Insomnia

When will I ever get sleep again?  Even though my baby is sleeping through the night, everything wakes me up!  I never used to be a light sleeper, but after sleep deprivation from a newborn it's difficult to return to a normal sleep schedule.

I have developed the mother's ear and have become a very light sleeper.  Even with the monitor on, I will think I've heard my baby cry when in fact it's just my imagination.  My husband's snoring keeps me awake and it never bothered me before.  I'll even hear thunder and rain outside and it will wake me up.

I've tried taking over-the-counter sleep medication.  The situation never fails.  After I take one, my little one wakes up at 11:00 pm because of teething pain or something else.  Then, I'm sitting in a rocking chair rocking her in my arms while I finally feel sleepy.  Luckily I'm able to get her back to sleep quickly so I can return to bed.  Unfortunately a continuous and undisturbed rest has not taken place.

I know it will work itself out in time.  Developing good sleeping habits is all about routine.  I just have to be patient until my routine settles back in. 

Breastfeeding... is your baby getting enough?

Breastfeeding hasn't always been popular.  Sometimes you will hear critics while you're breastfeeding.  The most common comment is that your baby isn't "getting enough".

When my grandmothers were having babies, doctors were not encouraging them to breastfeed. They were telling them that formula was the best option because it gave specific vitamins and nutrients.  They didn't have the technology to study breast milk like they do today.  They also didn't know that it contains the best nourishment.  Human milk is best for human babies.

Growing up, I heard the phrases: "the baby's not satisfied" or "she didn't produce enough milk".  Even though these situations do happen, it may not be the case for you.  In spite of it all, you'll still hear criticism from some learking individuals out there.  How to feel secure?  Here's how...

Your baby should be wetting around 5-6 diapers per day and having regular dirty diapers.  Some babies will have a dirty diaper with each feeding.  Mine came close, but she didn't have one every time.  Click here to learn more about what is normal for your baby's dirty diapers.

Your doctor will schedule regular check-ups where you can keep track of his or her weight.  As long as the doctor says your baby is progressing in weight, you're fine. 

Another way to tell is that you'll feel the "let down" of your milk and you will hear your baby drinking.  If you still feel insecure about your milk supply, you can always talk with a lactation consultant and schedule a visit.  They can measure the amount of milk during the feeding.  They will weigh the baby before and after each feeding to see how many ounces were received.  It's quite interesting!

Baby's Sleep

I was desperate to get my baby to sleep. She didn't develop a normal nighttime sleep habit until she was 9 1/2 months. I tried it ALL during those months. I researched all the articles online, checked out books in the library, and asked other mothers for advice. Anything to get some sleep.

I read the book Baby Wise while I was pregnant and thought I was an expert on baby's sleep. I was determined that I wasn't going to be sleep deprived for long! I pictured in my mind how my daughter's daily (and nightly) routine would look like. I was wrong!

After she was born, I realized that I needed some help so I read two more books: 12 Hours of Sleep by 12 Weeks Old and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I learned lots of tips and they were all helpful, but what I didn't completely understand was that my baby was an individual and no matter how many books I read, it wasn't going to change her.

First and foremost, your child is unique. They are born with their particular temperament.  I needed to understand that she needed to be sleep trained.  The word is: training.  Anything that involves training involves time, effort, patience, practice, and a lot of love.  I’ll elaborate more on sleep training in future posts J

Unlatching & No Pain

The last thing you want to do is pull your baby off without unlatching properly.  I remember talking to a friend who said that she just pulled her baby off and it hurt really bad.  Yes it would hurt!! Ouch!  I have a tip on how to unlatch without pain.

During my breastfeeding class I was taught to stick my finger in the corner of her mouth to release the suction.  I've also read this in many books and online.  However, I have long nails and it didn't seem that comfortable for me at first.  It's also impossible to constantly wash your hands and keep them clean, especially when you're breastfeeding every 2 hours.  I also thought about how clean (or not so clean) my hands were.

This is what I started to do... I would take my thumb or index finger and touch right above her lip, kind of like in the "mustache" area and lift up her lip.  This sounds funny, but make your baby do the "Elvis lip"  LOL!  This releases the suction without putting your finger in her mouth, and potentially scraping her gums with your nail.  This has worked for me every time!

The Honest Truth: It's not easy

Morning sickness, labor pains, and stretch marks.  I didn’t think much about them until they personally happened to me.  After experiencing 4 months of nausea, gestational diabetes, insulin shots, 16 hours of labor, and a cesarean I’ve pretty much been very honest when someone asks me about motherhood.  I have wondered maybe I shouldn't have been so honest?  Honesty is the best policy J

Sure, it’s easy to look at Facebook pictures of your friends who have become parents and think about how cute their little one is.  Although, they don't post pictures of what’s going on behind the scenes. Here’s a picture of what caring for a newborn looks like…

 

 

Yes, this doesn't look so pretty.  LOL!  It's not easy.  Sleep deprivation can do a number on you.  My baby didn't sleep through the night until she was 9 1/2 months.  We had lots of diaper changes and poo in my hair.  Spit up on my shirt and furniture.  Lots of laundry too.  It's a difficult job, but it's all worth it!

 

After it all, I am so thankful for my health.  The gestational diabetes went away within hours of my delivery.  I also recovered well from surgery.  I had a beautiful image in my mind as to how motherhood would be, and the picture has come true...

 

Cesarean Scar Therapy

I had a cesarean and have wondered many times about the healing process.  I've recently learned that scar tissue can continue to grow for 2 years after surgery.  Wow!  I didn't know that.  I also found an interesting video about scar therapy for a cesarean scar.  This is very interesting!  Take a look:

Weaning & Your Emotions

Breastfeeding creates such a beautiful bond between a mother and baby.  It’s a natural process that provides the best nourishment for a growing child.  Sometimes it’s not always easy and many mothers want to give up.  When weaning starts, and we come to the end, it can sometimes be emotional for us as mothers. 

I am encouraging of my daughter to grow and become independent.  I love watching her through all the stages of crawling, pulling herself up, and soon walking.  I want to guide her through these exciting stages.  It’s interesting and sad to think about ending this special era of breastfeeding.

I’ve recently read this excerpt from the book What to expect: The Toddler Years and I think it’s very helpful regarding weaning and your emotions:

 

If you wait until your son decides he’s ready to graduate to a more grown-up source of liquid nourishment, you may have a very long wait ahead.  Though some babies and toddlers cut back on or discontinue breastfeeding on their own, usually near the end of the first year, others never do.  If you are ready to wean, then you should initiate the weaning process yourself. This is, after all, a two-way partnership and either party can end it at any time.

Watching a child move from one stage of development to another is always a bittersweet experience – filling you at once with pride (how grown up he is!) and with melancholy (he’ll never be a baby again!).  Some rites of passage evoke more mixed feelings than do others.  For many women, weaning their children from the breast is one of those.

Breastfeeding is an undeniably gratifying experience, but breastfeeding indefinitely because you’re not ready to give it up isn’t fair.  If your toddler wants to move on, follow his lead.  Don’t take his rejection of your breast personally.  He isn’t rejecting you, he’s rejecting the babyhood he’s outgrown, and taking another step toward independence.  As unsettling as that may be for you, it’s a step he must take. 

It’s likely that at first you will miss the physical closeness to your toddler that nursing provided.  But if you think about it, there are a host of other activities (hugging, cuddling, playing together, reading together before bed, and so on) that reproduce that closeness.  Enjoy those more frequently instead. 

Because the sadness you’re feeling may be intensified by the haywire hormonal changes that weaning can trigger, you should consider weaning gradually over a period of weeks or even months.  Give both your body and your mind plenty of time to recover and they eventually will.