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Have you ever smelled something funky and can’t figure out where it’s coming from? Like, is it me? Does my shirt smell like mildew? Is that my hair smelling like moldy vegetables? Or is it the baby? Why can’t I find that smell!?
Sometimes, as a new (totally, completely, 100% exhausted mama) you just don’t have the energy to locate the source of the odorous offense. That’s me right now. My husband said he doesn’t smell anything so I’m ok with that. If it’s me, at least I’m the only one who smells it. *insert shrug here*
P.S. I totally forgot how to spell “completely” so I let autofill put that in for me. Thank you, Apple. #thesearemyconfessions
Anywho, that has nothing to do with today’s post but I had to get it off my chest (but not really because I still smell it..)
She’s Here!
My littlest angel was born on May 18th at 6:14 p.m. She was 3 weeks early but she was ready to enter the world. And I’m so in love with her. In fact, I’m completely obsessed with my children. Is that weird?
This is what I like to refer to as “milk drunk.” She definitely gets the good stuff. 😍 And she looks so much like her big sister it’s a little scary.
We were expecting her to be a big ‘un like her sister. For one, I had Gestational diabetes and two, according to the sonogram tech 4 days before delivery, she was measuring at 8lbs. But alas, my princess was 7lbs, 8oz. And she’s absolutely perfect. I can’t stop staring at her and daddy hardly ever puts her down. Men with daughters, amIright?
Here We Go Again
I wrote about my struggles with breastfeeding Nina in this post. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever tried to do in my life. We were able to get some of mama’s good stuff for about 5 months (in addition to supplementing with formula) but my goal was 1 year.
Well, here we are again. I’m not going to start this journey off in a negative space. I’m not. I’m determined to breastfeed for as long as I can again and hopefully that will be the entire 12 months.
But we’re starting off a little rough already.
I’m more mindful of my caloric intake this time around so I’m definitely eating. And everyone says the key to pumping mass quantities of this liquid gold is to drink lots and lots of water. (Although, according to kellymom, drinking more water than is necessary – like outside of thirst – does not increase milk supply.) So I’ve been chugging water like the world’s supply is going to dry up before I have a chance to get a refill. (And apparently, caffeine (aka coffee!) is not good for increasing milk supply. I mean, can I live?? Seriously. 😒)
I’ve also made a batch of lactation cookies, I drink Mother’s Milk tea daily, and I’m pumping right after I nurse. And so far, the most I’ve gotten is about 1 1/2oz. That’s a little discouraging but it’s something.
Side note: A friend of mine (who happens to be a nurse and also has a newborn) turned me on to the term “lazy boob.” While my left breast will yield anywhere from 1/2oz to 2oz on its own in a single session, I’ve never gotten more than 1/2oz out of the right. So yeah, Struggletown, U.S.A. But I’m trying. Really, really hard.
So Much Pressure
The pressure to be a breastfeeding pro is real. And so is the struggle. I realize my stress and anxiety about breastfeeding probably led to a lot of the difficulties I had the first time around. It’s all a mind game. But isn’t everything?
I feel pressure to be successful with this. I feel pressure to fill up my freezer with bags of frozen milk. I feel pressure that my daughter gains weight and has those cute little wrist creases like fat babies have. (I’m completely obsessed with the wrist creases and the dimpled hands. So. Stinkin. Cute.) I feel pressure to supplement with formula (like I did with Nina) because she’s not gaining a ton of weight.
But in the back of my mind I know I got this. I’ve read a lot of Pinterest posts about the best ways to increase milk production and a lot of them say to just relax. Visualize your baby. Pump close to her. In fact, pump while she nurses. (Probably won’t be doing this because it’s just too much. Nursing and pumping at the same time? Umm, no. Besides, my daughter nurses on both sides because she’s greedy. Despite her small size.)
So when I go to pump, I do take a chill pill. And I scroll through my Facebook or Instagram feeds. Or take a lap around Pinterest. Or read a book. (Right now I’m reading How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh and it’s not only entertaining but puts me in a good headspace.)
Btw, I made my own hands-free pumping bra. I basically followed these steps with an old/inexpensive sports bra. And I love it.
Then, when I’m finished, I celebrate my pumping success (whether it be mere drops or the 2 1/2oz I literally JUST pumped #winning!) with a nice hot cup of decaf. And cuddles with my little miss 😊
My first freezer bag of breast milk! P.S. I love Lansinoh products. I even use the Lansinoh pump. But that’s a post for another day. 😉
So what is your experience with breastfeeding/pumping? Do you have any advice for me? Leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
XOXO
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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard
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