The Soapbox

    My one pet peeve when I was pregnant was people trying to give me advice or tell me stories about their pregnancy experiences. Now that I'm on the other side of the issue, I realize that it's hard not to talk about those experiences with others.

    I've had a number of women approach me at school asking how I managed school, pregnancy and a baby, what my labor and delivery was like, etc... Whenever I am asked any of the above, I always try to remember how it felt when I was on the receiving end. Sometimes it helps reign me in; other times, I'm just as bad as the geese I resented when pregnant. Some notable exceptions, I'm proud to say, include: 1) I don't talk about the negatives of pregnancy, 2) I don't try to scare the shit out of women when I talk about labor & delivery, and 3) I talk about considering recovery when making a birthing plan. Still, it's difficult not to feel a bit "preachy" at times. This is especially hard when discussing different baby products. I don't know why it is but I think moms get emotionally involved when they find something that works for them. The difference is understanding that it works miracles for you but may not produce the same effect for all.

    So, even though I've only been a mom for a hot second, here's my rant on the miracle products and ideas in my life:

        1. The Wubbanub. It's a stuffed animal sewn on to am Avent Soothie (otherwise known as a pacifier). It's a simple innovation that has become a lifesaver for us. It weighs down the paci so it stays in longer and it's large enough that it's easier to find. GENIUS!

       2. Triple Paste. Ayla was unfortunate enough to inherit my ultra-sensitive skin, so inevitably, diaper rash has been an issue for her. This stuff is great and we've discovered that if we layer petroleum jelly over the paste it keeps the diaper rash away!

       3. Cloth diapers. Yes, we've used them and yes, I love them! They're a heck of a lot cheaper than disposables, they've helped Ayla's skin heal from diaper rash and it's worth the hassle of extra laundry. When we run low on disposables, we use cloth. I also bought several from China for only a few bucks a piece and found some like-new ones on Craigslist. We've used SunBabydiapers (good for overnight), BabyLand (good for laundry day because they have a tendency to leak but were cheap off eBay), GDiapers and Cocalo PerfectBum diapers (sold at Babies 'R Us and have cloth/biodegradable disposable options which is super convenient), and FancyPants (a gift from a good friend and they're wonderful for at night as well).

        4. Target Sensitive Wipes. These are the best generic wipes I've found and they're so much cheaper than the name brand wipes. Unlike some of the other generic wipes we tried (HEB), they're really soft, not like wet paper. I broke down and bought a tub of the name brand ones but only so I could keep the tub they came in because I know babies love to play with them and put toys in them.

        5. Buying clothing 1-2 sizes up. After having to pack up all of Ayla's newborn outfits only a short two months after she was born, I realized just how quickly she was growing up and out of her clothes. I have since refused to buy the actual size that fits snugly and instead buy one or two sizes up. If I'm going to spend any money on clothes, I want them to last.

        6. Children's resale shops. By far, my favorite stores in the world. These are a great place to find fantastic deals! Clothes are often a fraction of the price that they charge in stores and toys are used but so much cheaper! Kid to Kid  Once Upon a Child

        7. Bath Cozy. This is a very simple idea but it makes life a lot easier. It's basically a thin, animal-shaped terry cloth towel that you dunk in the bath water and lay over the baby so they don't get cold. It transformed bath time from an ordeal to a fun, relaxing time for everyone.

        8. Fisher Price Rock 'n Play. This was given to us for free from a friend but has proven worth its weight in gold. Also a simple invention that simulates a swing, but with fixed bowed legs like a rocking chair. It's comfy for baby but you don't always have to strap them in like in a bouncer because it dips in deep enough that they're not likely to fall out. It's portable, foldable and doesn't take up too much floor space.

        9. Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddles. These are great because they're big enough to wrap around the whole baby and tuck into itself. Unlike the usual receiving blankets that you buy at the store, these actually stay folded like a swaddle despite baby's thrashing. I also prefer them to the swaddle pods and cinch sacks because if you know how to swaddle (which is easy enough with a little practice), then they're quicker too because you don't have to put the baby inside anything. Baby can also break free if he or she gets warm.

       10. Munchkin Steam Sanitizer. This sterilizer is great. A lot of the other sterilizers that we looked at were made especially for that type of bottle. This one, on the other hand, is big enough to fit any type of bottle and/or feeding accessory. We pack this baby to the gills on a daily basis and it fits milk storage bottles, feeding bottles, breast pump accessories, binkies and more! It's also cheaper than a lot of other brands.

       11. Medela Pump In Style Advanced. I bought the backpack from the hospital after I rented their heavy duty version for a month. It's great and the suction is wonderful. It was cheaper than at Target and seemed really convenient. The attacments fit most of the storage bottles that I have. If I had to do it all over again I would get the tote or the messenger bag version though.

       12. Fisher Price Apptivity Monkey. Ayla is still a bit young to truly appreciate this one, but we've still gotten a ton of mileage out of it. This is a great way to allow baby to play with your phone without worrying about it breaking. There's a free app that comes with the toy and it's simple enough that even at 3 1/2 months Ayla figured out that if she keeps touching the screen it will keep playing sounds and changing graphics.

       13. Vtech Rhyme & Discover Book. I bought this at a resale shop to help with tummy time and it has proven well worth the couple of bucks I paid for it. It sings and lights up and is flat making it a great tummy time distraction.

       14. Bright Starts Jungle Gym. This is a great toy for babies that can't yet sit up by themselves. Ayla's teachers at daycare have often commented she's one of the few that reaches for the toys on the jungle gyms and it's a wonderful way to distract baby for minutes or even hours. I've even added other toys with extra links and teethers making it more interesting for Ayla to grab and discover.

    That’s my list so far! I’ll update as we find other things we love!

The Udder Truth

(Pardon the punny title.)
    I was warned by family and friends that breastfeeding would hurt. Then I took a class on breastfeeding and was told that if I was doing things correctly, breastfeeding wouldn't hurt at all. The truth was something in between with shades of grey.

    The unfortunate thing about breastfeeding is that it's impossible to know what your experience will be like without a baby. The important thing to remember is that everyone is new to the process of breastfeeding and that you, the baby and your body will eventually get the hang of it. The good news is that like everthing else, breastfeeding is well worth the effort.

    The oxytocin produced by breastfeeding helped me get back in to my jeans within 2 1/2 weeks of giving birth and my pre-pregnancy weight within a month and a half. I prefer to nurse her if I can and, unlike Adrian, I don't always have to warm up a bottle to feed her. There's less mess and clean up afterwards, and it's a sure way of calming Ayla down in a pinch. Plus, I'm a travelling buffet; always open, and oh so convenient. The benefits of breastfeeding are endless and have proven more than worthwhile but the first month was tough. I set myself a goal and it helped. I told myself that I would commit to breastfeeding for at least three months minimum. At three months, I'd reevaluate and decide whether I wanted to continue, and every three months after that. After several weeks (about 3-4 weeks) of breastfeeding, Adrian and I had figured out a schedule that worked for us, Ayla and I had gotten the hang of it, and I realized that using a breast pump was not only an option, but for me, a necessity and a lifesaver.
    Now, Ayla is officially three months as of yesterday and I'm dealing with a new challenge. I was producing more than enough milk even considering her increased consumption as of a few weeks ago, but within the last few weeks, I've actually started to produce less. Whether it's stress, lack of demand, or just one of those crazy biological things no one can explain, I have produced less milk per day than I was a month ago. Despite my best attempts, I can't seem to get back to the point where I was before. So now, I have to reevaluate not only whether to continue to breastfeed but the role that breastmilk will continue to play in the nutrition choices for Ayla. She's just about old enough to start introducing cereal and there's always supplements to help increase production, but the question now is, Is it still worth it? At least for now, the breast pads, not sleeping on my stomach, painful letdown and engorgement are all still worth the health and financial benefits of breastfeeding, but more than ever I appreciate how and why some women make the choice to stop breastfeeding after a few months. Like so many other things, it's a personal, lifestyle choice and no one can make it except for me.