I don't know about you but I really enjoying knowing everything. Obviously I. Know. Everything.
Especially about babies, even before I had a baby...and now that I have one- watch out.
Like every other mom, I could talk all day long about being a mom and my kids (*don't forget they range from 3.5 months to almost 20). We've got lots to say. Sometimes we even emulate a bunch of hens clucking, it's impressive. What I want to share most recently are three things I KNEW I would never do as a mom. For the sake of this three part post we'll stick to things I'd never do with the baby- my journey with female teenagers is flawless...or would just take too long to write out
*Obviously I started having babies at 11 years old. PSYCH. It's a much better story than that.
I figure I'll start with the biggie. It's mostly "big" because everyone else thinks it is...
BREAST FEEDING
Don't be confused. I never KNEW I wouldN'T breastfeed. On the contrary, I knew I wouldn't bottle feed. Funny thing, just like everything else in life, you can't CONTROL whether or not you have to bottle feed (for me, because I couldn't breastfeed) Zing.
I thought we were doing great in the hospital after Charlotte was born. It felt so right and she seemed to be pretty into it too. I cherish those early weeks of feeding her this way, especially since now she is very connected to my chest and loves falling asleep there- can ya blame a kid? Those make for a pretty cozy pillow. God knew what he was doing with that Eve gal.
While I did try to breastfeed for almost a month, we were forced to supplement with formula on day 4 of Lotti's life. Another situation that proves the rule: Follow your instincts. Sweet girl was born on a Friday and by Monday morning I knew something was wrong. She was not getting what she needed out of me, no matter how much I wanted to provide that sustenance for her. If I wasn't producing and giving her the only food she could consume, how was I any different than someone that wasn't her mother? Note: I also thought I'd NEVER think such irrational things. I mean, dramatic much?
After three weeks of 30 minute pumping seshes (so miserable) only to get drops of breastmilk, and making my poor baby so frustrated that she was doing so great at feeding but reaping nothing- we went 100% formula. In all honestly, she was getting100% all along, I was just giving her the mere drops I could on top of it...literally on top- I would pour my pathetic amount of milk from the pump bottle on top of her already assembled formula bottle.
I had talked (and cried to) a feeding consultant, I had done everything I could- including drinking a few beers, a very medically proven way to stimulate production and feel better about life. And it just wasn't in the cards for us.
My expert advise for new mothers in my predicament (remember, I DO know it all):
1. Talk to your husband about it often. He will listen and be much more logical about the whole thing than you are. He doesn't want to see you or his newborn struggling so hard.
2. Stop worrying about what other people think. No one is really judging you. And if they are...they probably need to get some sort of hobby. I was going to write "screw 'em" but I decided to be nice...then I wrote it here...so I'm not really that nice I guess.
3. Enjoy every minute of feeding your sweet baby their bottle. Charlotte and I LOVE bottle time. Her daddy loves it too. Our eyes never leave each other and I am so satisfied knowing she is thriving and super into her "bubba." Watching your baby lose weight because she's not getting enough to eat (from said breast) is just NOT cool.
4. Use this as an opportunity to practice being okay with doing what works for you, not what you thought or KNEW you'd do.
Upcoming Part II: That Damn Binky.
Especially about babies, even before I had a baby...and now that I have one- watch out.
Like every other mom, I could talk all day long about being a mom and my kids (*don't forget they range from 3.5 months to almost 20). We've got lots to say. Sometimes we even emulate a bunch of hens clucking, it's impressive. What I want to share most recently are three things I KNEW I would never do as a mom. For the sake of this three part post we'll stick to things I'd never do with the baby- my journey with female teenagers is flawless...or would just take too long to write out
*Obviously I started having babies at 11 years old. PSYCH. It's a much better story than that.
I figure I'll start with the biggie. It's mostly "big" because everyone else thinks it is...
BREAST FEEDING
Don't be confused. I never KNEW I wouldN'T breastfeed. On the contrary, I knew I wouldn't bottle feed. Funny thing, just like everything else in life, you can't CONTROL whether or not you have to bottle feed (for me, because I couldn't breastfeed) Zing.
I thought we were doing great in the hospital after Charlotte was born. It felt so right and she seemed to be pretty into it too. I cherish those early weeks of feeding her this way, especially since now she is very connected to my chest and loves falling asleep there- can ya blame a kid? Those make for a pretty cozy pillow. God knew what he was doing with that Eve gal.
While I did try to breastfeed for almost a month, we were forced to supplement with formula on day 4 of Lotti's life. Another situation that proves the rule: Follow your instincts. Sweet girl was born on a Friday and by Monday morning I knew something was wrong. She was not getting what she needed out of me, no matter how much I wanted to provide that sustenance for her. If I wasn't producing and giving her the only food she could consume, how was I any different than someone that wasn't her mother? Note: I also thought I'd NEVER think such irrational things. I mean, dramatic much?
After three weeks of 30 minute pumping seshes (so miserable) only to get drops of breastmilk, and making my poor baby so frustrated that she was doing so great at feeding but reaping nothing- we went 100% formula. In all honestly, she was getting100% all along, I was just giving her the mere drops I could on top of it...literally on top- I would pour my pathetic amount of milk from the pump bottle on top of her already assembled formula bottle.
I had talked (and cried to) a feeding consultant, I had done everything I could- including drinking a few beers, a very medically proven way to stimulate production and feel better about life. And it just wasn't in the cards for us.
My expert advise for new mothers in my predicament (remember, I DO know it all):
1. Talk to your husband about it often. He will listen and be much more logical about the whole thing than you are. He doesn't want to see you or his newborn struggling so hard.
2. Stop worrying about what other people think. No one is really judging you. And if they are...they probably need to get some sort of hobby. I was going to write "screw 'em" but I decided to be nice...then I wrote it here...so I'm not really that nice I guess.
3. Enjoy every minute of feeding your sweet baby their bottle. Charlotte and I LOVE bottle time. Her daddy loves it too. Our eyes never leave each other and I am so satisfied knowing she is thriving and super into her "bubba." Watching your baby lose weight because she's not getting enough to eat (from said breast) is just NOT cool.
4. Use this as an opportunity to practice being okay with doing what works for you, not what you thought or KNEW you'd do.
Upcoming Part II: That Damn Binky.
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