Breasfeeding: A Series {Position}

 

Photo Credit: Raphael Goetter
 

I  knew I was in trouble the moment I attempted to nurse for the first time.  You see women nursing with their babies cradled in their arms and it looks so natural.  When I tried to do that, I realized that the babies neck was not at a natural angle and was not getting a good latch.  It hit me that I had no idea how to hold her.  The nurses quickly corrected her positioning a bit but I couldn't figure out how to do it comfortably.

I wasn’t until I had the lactation consultant visit me at home that I was shown the Cross-Cradle Position, which is how I still nurse.  I know someone who holds the baby in the Football, or Clutch, Position and is able to walk and multitask while nursing.  Others prefer laying down with their babies. I have tried various positions but none of them feel as good to me as the Cross Cradle.  You find what you are comfortable with.  

The most important thing to remember when breastfeeding is how your baby is positioned.  Baby must be facing you, tummy to tummy (unless the hold does not permit).  Baby’s nose and mouth should be directly in front of the nipple and offset just enough so that the baby needs to open wide and jut their chin onto your chest.  If the baby has to turn or wriggle for comfort, the latch will suffer.  When the latch is wrong it leaves Mom sore and baby unsatisfied, so this is really important.  This diagram is a great visual for proper latch when Breastfeeding.

It is also important to remember your own comfort.  My favorite place to nurse is in a firm leather chair that we have in our family room.  My feet are set flat, my back needs just a small pillow for support and the arms are perfect for propping a pillow to support my arms.  I have nursed in many uncomfortable positions and it has taken it’s toll on me physically.  I tend to hunch and strain when I am not focused and my upper back and neck scream sometimes.  I suffered from pinched nerves in my left shoulder after having two under two because of bad habits I have tried hard to break.

I also recommend the assistance of a nursing pillow.  Some people say it facilitates bad form, but I could not disagree more.  I have both the Boppy and My Brest Friend and I love both for different things.  

The My Brest Friend is wonderful for the early days when you are learning because it stays put. There is no sliding, slouching or adjusting.  You buckle it around you and you are good to go.  I keep this one in my bedroom to use at night, sitting on my bed.  When I am groggy and disoriented in the middle of the night, I like the structure it provides.

The Boppy supports you when you are sitting in a chair or on the floor (which sometimes I do when I am playing with the older kids).  I also love the Boppy for bottle feeding.  It's great support for the arms and baby.  It’s easy to adjust and remove if necessary and it multitasks as a pillow for the baby. I lay the baby down on it to keep him elevated (with supervision), place him on his belly for extra lift at tummy time and to prop the kids up when they are just learning to sit on their own and need support. It’s also an awesome neck pillow when baby is done with it ;)

What tips do have for new Moms on this topic?  What position was your favorite?

The next installment of the series will be on Milk Supply.

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Breasfeeding: A Series {My Story}

 

Photo Credit: Raphael Goetter,

When it comes to the great breastfeeding debate, I have stood on both sides.  When I became pregnant with my first, I was dead set against using formula or bottles unless they were absolutely necessary.  It never occurred to me that I may not be good at breastfeeding or have a low supply.  I can’t for the life of me think why I didn’t prepare more for other possibilities because that is at the core of my being.  I have a really hard time focusing in on one thing and putting all of my eggs in one basket.

This Is Our Story

When my daughter was born, she wouldn’t latch.  I was a new mother and learning the art of nursing just as she was and it seemed like everything that I tried failed.  We lasted 3 full days of tears (both hers and mine) and finally I received help from a lactation consultant that knew what she was doing.  My insurance company offered the option of a visiting nurse/consultant and I reluctantly took the help, unsure of what she could do for me.  By the time she arrived Princess had lost quite a bit of weight and my stress level was through the roof.  

The nurse was very helpful.  She examined me and the baby and explained what might be wrong.  She discussed different ways to go about fixing the situation.  She was patient and kind and just what I needed......but 3 days too late.  I highly recommend taking any help you are offered even if you think you know it all.  I have learned new things with each baby.

I was suffering from Postpartum Depression and the stress of everything was making me a crazy person.  I continued exclusively breastfeeding for 3 more weeks (3 torturous, sleepless weeks of screaming and crying...) and then I finally gave into introducing formula.  Princess ate like I had never seen.  She was still a fussy baby but she finally seemed satisfied after a feeding.  Giving her a bottle became a time of peace for me.  It was solace when nursing felt like such a struggle.  I continued nursing for another 3 months while supplementing 1-2 times each day with formula.  Once I went back to work my measly supply dwindled even more and I switched to formula completely at 4 months.  At that point I also consulted my doctor about my PPD and was put on medication.  Things go a lot better after that.

I have thought back on that time and wondered if the PPD was to blame for my lack of supply.  Stress can definitely affect it and I had a very hard time eating and drinking.  I know it contributed to the stress and the stress added to the depression.  It was a bad cycle. However, I would see the same thing happen with my boys despite my increased efforts.

The idea of nursing my son when he was born stressed me out before we even got to it.  He latched well, but he was a ravenous and I never felt like he got enough.  Again, I suffered from PPD but sought treatment much earlier.  I decided that I would follow the exact same schedule with him as I did with his sister and introduced formula at 3 weeks old.  I stopped nursing at 4 months.

Before Nemo was born, I could tell depression was already seeping in.  I began a very low dose of medication at 35 weeks in attempt to keep it in check.  For the most part, it seemed to work.  I still had the "baby blues, " but I was much more functional this time around.   Nemo was born trying to find something to put in his mouth.  He latched right away and nursed almost non stop.  The nurses at the hospital even told me to take it slower.  This is my first baby that has done well nursing, but he also lost the most weight of all of them.  The doctor had me supplementing at 1 week old and we never looked back.  I decided not to put the additional stress of pumping on myself.  I learned with my first two that I didn’t have to force myself into anything.  My babies are healthy, happy, smart and well adjusted.  Formula has helped me meet their needs and I am grateful that science has come so far as to replicate mother’s milk so perfectly.  Nemo, just like his siblings, is getting my antibodies and all the benefits that breastfeeding offers.  He will continue until my supply gives out, just like with the others.  

Despite what you may hear or feel pressure to do, you need to do what is best for you and your family.  I wanted to share my experience because there seems to be shame and guilt associated with our choices as mothers and I know that reading the stories of other mothers gives me a feeling of fellowship.  I hope it does the same for you.

This was a LONG introduction to a new series on Breastfeeding.  I hope you will join me!

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The Ultimate Memorial Day Menu

Photo Credit: Chichacha

This week will be all about salads because Memorial Day Weekend is going to be a pig out sesh!!!

My Dream Cookout would taste like this:

Mexican Layer Dip
Fruit Salad
The Perfect Burger (The LA Burger)
The Chicago Dog
Southern Corn Bread
Barefoot Contessa's Mac and Cheese
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Patriotic Berry Trifle And/Or Mixed Berry Cheesecake (probably more And, not Or....)

Generous Amounts of these too:
The Worlds Best Frozen Margarita
Miller Chill (my summer staple)

There is more there than what I could possible eat in one sitting (try as I may), but that's what the whole weekend is for ;)

Join me over on Pinterest and take a look at my Memorial Day/Fourth of July Board!

Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out Menu Plan Monday! 

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Friday Pics

Today I am sharing some pictures.  Some are from my Instagram feed and others are from my personal collection.

{New Shed // Hula Hooping // Baby Feet // Mother's Day Gift // Fairy Catching // Me // Flowers //Sunset}

How To Dry Nail Polish Quickly

As a busy mom, I often forgo the simple luxuries that I once took for granted.  This includes nice looking nails.  I love to get manicures and pedicures, but I can't bring myself to pay for them.  And scheduling the time to do it is even worse -  I just don't go.

Doing my nails at home is the only way they get done at all, but then I have to find the time to let them dry and that means that I can't be doing anything else so I don't mess them up.  That doesn't happen either.

What's my trick?

Drying my nails in the the shower (or washing dishes)!

Sounds counter intuitive, right?

I didn't believe in it at first either.

My aunt once told me that she noticed if she did the dishes after painting her nails, they seemed to be dry faster.  She hypothesized that it had something to do with the dish soap.  I considered it, but I was a teenager with loads of time on her hands.

Fast forward to now - three kids, no privacy or time to myself unless I'm in the bathroom (and that is only about 40% of the time...)


 

1.  Swipe nail polish remover over the old polish, not necessarily removing all of it, because this allows some cleanliness and texture for the new polish to adhere to.
 

2.  Apply 1-2 coats of polish (depending on your brand).
 

3.  Wait 1-2 minutes to let it set.
 

4.  Hop in the shower.  DONE!

I take about 10-15 minutes in the shower and by the time I am done, my nails are dent proof :)

This same technique can be applied to your manicure if you choose to wash dishes or simply soak your hands in a bowl of ice water and apply dish soap.

I do this for my daughter, too, because she's four, loves her nails painted and can't sit still very long.

And no, this doesn't seem to affect the integrity of the polish.  Mine chips much sooner using one of those quick dry top coats.

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