So I had read that many babies LOVE to fall asleep with their moms' hands on their face or on their back, and the minute the mom moves it away he/she wakes up. In my many adventures in the little time that I've been a mom I hadn't experienced it, until today. My very active baby was finally giving in to his sleep while mommy carried him, shushing around the house and rocking him (oh yeah! it takes most of the 5 S's for my little one to fall asleep and he's 5 months). And when he finally closed his eyes, I held him for five more minutes and then slowly and carefully put my snuggly baby in the playard for a nap. To my surprise, as I undid my arms little by little he didn't seem to mind. But when it came to my hand, he refused to let go. I gently moved his fingers one by one and in an instant almost woke him up. I left my hand there for a few more seconds and when I was sure that he was sleeping, I made my move. And success, baby was sleeping and mommy can have dinner before his next feeding.
Sounds intricate doesn't it? Has this happened to you? If so, have you had to leave your hand with your baby to let him/her sleep? Or does your baby have another comfort habit?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
To pack and play, but where?
I'm a bit late to the pack and play (also known as playard) game since my son is 4 months old and I just got one. And now that I have one, where do I put it?
The hubby and I decided that it would go in the family room right now since we don't have any other cushioned surface in that area. However, he wanted it in the corner next to a wall so it wouldn't look so obstrusive in our very modern family room. The thing is that the whole purpose of having a pack and play is so that I can be in the kitchen or working while sitting in the family room and being able to see the baby playing from different angles. So after both sides presenting our reasoning and some frustration on my part, the hubby gave in and decided to leave it right smack in the middle of our family room where I originally suggested. Also, it is where I could also see the baby from the kitchen. Note: I have an open kitchen that is right next to my family room.
The hubby and I decided that it would go in the family room right now since we don't have any other cushioned surface in that area. However, he wanted it in the corner next to a wall so it wouldn't look so obstrusive in our very modern family room. The thing is that the whole purpose of having a pack and play is so that I can be in the kitchen or working while sitting in the family room and being able to see the baby playing from different angles. So after both sides presenting our reasoning and some frustration on my part, the hubby gave in and decided to leave it right smack in the middle of our family room where I originally suggested. Also, it is where I could also see the baby from the kitchen. Note: I have an open kitchen that is right next to my family room.
And now I'm strongly considering buying those padded, colorful mats that you see at daycare centers for my family room so that the baby can play freely (and I'll be with him of course). But after a lot of research, are those things safe?
I went on Amazon when I woke up at around 4:30 a.m. (I was so tired that I fell asleep with all of my clothes and jewelry on at 8:30 p.m.) this morning and lots of reviews said that they smell like those permanent markers and that the colors come off and on some, the removable parts are choking hazards (YIKES!). What are is your experience with them? Would you recommend them? I saw one called the SoftSpot and it looks nice but at $100 for just the mat (cover is another $40), I'm not so sure about it. Do you have one of those and is it a product that you can't live without?
I'm dying to know what other parents do about this. And have you had the discussion as to where the pack and play or other kid gear should go with your hubby and/or significant other? Did you end up with a pros and cons list? How did you decide? Did you get to pick where one went and he chose the other?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
How do moms relax?
Every day I seem to find myself running around from one thing to the next and from one place to another nonstop. My morning routine begins at about 6:30 a.m. and I don't sit down to veg out until my baby is sleeping around 8:30 p.m. As for food, I'm lucky if I eat three full meals a day as time seems to go by faster than I can remember.
I'm sure most of you can relate to this and I'm interested in knowing how other moms relax? Do you get a mani/ pedi once a week? Do you go for a run or take a yoga class? Or is it as simple as watching any of The Real Housewives series? Do you have a glass of wine with friends once a week?
Usually my relaxation routine would include going to bootcamp, ideally a kickboxing cardio class to let out all my stress from the week. But since I've been sick, it's been sitting on the couch to watch whatever RHW series is on. Although I may not particularly like all of them, I feel better knowing that I don't have their kind of problems. Other ways to relax can be as low key as drinking my favorite cup of tea right before going to bed and just sinking into my pillow before I doze off.
On the weekends I look forward to my family mornings taking walks in the park with my husband, son and dog. There is something about the fresh morning air that makes me feel so energized. What do you do on the weekends to forget the stressful week?
I'm sure most of you can relate to this and I'm interested in knowing how other moms relax? Do you get a mani/ pedi once a week? Do you go for a run or take a yoga class? Or is it as simple as watching any of The Real Housewives series? Do you have a glass of wine with friends once a week?
Usually my relaxation routine would include going to bootcamp, ideally a kickboxing cardio class to let out all my stress from the week. But since I've been sick, it's been sitting on the couch to watch whatever RHW series is on. Although I may not particularly like all of them, I feel better knowing that I don't have their kind of problems. Other ways to relax can be as low key as drinking my favorite cup of tea right before going to bed and just sinking into my pillow before I doze off.
On the weekends I look forward to my family mornings taking walks in the park with my husband, son and dog. There is something about the fresh morning air that makes me feel so energized. What do you do on the weekends to forget the stressful week?
Friday, January 20, 2012
Daycare Dilema
Every working mom has the option of putting her baby in daycare or hiring a nanny to come to your house and if you're really lucky you have a family member who can take care of your darling. In my case, daycare worked best. And all was going fine until I heard my son's peer at daycare coughing one of these mornings. Surely enough, the next day he had a cold. His little cold turned into a big cold that both mom and dad caught right away.
Fast forward a few days later and now my husband, the baby and I are all on antibiotics. The cold morphed into an upper respiratory infection that has taken over our lives for the past two months. If there was a group for saline mist addicts I think all three of us would be enrolled as its the only thing that is safe and natural and that seems to calm our congested noses. Oh daycare, you're so convenient yet you are making us all so very sick!
With that in mind, what do you think is the best option for working moms? Do you take your child to daycare or did you decide to reprioritize and make mommyhood your career?
Fast forward a few days later and now my husband, the baby and I are all on antibiotics. The cold morphed into an upper respiratory infection that has taken over our lives for the past two months. If there was a group for saline mist addicts I think all three of us would be enrolled as its the only thing that is safe and natural and that seems to calm our congested noses. Oh daycare, you're so convenient yet you are making us all so very sick!
With that in mind, what do you think is the best option for working moms? Do you take your child to daycare or did you decide to reprioritize and make mommyhood your career?
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Baby Products You Can't Live Without
With so baby products on the market, it's so hard to tell which ones really make a difference. So to help us we read a ton of books to educate us. In the end, however, it's a mom's testimonial that can sway you in the right direction. My baby is almost four months old and by now I've learned what baby products make my life easier and which ones money were only hype. So from my brief experience, here is a quick list of my must haves- think gifts for your preggo friends or new moms. Note: none of the companies mentioned have asked me to write about their product or asked me to test them.
1. Baby carrier- While I'm loyal to the Moby Wrap, many friends and family members swear by Baby Bjorn. All I know is that when my baby is crying at the top of his lungs and his face is red, I gently place him into the Moby Wrap and the closeness to my heartbeat and chest calm him down AND I get two free hands to have a snack or do some reading while my baby relaxes. Apparently many women breastfeed while the baby is in the Moby Wrap, I'm not that talented.
2. Swaddle blankets or Swaddle Me- The first thing I learned about babies in the hospital was how to swaddle my baby. And while the nurse did a fantastic job of teaching my hubby and I how to do it, not all blankets are created equal leading your baby to Houdini his way out of his swaddle. Therefor, I strongly recommend investing in a few Swaddle Me type outfits that keep the baby tight at night helping him to sleep longer. After all, swaddled baby means happy parents.
3. Pacifier wipes and hands/face wipes- Do you have any idea how often an infant drops his pacifier in one day? And while you may have like 10 pacifiers, somehow when he's falling asleep and you're nowhere near another pacifier the one he has just happens to fall to the ground. Enter pacifier wipes to make your life easier and keep moms everywhere a little bit further away from going insane. To add to that, the hands and face wipes come in very handy after a baby spits up and you don't have the time to give your baby a bath right then and there. (But please, if your baby is spitting up constantly do bathe him more than the recommended 3 times a week.)
4. Breastfeeding pillow- I know that this isn't a necessity, but it sure makes your life easier. My hubby bought me a Boppy pillow and I absolutely adore it. I go from room to room in my house with my Boppy as it serves multiple purposes. One use is to facilitate breastfeeding, but my favorite one is to put my baby to sleep. Yes, there is a version of the Boppy pillow that is strictly for newborns. But I simply put a receiving blanket over it and close it and the baby LOVES to sleep there. He must feel warm and cozy. Whatever it is, I'm just happy he is able to sleep and that I can put the pillow on my bed or on the couch next to me when I'm watching TV.
5. Baby monitor- Whether it is the one that only provides sound or a high-tech one with a touchscreen digital monitor, this will provid peace of mind to any parent. In those rare occassions when my baby is sleeping in his crib and I'm in the kitchen or family room, I simply take the monitor and enjoy some time to myself. Think about it, alone time is extremely limited so why not help out a new mom with a monitor?
6. Bouncer or swing- I preface this by saying that my child doesn't fancy either one, but he's one of the few who doesn't like them. My doll of a niece on the other hand loved her swing/bouncer. How I wish my son enjoyed at least one.
7. Noise machine or white noise CD- So they say babies enjoy white noise because it makes them feel like they did when they were in the womb, and I believe it. My baby easily relaxes at the sound of any white noise- let's just say that the exhaust in my kitchen has become my best friend especially at 4 am when he decides he won't go back to sleep and needs to more attention than usual. They range in price from $10 for a disc to about $50 for a more sophisticated noise machine. Huge return on investment here.
8. Infant Toys- Fisher Price has this dancing and singing dog that my baby just goes crazy for. As for me, I love it. Not only is it educational but also my husband and I have learned the songs and sing along- it's become quite the family affair to play with my son and the Fisher Price doggy on a daily basis. We received it as a gift but I think it's not more than $20. My sons other favorite toy is Sophie the French giraffe. Oh let me count the ways that I love Sophie. While a bit pricey for one toy, she definately keeps my son entertained- he chews on her, squeezes her to make the squeaky noise and holds her long giraffe legs. I feel that this is a toy that grows with the baby. By far, one of the best gifts- thank you to Enzo's godmother for such a thoughtful gift.
9. Socks not shoes- I've had the hardes time finding shoes that fit my newborn (now soon to be a 4 month old). So I decided to forgo the socks and buy the socks that look like shoes- Trumpette and Carters have some really good choices. Not only do they cover his feet but they don't bother him. When he's old enough for shoes, we'll start looking.
10. Bumbo chair- It is all that and a bag of chips. After a few months of sleeping on their backs (as recommended by pediatricians) your baby may suffer from flat head syndrome. To help with their heads becoming completely flat, try sitting them up in the Bumbo chair. Although my son doesn't like to sit in it, well because he doesn't like to sit still period, I still love it. Friends have raved about this product so it is with no hesitation that I tell you invest in one for yourself or your friends.
1. Baby carrier- While I'm loyal to the Moby Wrap, many friends and family members swear by Baby Bjorn. All I know is that when my baby is crying at the top of his lungs and his face is red, I gently place him into the Moby Wrap and the closeness to my heartbeat and chest calm him down AND I get two free hands to have a snack or do some reading while my baby relaxes. Apparently many women breastfeed while the baby is in the Moby Wrap, I'm not that talented.
2. Swaddle blankets or Swaddle Me- The first thing I learned about babies in the hospital was how to swaddle my baby. And while the nurse did a fantastic job of teaching my hubby and I how to do it, not all blankets are created equal leading your baby to Houdini his way out of his swaddle. Therefor, I strongly recommend investing in a few Swaddle Me type outfits that keep the baby tight at night helping him to sleep longer. After all, swaddled baby means happy parents.
3. Pacifier wipes and hands/face wipes- Do you have any idea how often an infant drops his pacifier in one day? And while you may have like 10 pacifiers, somehow when he's falling asleep and you're nowhere near another pacifier the one he has just happens to fall to the ground. Enter pacifier wipes to make your life easier and keep moms everywhere a little bit further away from going insane. To add to that, the hands and face wipes come in very handy after a baby spits up and you don't have the time to give your baby a bath right then and there. (But please, if your baby is spitting up constantly do bathe him more than the recommended 3 times a week.)
4. Breastfeeding pillow- I know that this isn't a necessity, but it sure makes your life easier. My hubby bought me a Boppy pillow and I absolutely adore it. I go from room to room in my house with my Boppy as it serves multiple purposes. One use is to facilitate breastfeeding, but my favorite one is to put my baby to sleep. Yes, there is a version of the Boppy pillow that is strictly for newborns. But I simply put a receiving blanket over it and close it and the baby LOVES to sleep there. He must feel warm and cozy. Whatever it is, I'm just happy he is able to sleep and that I can put the pillow on my bed or on the couch next to me when I'm watching TV.
5. Baby monitor- Whether it is the one that only provides sound or a high-tech one with a touchscreen digital monitor, this will provid peace of mind to any parent. In those rare occassions when my baby is sleeping in his crib and I'm in the kitchen or family room, I simply take the monitor and enjoy some time to myself. Think about it, alone time is extremely limited so why not help out a new mom with a monitor?
6. Bouncer or swing- I preface this by saying that my child doesn't fancy either one, but he's one of the few who doesn't like them. My doll of a niece on the other hand loved her swing/bouncer. How I wish my son enjoyed at least one.
7. Noise machine or white noise CD- So they say babies enjoy white noise because it makes them feel like they did when they were in the womb, and I believe it. My baby easily relaxes at the sound of any white noise- let's just say that the exhaust in my kitchen has become my best friend especially at 4 am when he decides he won't go back to sleep and needs to more attention than usual. They range in price from $10 for a disc to about $50 for a more sophisticated noise machine. Huge return on investment here.
8. Infant Toys- Fisher Price has this dancing and singing dog that my baby just goes crazy for. As for me, I love it. Not only is it educational but also my husband and I have learned the songs and sing along- it's become quite the family affair to play with my son and the Fisher Price doggy on a daily basis. We received it as a gift but I think it's not more than $20. My sons other favorite toy is Sophie the French giraffe. Oh let me count the ways that I love Sophie. While a bit pricey for one toy, she definately keeps my son entertained- he chews on her, squeezes her to make the squeaky noise and holds her long giraffe legs. I feel that this is a toy that grows with the baby. By far, one of the best gifts- thank you to Enzo's godmother for such a thoughtful gift.
9. Socks not shoes- I've had the hardes time finding shoes that fit my newborn (now soon to be a 4 month old). So I decided to forgo the socks and buy the socks that look like shoes- Trumpette and Carters have some really good choices. Not only do they cover his feet but they don't bother him. When he's old enough for shoes, we'll start looking.
10. Bumbo chair- It is all that and a bag of chips. After a few months of sleeping on their backs (as recommended by pediatricians) your baby may suffer from flat head syndrome. To help with their heads becoming completely flat, try sitting them up in the Bumbo chair. Although my son doesn't like to sit in it, well because he doesn't like to sit still period, I still love it. Friends have raved about this product so it is with no hesitation that I tell you invest in one for yourself or your friends.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Power of the Boobie
Before I became a mom, I had no idea of the challenges that women go through to breastfeed their babies. Of course I read books and magazines while I was pregnant, but none of them quite conveyed how horrible breastfeeding can be for the mom. For me, it has been one of of the most difficult experiences in my life and I never expected it to be this way. I imagined it to be a magical time for bonding with my baby, but instead it became the time I feared the most and literally made me want to cry just thinking about it.
In one word, breastfeeding to me was horrible. Yes, I said horrible. And by that I mean painful, hurtful, embarassing, frustrating, depressing and the list goes on.
THE UGLY TRUTH
In my quest to grasp this new experience, I came across an article on ways to master breastfeeding in a popular fitness magazine for pregnant women and there was only one line in it about breastfeeding being "challenging". Forgive me, but it is far from challenging- it is excruciatingly difficult and experts are needed on hand to make sure you get it right.
What is so bad about it? Well, there are the cracked, bloody nipples that make you feel like a bad mother for not wanting to latch your angelic baby. You know the same baby that is slowly destroying what's left of your nipple with what feel like Freddy Krugger's sharp and pointy blades for gums. Then there's engorgement (when your boobies turn into rocks because you're not feeding as much as you should) to make you feel that you're being punished for not feeding your child. And to top it off, there's the psychological shame of what's best and right for your baby since most literature on feeding clearly state that breastfeeding is best for your child making women feel like a failure for choosing to feed with formula over nature's wholesome beverage.
SUPERFEEDERS
Now I'm aware that there are super moms out there who breastfeed as easily as they drink water. I like to call them the superfeeders, the women who make breastfeeding look as routine as washing your hands and who have so much milk that don't know what to do with it. How I wish I was like them. If you're one of them, I'd love to hear from you. How was it? Did you have any issues? Did you feed any and everywhere? I want to know all about how it should be!
I've been so stressed with my breastfeeding that my wonderful husband got me a massage to take my mind off of the topic. But as fate would have it, my masseuse was a superfeeder and possible one of the most generouse people (keep reading). As I was telling her about my problem areas and the type of massage that I was looking for, I mentioned that I was a new mom and so we began talking about all things babies particurly breastfeeding. She then went on to tell me the story of how she had so much milk that she would fill a bottle of her breastmilk for a child in her community with upper respiratory problems whose mom didn't produce milk. The mom would stop by the masseuse's house every morning to pick up that one bottle to help her son get some of the antibodies he was meant to have.
If you are a superfeeder, would you consider doing the same for friend in need? Or better yet, would you help out another mom because you knew that her child's health would greatly benefit from your one feeding of breastmilk?
IT TAKES A SHERPA AND LOTS OF SUPPORT
My second day in the hospital my darling boy had me wishing me I had gone the formula route from day one, but I'm somewhat of a health nut and was determined to breastfeed. He, on the other hand, was determined to get milk no matter what he did to me. Let's just say the consequences were so bad that the nurse told me that if I wanted to continue breastfeeding I should supplement a feeding with formula or else I would be in such bad shape that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed at all. And I did supplement him with the little formula that newborns should have. But then I went home and tried to be super mom and continued to breastfeed- bad idea! Not only was I in the worst physical and mental pain I've ever experienced but also after a week the baby had lost too much weight. He wasn't latched on right which caused all my other problems and I wasn't producing enough milk either. On doctors orders, I had to suppplement every feeding with formula and even do some formula-only feedings to make sure my baby gained the weight back and more. However, I'm stubborn and couldn't comprehend that I live a healthy lifestyle and can't produce milk for my baby,so I kept at it despite the many moments of boobie desperation and despair.
But I only continued because I got help from a dearly loved friend, who I refer to as my sherpa (the people who help climbers reach the top of Mount Everest-- breastfeeding was my Mout Everest), that shared everything she learned to help me get through it. She came over to my house with what I'll call a Boobie Emergency Kit (think nipple shields, breast pads, lanolin lotion, gel packs...anything and everything to get a helpless and wailing breastfeeder back on track). Not only did she provide me with the goodies and the knowledge but she actually sat down with me and the baby like a $100 per session lactation specialist does and showed me how to properly latch my baby, the best ways to hold the baby as well as sharing her own horror stories making me feel like one of a million suffering moms who endured the pain to provide the best nutrition for her child. She fed her two daughters for a year. While that is way too ambitious for me, I commend her on being able to overcome the obstacles and now showing me why I should push my fear aside and continue regardless of the pain.
In the end, I didn't give up and I'm working to keep my baby healthy by providing as much breastmilk as I can. However, if for some reason I can't feed, don't have time to pump or need a boobie break, then I'm happy to supplement with formula. And I don't feel guilty about it. I wish though that someone had sat me down to tell me that breastfeeding would kick my behind and that it would get a lot worse before it would get better. I had a healthy, active pregnancy and an ultra quick, natural delivery making breastfeeding the most excruciating baby related pain to date. Be warned, while breastfeeding is mother nature's way of providing for a baby no one said she had to be nice about it.
In one word, breastfeeding to me was horrible. Yes, I said horrible. And by that I mean painful, hurtful, embarassing, frustrating, depressing and the list goes on.
THE UGLY TRUTH
In my quest to grasp this new experience, I came across an article on ways to master breastfeeding in a popular fitness magazine for pregnant women and there was only one line in it about breastfeeding being "challenging". Forgive me, but it is far from challenging- it is excruciatingly difficult and experts are needed on hand to make sure you get it right.
What is so bad about it? Well, there are the cracked, bloody nipples that make you feel like a bad mother for not wanting to latch your angelic baby. You know the same baby that is slowly destroying what's left of your nipple with what feel like Freddy Krugger's sharp and pointy blades for gums. Then there's engorgement (when your boobies turn into rocks because you're not feeding as much as you should) to make you feel that you're being punished for not feeding your child. And to top it off, there's the psychological shame of what's best and right for your baby since most literature on feeding clearly state that breastfeeding is best for your child making women feel like a failure for choosing to feed with formula over nature's wholesome beverage.
SUPERFEEDERS
Now I'm aware that there are super moms out there who breastfeed as easily as they drink water. I like to call them the superfeeders, the women who make breastfeeding look as routine as washing your hands and who have so much milk that don't know what to do with it. How I wish I was like them. If you're one of them, I'd love to hear from you. How was it? Did you have any issues? Did you feed any and everywhere? I want to know all about how it should be!
I've been so stressed with my breastfeeding that my wonderful husband got me a massage to take my mind off of the topic. But as fate would have it, my masseuse was a superfeeder and possible one of the most generouse people (keep reading). As I was telling her about my problem areas and the type of massage that I was looking for, I mentioned that I was a new mom and so we began talking about all things babies particurly breastfeeding. She then went on to tell me the story of how she had so much milk that she would fill a bottle of her breastmilk for a child in her community with upper respiratory problems whose mom didn't produce milk. The mom would stop by the masseuse's house every morning to pick up that one bottle to help her son get some of the antibodies he was meant to have.
If you are a superfeeder, would you consider doing the same for friend in need? Or better yet, would you help out another mom because you knew that her child's health would greatly benefit from your one feeding of breastmilk?
IT TAKES A SHERPA AND LOTS OF SUPPORT
My second day in the hospital my darling boy had me wishing me I had gone the formula route from day one, but I'm somewhat of a health nut and was determined to breastfeed. He, on the other hand, was determined to get milk no matter what he did to me. Let's just say the consequences were so bad that the nurse told me that if I wanted to continue breastfeeding I should supplement a feeding with formula or else I would be in such bad shape that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed at all. And I did supplement him with the little formula that newborns should have. But then I went home and tried to be super mom and continued to breastfeed- bad idea! Not only was I in the worst physical and mental pain I've ever experienced but also after a week the baby had lost too much weight. He wasn't latched on right which caused all my other problems and I wasn't producing enough milk either. On doctors orders, I had to suppplement every feeding with formula and even do some formula-only feedings to make sure my baby gained the weight back and more. However, I'm stubborn and couldn't comprehend that I live a healthy lifestyle and can't produce milk for my baby,so I kept at it despite the many moments of boobie desperation and despair.
But I only continued because I got help from a dearly loved friend, who I refer to as my sherpa (the people who help climbers reach the top of Mount Everest-- breastfeeding was my Mout Everest), that shared everything she learned to help me get through it. She came over to my house with what I'll call a Boobie Emergency Kit (think nipple shields, breast pads, lanolin lotion, gel packs...anything and everything to get a helpless and wailing breastfeeder back on track). Not only did she provide me with the goodies and the knowledge but she actually sat down with me and the baby like a $100 per session lactation specialist does and showed me how to properly latch my baby, the best ways to hold the baby as well as sharing her own horror stories making me feel like one of a million suffering moms who endured the pain to provide the best nutrition for her child. She fed her two daughters for a year. While that is way too ambitious for me, I commend her on being able to overcome the obstacles and now showing me why I should push my fear aside and continue regardless of the pain.
In the end, I didn't give up and I'm working to keep my baby healthy by providing as much breastmilk as I can. However, if for some reason I can't feed, don't have time to pump or need a boobie break, then I'm happy to supplement with formula. And I don't feel guilty about it. I wish though that someone had sat me down to tell me that breastfeeding would kick my behind and that it would get a lot worse before it would get better. I had a healthy, active pregnancy and an ultra quick, natural delivery making breastfeeding the most excruciating baby related pain to date. Be warned, while breastfeeding is mother nature's way of providing for a baby no one said she had to be nice about it.
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