is it a BAD sign that we don't have ANY burp cloths yet?
I swear I registered for them...
but I guess people aren't into purchasing burp cloths as baby shower gifts,
especially when there are cute onesies and soft baby blankets to choose from.
We still have so much to buy before our little bundle of joy comes along!
These are cute though.
Except, part of me isn't as concerned about baby proofing right away - it's not like our newborn baby will be crawling and getting into things as soon as we get home from the hospital. What's at the forefront of my brain these days is...well...feeding her.
Breast feeding sounds tricky - not easy - and yet I really really want to do it. I've heard from so many that it is a difficult commitment from working moms...as there aren't always "places" or "times" to sneak away and pump milk - especially in residency. BUT - I want to give it my very best effort. So...I need a breast pump. Did you know that they can be wicked pricey?
I've been scoping them on CSN.com - it's where we bought the bulk of our baby stuff - the crib, the stroller, the crib mattress, the high chair...you know...the "stuff" (I'm a sucker for free shipping...and in our small town it's tough to get the products we want locally!) I'm thinking we will go with a Medela breast pump - that brand has the best ratings everywhere I look. I just wonder if I should invest in it THIS MINUTE so when we go to the hospital I already have it in my bag of mama tricks - or if I should wait to see how breast feeding will work for me? Ahhh - I wish I knew all the answers.
Do you have any answers? Did you pump? What did you use? Recommend buying one right away - or do I have a little time to figure this stuff out???
I'm so excited for you! I've been following your blog since you were planning your wedding and now you're probably just hours away from having an adorable baby. I can't wait to see her, as I'm sure you can't either.
ReplyDeletex,
Samantha
I have not done it (no children), but I have known women who have.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is to work out a regular pumping schedule. Successful breastfeeding requires regularity. As your baby's appetite increases, your milk supply increases. If you slack off, your milk supply diminishes.
I've heard of women breastfeeding their baby at night, then pumping in the morning before work, then pumping at work, and the cycle starts again when they return home.
I'm not sure how a schedule would work in residency, but I hope it's possible.
As far as baby-proofing, you have plenty of time after she is born. Just make sure there are no cords or wires located anywhere near her crib. Babies have been hurt by cords from baby monitors.
Oh, one more thing.
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK. I can't believe it's time for her to enter the world!
If you feel like you need some support or answered questions, Le Leche League is a great palce to look for help on the breastfeeding front. http://www.lllusa.org/
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to lead a group and advise new moms who were freaking out because something wasn't going right and they didn't know what to do. They have local meetings too.
Good idea, Swiss. La Leche League is great. My sister had their book when she had her daughter.
ReplyDeleteIt's really not that difficult, I worked in the medical field when I nursed my son and I didn't have any issues. You should wait and check with your hospital, they often offer employees an excellent discount, which is how I got my Medela.
ReplyDeleteI was able to pump after each feeding while at home to boost my milk supply. I had bought my pump before she was born. It seemed to work for us :) She was almost exclusively breast fed to 9 months at which point she gave up and turned to finger foods :)
ReplyDeleteEmma had acid reflux. So, I had to nurse completely via pumping & I made it 10.5 months before I just couldn't do it anymore. Every woman is so different & their experience is so different. For me, I started pumping 4 times a day. 2 months into it, I was pumping enough to just pump 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, night: at least 10 ounces each time). The biggest thing for me was keeping myself well hydrated. I carried at least 2 nalgene bottles with me everywhere. Towards the end, it was difficult to produce enough & I was drinking over a gallon of water a day (6 nalgenes) to keep up & decided that I had done what I could & was ready to stop. The whole time I just told myself that I was going to do what I could & not to beat myself up on what I couldn't.
ReplyDeleteWorking with the lactation consultant in the hospital was so helpful. I you can ask for one if one doesn't automatically come to your room
I had a medalla & It was great (but ouch, so pricey). Some employers do offer discounts
Wo
I had the Medela Pump In Style for baby #1...and it worked really well.
ReplyDeleteAlso - have you seen the Breastfeeding Resource page on Metropolitan Mama? It's a work-in-progress, but it lists my favorite products + top tips. http://metropolitanmama.net/breastfeeding/
Best Wishes!
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net