A sling or carrier can help keep your baby close between nursing attempts.

It's easy to jump to the conclusion that a baby who doesn't want to nurse is weaning himself. But it's unlikely that a baby under a year old who has been successfully breastfeeding is ready to give up nursing. (An older baby may cut back in reaction to a new pregnancy, though.)

Breastfeeding Snacks

It is important to have many healthy snacks on hand while breastfeeding.  Hunger seems to strike often, and with a mom that is sleep deprived, quick and easy snacks are a must. The easy go-to's are granola bars, fruit, cheese sticks, nuts, whole grain crackers... anything that is easy to eat with one hand :-)  Don't forget the water!  Drink lots of water.  If you use a straw, it's much easier to drink the quantity you need.

When I take food to a new mom, I make Whole Wheat Cinnamon Muffins.  I use a mini-muffin tin so they're easy to grab and quick to eat.  In my opinion, this snack is great for day and night.  This muffin satisfies the middle of the night hunger, and the whole wheat flour makes it a healthy option.  You can make two batches and freeze one.  They're great!     

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Muffins

Whisk together in one large bowl:

1 ½ cup of Whole Wheat Flour (King Arthur 100% Whole Wheat)
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt

Mix in a separate bowl:

2 large eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
5 Tbsp of melted butter
1 cup of unsweetened apple sauce

Add all ingredients in one bowl and combine well. Pour in a greased mini muffin pan.

 

Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

 

 

 

Breast Care & Frozen Diapers

As silly as it sounds, frozen diapers can provide relief to sore breasts during the first few weeks of breastfeeding.  Just add a little water to two newborn sized diapers and freeze them.  After a feeding, place the open diapers over your breasts.  They conveniently fit in all the right places, and provide a lot of comfort too.

Another tip: before a feeding, place a warm heating pad or warm wash cloth over your breasts.  The warmth helps the let down of your milk and it helps discomfort.

I remember wearing the frozen diapers after feedings.  They used to stick out of my nursing tank top. :-)  I must have looked silly, but it definitely helped!

Freezing Baby Food

Introducing solid foods to a baby is an interesting task.  It's introducing and re-introducing.  For convenience and trips it's easy to use the pre-packaged/store-bought baby foods like Gerber.  Trust me, I've used it several times.  However, I prefer fresh foods that I've prepared at home when it comes to feeding my baby nutritious food. 

I discovered the Super Baby Food book written by Ruth Yaron when my baby was 10 months old.  I wish I had found it months earlier!  It is packed full of great tips for introducing solids.  Click here to buy it on Amazon.  It is fantastic!

One of the most important tips, in my opinion, is how to freeze your baby food.  Many times I would introduce a new food and have to throw out the remaining food. She either didn't like it, or there wasn't enough time for her little tummy to eat it all.  Food spoils after a few days and that fact plays against you.  Freezing the food is so easy and inexpensive!


Here's how I do it...


Prepare the food as usual and divide it into ice cube trays. Each cube is 1 tablespoon.

 

Cover the ice cube tray with aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Place the tray in your freezer for approximately 8 hours (or overnight) to freeze the food completely.

 

Remove the cubes & place them in a marked freezer bag. Heat one or two cubes per meal as needed.

 

 



Gripe Water

I had never heard of gripe water until a friend recommended it to me.  It is very helpful!  It helps to relieve discomfort with stomach upset, teething, and hiccups.  My baby never took a pacifier or a bottle, so gripe water is what I turned to many times.  The dispenser is easy to use, and it relieved her hiccups every time!  I used Mommy's Bliss Original Gripe Water.

Click here for more details.

Surviving the nighttime feedings

Sleep is a valuable thing!  Have you ever heard the expression... you'll never appreciate something until you lose it?  When you lose sleep it affects every part of your day.  You can't think, talk, or sometimes eat.  I remember when sleep was more valuable than food.

How do you survive the around the clock feedings?  It's not just "midnight" feedings.  It's around the clock!  Here are a few tips to help you...

Tip # 1 Use a night light during the night.  It's never too early to start teaching your newborn the difference between night and day.  I use the Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light.  

It's a little ladybug that projects stars in colors of red, blue, and green. It's great! It's perfect for nighttime diaper changes and feedings.  It continues to be something my baby loves.  She'll be able to use it as a night light for years to come.

 

Tip # 2 When you're a breastfeeding mommy, you need to drink lots of water so you'll have frequent trips to the bathroom.  Use a night light in the bathroom too.  If you keep your environment dim during the night, it also keeps you in a "sleepy" state so you can go back to sleep easily.  Nothing is worse than a bright shining light blaring in your face at 4:00 am!

 

Tip # 3 Use black out curtains in your bedroom.  You never know when your little one will decide to sleep for a couple of hours.  It could be 2:00 pm and the sun is shining bright!  If you keep your room dark it will be easier to sleep in the middle of the day.

 

Tip # 4 Schedule your doctor's appointments, visitors, and trips during a convenient time of day.  If it's difficult to make an 8:00 am doctor appointment, then schedule it for the afternoon next time. 

 

Tip # 5 If you need help, ask for it!  Daily tasks such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning shouldn't get in your way of rest.  I remember wanting to do another load of laundry as soon as my baby went down for a nap.  True, laundry needs to be done.  Just make sure you're taking care of yourself :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worries about SIDS

As mothers, it is natural for us to protect our children.  Whether they are first starting to walk or driving their first car.  I have said many times... I have never completely understood "worry" until I became a mother.

SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a VERY scary thought for a new mother.  I probably lost more sleep just worrying about SIDS and my baby.  Reading all of the articles about SIDS can really be frightening.  It is something that we should be aware of, but we must not worry ourselves to the point of sleeplessness.

Listening to your mother's instinct is key.  Create a comfortable sleep environment for your baby, and make sure to use a tight fitting sheet on his or her crib.  Remove all toys, blankets, and stuffed animals.  Also, think about the temperature of your thermostat at home.  My husband likes it cold while I like it comfortable. ;-) Your baby's cheeks and hands will tell you if he or she is cold.

Recently, I read an article about a gentleman named Bill Schmid.  He and his wife lost their precious baby Haley to SIDS.  They created a product called the HALO Sleep Sack for SIDS prevention.  I think this is a wonderful product!  Click here for the article and a link to their website.

Nursing Bras

Nursing bras... full coverage and clip down.  Shopping for these for the first time can be a little strange. Bra advertisements sell us on how their bra will lift, support, and flatter.  However, it's not the same feeling when shopping for a nursing bra.  The goal is to provide comfort, support, and accessibility.  Accessibility??  Something that's not so common :-)

While I was pregnant, I went into Motherhood Maternity to shop for a nursing bra. I was approached by a sales woman.  I thought she was trying to "sell me" and pursuade me to buy several bras. I didn't realize at the time that she was actually giving me helpful advice.  Do not buy a nursing bra while you're pregnant.  Wait until after your milk comes in.  So helpful!

The style that I prefer most is the Seamless Lift Up Nursing Bra.  Click here to view this style.  This bra is the absolute best in my opinion!!!  You can wear any shirt in your wardrobe, you avoid the "bulge" in between feedings, and it provides great coverage with the built-in pads.  It is also very comfortable!

Girls, I promise you can go back to your cute and flattering bras after nursing.  Go for comfort now! 

Welcome to The Nursing Mommy Blog!

During the past 11 months of motherhood I have experienced many moments where the "light bulb" came on for me.  I thought "Goodness! If I had just known about this a month ago, my life would've been so much easier!" 

The purpose of this blog is to share all of these "light bulb" moments with you.  I want to encourage and empower all mothers through the journey of motherhood.  I plan to share tips on caring for a new baby, living with sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, and much more.

Breastfeeding isn't easy, however the benefits for you and your baby are priceless.  Join me as we embark on this journey together.  Share with other moms, moms-to-be, and grandmothers.  This is going to be fun!!