I don’t watch The Office (The British version or the American version), but have really liked what little I have watched of comedian Ricky Gervais. Including this.
Archive for May, 2009
elmo on the brain
Saturday, May 30th, 2009breast intentions
Friday, May 29th, 2009From the beginning we have struggled with breastfeeding. As a breastfeeding believer, I have had to dig deep at times to keep the faith. As soon as we barreled through one obstacle, another one was just around the corner. You name it, we dealt with it. But I was (am) destined to keep the holy booby juice flowing, despite our trials and tribulations (see below).
Latching On: Due to complications from my epidural, I leaked cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), resulting in a headache, light sensitivity and excruciating neck stiffness, making the first few days of breastfeeding almost impossible to do on my own. I relied on others to literally bring Haven to my breast to nurse, because I was unable to look down due to the pain. About three days after she was born I returned to the hospital to have epidural blood patch and began having better luck with nursing.
Mastitis: One morning during the first week home from the hospital I developed flu like symptoms, complete with an unusually high temperature and breast pain within a matter of hours. A dose of antibiotics knocked out those symptoms, along with frequent nursing, but it was definitely a speed bump in our breastfeeding path. (The subsequent drug rash from all the antibiotics wasn’t that fun, either. But, that’s a whole other story in itself.)
Ankyloglossia (aka tongue tie): At around five weeks we had Haven’s frenulum clipped. Most babies with tight frenulums have them clipped much earlier than Haven, because they are having difficulties nursing. Haven must have figured out how to make her tongue work, despite her tight frenulum, because she was definitely getting the milk she needed. However, my right nipple was suffering from her herculean efforts. After a consultation with a lactation consultant, who determined the nipple damage wasn’t due to poor latch, we had the frenulum clipped and shortly my nipple was on its way to healing.
Cracked Nipples: Several of my friends told me that breastfeeding makes your toes curl at the beginning and that is the most accurate description I can think of to describe some of those early days. Because of the tight frenulum, my right nipple was damaged essentially the first three months of nursing. My nipple is fully healed, however Haven now prefers to nurse on my left breast. I wonder if I subconsciously encouraged this (due to the painful nursing on my right)? Or, if my nipple has scar tissue from healing and the milk flows out differently?
Low Milk Supply: When Haven was around 5 1/2 months, she began nursing poorly during the day and waking at night to nurse. I assumed she was either teething or going through a growth spurt, but in the end it was all in part of a low milk supply. Through double pumping, fenugreek, Mother’s Milk Tea, oatmeal and an increase in my fluid intake, Haven soon began to nurse better. However, at around 7 months, she was stalling in her growth, and even after renting a hospital grade breast pump (in addition to the previous efforts) my milk supply remained low. Of course, nursing isn’t an exact science, but I don’t imagine Haven gets more than 20 oz. of breastmilk a day, including the milk I pump and at minimum she needs 24 oz.
After weeks of discussion, we decided last week to start supplementing with organic formula. This was an incredibly hard decision to make and we felt it was our best option. We did consider that I take Reglan, but the side effects include depression and while I am not an at risk candidate for depression, the last thing Haven needs is a dried-up depressed mama, because that won’t do her any good.
I am continuing all the tactics to keep my milk supply up. Whatever milk I pump, I give Haven through a sippy cup and have gradually introduced formula. Depending on the day, and how much I pump, she gets somewhere between 4 oz. and 8 oz. of formula. My hope is that I will be able to continue breastfeeding, while supplementing, until she’s one year and at the very least nurse her in the morning and the evening.
I am sure there are those who think I am crazy for continuing with this struggle. Many wonder why I don’t just stop. Honestly, I don’t know anybody else who has had this much difficulty nursing. Yes, I could stop nursing and exclusively give Haven formula, but for me that is the last resort. I’m planning on shaking my tatas for all they are worth…apparently, shaking your breasts prior to pumping helps empty the breast! I’ve been massaging while pumping and this weekend am going to try power pumping (Pumping for 10 minutes, resting for 10 for a total of 60 minutes. Basically, mimicing a baby who is cluster feeding.) to try an increase milk production.
Hi, ho. Hi, ho. It’s off to nurse I go.
bath toxins
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Are you using Johnson & Johnson baby bath products on your little one? Health advocates are urging the company to remove ingredients used in their baby bath products.
round, round, get around
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Right now I feel like we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. This week has been crazy and we are on full throttle towards summer. Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be a wild ride.
i heart grandpa
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
I love this picture taken last weekend. Haven is smitten with her grandma and grandpa and I think the feeling is mutual. Plus, Haven is wearing a Big Nana (Matt’s mother’s grandmother) sweater in this picture. Big Nana, who lived to be 101, made baby sweaters in her spare time, often to give away. While I met Big Nana at her big birthday bash when she turned 100, she passed away several years ago. But, her memory still lives on.
your best birth
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
In January of 2008, while I was pregnant, we began reconsidering where to give birth. We weren’t happy with the practice I was with…we wanted to find a practice that truly understood our birthing needs and wants. In the end, we found such a place with Loudoun Community Midwives. Yes, it required an hour long trip to get to them which frightened my grandmother. But, in the end it worked out and we are convinced had Haven been born at any other hospital, with any other practice, we would have been labeled “failure to progress” and whisked off for a Cesarean.
Ricki Lake’s “Business of Being Born” was a driving force in the switch in providers when I was 30 weeks pregnant. Her new book, “Your Best Birth” lets women know they have options when it comes to birthing their children. It’s reassuring that we are not alone in this intense force of women (and men) determined to let women know their birthing options and (hopefully) making doctors, hospitals and insurance companies rethink how they are operating.
Knowledge is power, ladies. Know your options.
weekend wrapup
Monday, May 18th, 2009
First “big girl” bathtub bath
“Big girl” car seat installation
Beach house dreams
Organic safeway baby foods, including lentils with vegetables
A fender find (I bet you are wondering what THIS is all about!?!)
Passport photos (Unfortunately, we have to retake Haven’s photo.)
A fabulous friday
Saturday morning naps
Grilled pork tenderloins and crab cakes
i hate shopping
Saturday, May 16th, 2009It really pisses me off when:
- I have to go back to a store to return an item that was appeared to be sealed, but wasn’t. I have had to do this with a multi-pack of milk (one of the inside cartons was leaky) and a package of lunch meat. I can’t tell you how often this seems to happen to me, and now that I have an infant I don’t have the time to inspect every item I purchase. And, when it leaks all over my car or refrigerator, I get really, REALLY pissed.
- I have to return printed pictures that are defective.
- I have to go back to have Haven’s passport picture retaken. They took the picture with Matt’s arm in the background and according to the FAQ’s online:
Can a parent or guardian appear in the photo of a minor child?
No, the minor child must be the only subject in the photo. Nothing used to support the minor child, whether by mechanical or human means, should be in the camera’s frame.
The last thing I am going to do is send off passport paperwork with a picture they might reject. The stupid lady made a “stool” for Haven with a box…that was four flippin feet off the concrete floor. When I inquired about Matt’s arm being in the picture, she said she was going to crop it.
- I purchase something that is expired. Or, just about to expire.
- I inadvertently purchase the wrong thing.
- I get home from shopping, only to realize that I forgot to get the one thing I went to that store in the first place. I rarely go anywhere without a list, these days.
- I get home from shopping, only to realize an item I purchase didn’t make it home with me.
In the past month or so, ALL of these things have happened to me. Am I on Candid Camera? For those of you who are shoppers, and shop way more than I do, how do you cope when this happens? How do you continue enjoying shopping when it just seems like more hassle than it’s worth?
I’m thinking about starting a support group and/or seeking therapy.
just mix and serve
Friday, May 15th, 2009Ingredients for the perfect Friday:
A well-rested (and well-nursed) Haven. Long naps optional.
Panini sandwiches at Caboose Cafe for lunch.
Salmon (or buffalo) for dinner at Del Merei Grille.
A beer or two.
A quick drive around Old Town Alexandria.
And, the extra special secret ingredient?
My gorgeous Californian cousin, Brooke, who happened to be on the east coast and popped in to see us.
Bake in the upper 70s for several hours and serve. Delicious.
There is some room for improvement, though. I’d like to have taken a picture (why do I always forget to take a damn picture!?!) and of course, meet the boy.
happy hump day
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009What a fun day! A friend from college (who now lives in Atlanta) called to say she was in town and her business lunch was canceled…did I want to do lunch? I whipped up some egg salad sandwiches, grabbed some pretzels and a couple of pieces of buttermilk pie that I made last night and headed out for an impromptu picnic by the Potomac. Haven played with her toys while we enjoyed our lunch and caught up. Then, after lunch I even had time to quickly meet up with some other neighborhood mamas where Haven met up with some hunky older boys. Wish I took pictures, but it was such a whirlwind of an afternoon!