Immunizations

To IMMUNIZE or not to IMMUNIZE that is the question? 

Losing The Baby Weight

I will admit that one of the hardest things for me post pregnancy has been the weight issue. I gained 40 pounds during my pregnancy and as much as I felt like I was as big as a house I had a baby inside of me so I dealt with it. I figured after I had Hallie and no longer had a baby inside me I would drop the weight fast and go back to the weight I was when I got pregnant. We all see the TV stars that have babies and then one month later appear on a magazine cover in a bikini! I quickly realized that that's just NOT realistic! 

So what is realistic?   

Advice or tips on losing the baby weight and being patient until you do? 

Part Two of Lactation Consultant Visit

I decided that I would write this post when I first started this blog. I share this information with you knowing that I am an open book and hoping to help someone who may be dealing with the same thing and not know it.  I also hope that it's not too much information for some of you. :) 

In a previous post I mentioned the fact that I went and saw a lactation consultant. I went to see the consultant when Hallie was three months old. I had told people that I was constantly nursing her and they all said that was normal for a newborn. It wasn't until we took a trip out to Utah that my family really saw JUST how much I was nursing Hallie. I wasn't exaggerating when I said I was nursing every hour. Plus when we would occasionally give her a bottle she would inhale it. (Which I was told wasn't normal for a newborn.) Plus, my breasts never really felt full. Which would make sense since Hallie would eat every hour-they would never get the chance to fill up. I was at my wits end. When I would call the midwifes they would all say that I just needed to nurse Hallie more to get more milk. Supply and Demand right? Wrong! I knew there was no way I could nurse Hallie more.  I desperately wanted to continue breastfeeding but I was worried Hallie wasn't getting enough because I just wasn't capable of producing the amount of milk she needed. Enter Lactation Consultant. 

When you go to see a lactation consultant you have to nurse in front of them so they can observe you to see what you are doing right and what you could do better. As soon as I took off my shirt she said that she knew what the problem was. I have what they call "Tubular breasts". Funny term I know! Ben and I laughed about it for days. It means that my breasts are not perfectly round like all the movie stars who had boob jobs.   My breasts are also widespread. The lactation consultant commented, "didn't you notice you never fit into bras?" I told her of course I did I just thought it was because I was small. She laughed and said, "Honey, Asian women are small and they still fit into bras!" Suddenly my life made sense. All those visits to Victoria Secret to find out what bra size I truly was weren't in vain. What was even better was the fact that she solved my nursing dilemma. Because of my tubular widespread breasts I could not STORE a lot of milk.  I was producing enough milk I just wasn't capable of storing it all at once.  I HAD to feed Hallie more often than most women feed their babies. It wasn't all in my head and I wasn't exaggerating. What a relief! I walked away from that consultation a new woman. Not only did I know that Hallie had Acid Reflux but I also knew why I was constantly feeding her. 

I hope learning about my breast dilemma hasn't scared you off. I also hope that it doesn't make you stare at my chest in the future wondering how weird they really look. I'm not a mutant or a freak show! With all that said my goal in writing this post is to let you know that tubular widespread breasts are actually very common. Out of the few friends I have told some of them have commented, "hey maybe I have that too".  Most women don't know they have them and will never know. I mean how would you ever find out?

So if you don't have the cleavage that the movie stars have or if you don't fit perfectly into a bra you might have tubular widespread breasts. Which as a result it might be more difficult to nurse your babies. Although, I am proof that it is still possible. I supplemented Hallie's feedings with a bottle or so a day until I could feed her cereal. She never lost weight and is actually very "healthy" and chubby-all with my own milk supply. 

Any of you have nursing problems or stories? 

Packing Bags

It's a lot to think about...coming home with a tiny baby. As if the new mom doesn't have enough to worry about she's also got to pack her bags and make sure she's not forgetting anything. Most hospital stays for Labor and Delivery are around 3 days. What would you suggest an expecting mom pack for her hospital stay? (Include things for the husband)

(I had Hallie at a Birthing Center and went home 3 hours after she was born so I can't help on this one.) 

Labor and Delievery

I have about a dozen friends (seriously) about to have a baby in the next couple of months. I thought it would be great to give them some advice for the Labor and Delivery. I know I appreciated any help/advice I got and I'm sure they would too.

Labor and Delivery ADVICE?

Managing Stress

These are questions that pertain to all moms. It doesn't matter how old or young your children are, being a mom is a stressful full time job. 

• How do you manage your stress? 
  
• How do you not become a mom who yells all the time and is constantly putting your kids in time out? 
  
• How do you enjoy the time with your baby rather than thinking of all the things you need to get done? 
  
• How do you not stress out about germs or someone kidnapping your child? 
  
• How do you not become paranoid?  
  

No More Gerber?

My little Hallie has decided that she does not like to eat baby food anymore. She LOVES eating cheerios and things she can pick up with her fingers, but does not like eating from a spoon. This happened suddenly about a week and a half ago. 

What do I do? What people food can I start giving her? She is only 9 months old. 

Brushing Baby Teeth

When do you start brushing your babies teeth and how do you do it? 

Is there a baby toothpaste?

Toddler Help

Jill, the HOT MAMA of two beautiful little girls, wants advice for her two year old.  

Advice on tantrums and potty training?

Baby Products

What products are a must have for a new mom?

Success Sleeping On Her Own!!

Right now as I type my baby girl is taking a nap ALL BY HERSELF!  There were days (okay 9 months) when I never thought this would be possible.  

Thank you for all your comments on my post sleeping through the night.  It gave me the courage to get Hallie sleeping on her own. 

Here's how I did it: 

• Nursed Hallie until very sleepy yet not asleep. 
  
• Put her in her bed with a Silky blanket that smelled like me.
  
• Let her cry it out.
  
• Went in and reassured her with a kiss and a pat on the tummy.
  
• Had an amazingly supportive husband.

After reviewing some books and your comments (for the fifth time) we started Thursday night. She cried for only 40 min. before falling asleep. However, she woke up about every hour and a half to two hours crying. It was a long night, but it could have been worse.  Every night since then she has gotten progressively better. She is still stubborn and cries but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is GLORIOUS!!!

My advice for any mom who has a baby that will only sleep in her arms. Read the comments on this post and pray, pray, pray! :)  Find out what you feel most comfortable with and go with it.  I cried like a baby the first night, but it has been soooo worth it. 

Sleeping on her own has not been the only benefit. Hallie has also shown improvement in the following ways:

• She is not as clingy
  
• She plays better on her own.
  
• She is happier when she is awake.
  
• She goes to Ben and plays/snuggles with him. (She always wanted me instead of Ben.)
  

In Hallie's defense I realized that if I depended on someone for my food and sleep then I would be clingy too. Now she doesn't depend on me for sleep.  Hallelujah!!