On breastfeeding

Bridger is now 3 months old and I finally feel like we have got the hang of breastfeeding. I thought I would share a few things I have learned the past few months!
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I wrote those first two lines 3 months ago and never got around to writing anything until now. Bridger is now 6 months old (almost!), so I feel even better about writing this. This more of a journal entry about my experience with breastfeeding thus far: 

I was excited to start breastfeeding. I knew it would be the best thing for him, in so many ways. But I never got around to taking a class or even reading much about it. I looked at a few posters and some basics in What to Expect, but never dove into it like I should have. Or maybe it wouldn't have helped. I don't know.

So Bridger was born and I wanted to breastfeed him right away. When the time came, he wouldn't latch on. And he wouldn't latch on and he wouldn't latch on. The nurses brought around this amazing electric pump and then I fed him using a small syringe. (They were worried about giving him a bottle so early). The lactation consultant came around and I was so tired I was fighting to stay awake during her  lesson. The nurses were super helpful and gave me a lot of advice. They also stressed me out a lot by how they reacted to his/our lack of skill. But Bridger was so tired most of our hospital stay that he barely was awake enough to eat. (Was this because of my epidural??)

Anyway...I felt like such a newbie. When Bridger was a few days old, I remember sitting in our living room, topless (tmi? sorry.) and just breaking down in sobs. I couldn't do it. He was not latching on well. My nipples were pinched.  And it HURT. Where was the mother-child breastfeeding love connection I had heard about? Where was the sweet, natural moments I had dreamt of? Did I mention it HURT?!

Women have been doing this for centuries! What was wrong with me?? I was so worried that by not doing this for him, I would be a bad mother. Not true. But still, we couldn't afford formula! (Plus, I had this crazy mentality that formula was like baby-poison. So stupid. Don't worry, I have since changed my ways. Bridger gets a bottle of formula from time to time now if we go out and I didn't get to pump. I also use a little everyday now to mix his rice cereal).

I went back to the lactation consultant and she gave me a few more tips. She talked a lot about laid-back nursing. I learned it wasn't so much about what position he was laying. But it still hurt so much I teared up almost every time. (Using little hydro-gel pads really helped with the pain.)

Then I got cracked nipples. And then a clogged duct. And I almost gave up. But my stubbornness won out and I stuck with it. I went to another lactation consultant and she had some tips that really helped. Keeping his lips flayed open etc. I started feeling better.

And every nursing session got easier and easier. Suddenly and all at once around 3 months, nursing felt great. No pain. Just a sweet time for Bridger and for me. Now I know what my sisters were talking about. I love nursing. It's our special time. These moments are beautiful and goshdangit I was made to do this! We aren't amazing at it all the time. There are times when it can be frustrating. But I am so happy I stuck with it. 

So if you are having trouble with breastfeeding, you are not alone! And it gets better. I promise.

On winter and January

The last week in the blogosphere seems to be full of hatred for January and winter in general. It's a little depressing. People! We are just getting started with winter! At least those of us north of the Mason-Dixon. I say put on your big girl boots and get on with life. 

But really. Winter isn't so bad. You just need good clothes. Boots that won't let ya slip. Socks and liners that keep your toes warm. Jackets that shed water. A fleece inner layer. I mean, it's not hard. We aren't in the Arctic. Although it has felt like that when we get down to the single digits. And I say, bring on the snow! Just not the icy rain that causes this. 

Mostly, you just need a little baby to keep you smiling! ;)

Also, some quick trips up the canyon and out of the smog help too.

Baby products: What I've learned so far

Even though I look around our house and think it is overrun with baby products...we have tried to keep it simple. Here, I've listed what we use for Bridger. Hopefully it will remind me in the future to not be so anal about baby products and maybe you can find something that will help you.

Nursing
Take a class or read a book about it before giving birth. I wish I would have. Have at least one good nursing bra before going to the hospital. Believe me, you won't want to run to Target with a days-old baby. I would get one a cup bigger than your normal size. I didn't recognize my boobs after Bridger was born. I recommend 1 sleep bra and 2 normal nursing bras. You go through them faster than you would a normal bra. Milk inevitably leaks and then you have a crusty mess on your hands. I have also loved just wearing a nursing cami. But that might not work for chestier mamas.

Other necessities:
*Lansinoh disposable nursing pads. Don't even worry with another brand. Cloth aren't worth the effort either. I leak through everything except Lansinoh.
*Gel pads. I wish I would have registered for these. Put em in the fridge and your boobies will thank you for it.
*Lansinoh nipple cream. Again, your boobies will thank you.
*Breast pump. I like my Medela Harmony hand pump. I use it a few times a week, or just when I know   that I'll need a bottle or two for Bridger. It's good for them to learn how to take a bottle so you can go out with your husband every so often. And a little formula isn't bad every now and then either.
*Burp cloths. You cannot have too many.

Sleeping
We use a playpen for Bridger. It's perfect for us and all our moving around etc. If you want to go this route, just get a simple one with good reviews. You do not need the bassinet or changing table attachments. We haven't used our's since Bridger was a week old.

We have a simple Graco swing from Target. I like it because we can plug it into the wall, and we aren't running out for batteries all the time. I also love that the bouncy seat comes out of it so I can take him into the kitchen with me and I know he's safe. The music and sounds on this one suck. I never use them. If needed, I'll just turn the radio on static or use simplynoise.com.

Bathing
We hate our big plastic tub. I wish I would have gotten the Puj Tub, I have heard such great things about it. But Bridger is so close to sitting up, I don't think it's worth it to get something else now. Oh well.

We use Aveeno's baby wash. Love it. It seemed expensive when we bought it, but we are still using the same bottle.

Diapering
For the first 3 months, we used half cloth and half Pampers Swaddlers for Bridger. Some people say not to even buy newborn diapers, but I disagree. Bridger was over eight pounds and used newborns for at least three weeks. We don't have a changing table or even the standard changing pad. We use a simple travel changing mat that we keep on the floor in our bedroom.

Once he was 4 months, every time he pooped it was everywhere. And I change him as soon as I see him strain. We have since switched to Huggies Little Movers and I don't have a single complaint. You gotta have the elastic around the back, otherwise it will be in his neck. Yuck.

As for disposing of the diapers, you do not need a diaper genie. We throw them in a small (bathroom size) trash can next to his changing area. That way, it gets changed out often. Poopy diapers go straight to the outside garbage.

Activity
Stores are full of baby toys, I don't feel like I share much that is enlightening here except that he loves his rattle O-ball. And the play gym Nate made for him. Now that he is 5 months, he loves using a sit-in walker around the kitchen. (This is a good item to borrow or buy second hand). We try not to buy too many toys because it can get out of hand. Plus, he loves playing with a whisk more than anything ;)

Stroller
I spent the most time while pregnant researching this topic. Such a waste of time because I hated the one we got! We returned it and got the Chicco Liteway. We love it. It's easy to fold, it's light and Bridger is happy in it. Easy to turn and push. The perfect width. I just wish the car seat fit into it. That can be annoying. But I hear the 2013 model has a car seat attachment. If you are crazy like me and are researching strollers until your eyeballs fall out, here is a funny and helpful post about some of the better strollers out there.

What are your favorite baby products? Anything we just have to have as he turns 6 months old? 

Infant in arms

*During the holidays, Bridger flew for the first time. Due to some scheduling issues, I flew alone with him. Here, I am sharing some insights and thoughts about those flights. 

First of all, our total of 4 flights renewed my faith in the the goodness of the human race. Everywhere I turned, someone was offering to carry my bags, offer me their first-class seat (!!), offer to help me get a whole row to myself (!!), fold up the stroller etc etc. I was so grateful for the flight attendants and passengers alike who helped make these flights a breeze! I wish I could send them all a box of chocolates.

Some things I learned flying alone with a 5 month old: 

1. Nurse or have a pacifier ready for take-off and landing. Bridger didn't seem to have any trouble with his ears, I assume it was because we did this.
2. I recommend the red-eye. Bridger slept through most of it. 
3. There is no real place to change diapers on a plane. (At least in my experience). Balancing him on the toilet seat lid was the trickiest part of flying. 
4. Strollers are gate-checked for free.
5. If you are alone, accept all help offered. And ask for help. You aren't winning any medals by refusing help. 
6. Empty plastic cups are more fun than other toy you can bring. 
7. If you are nursing, just accept that it's not going to be graceful. Sorry to anyone I flashed! :/
8. Maybe everyone knows this already, but when the attendants come around with drinks and snacks, they will fill your own water bottle up if you ask. When they asked what I wanted to drink, I just handed them my Nalgene and they filled it right up! Amazing.
9. Be on time so you can take advantage of pre-boarding. No lines! Also amazing.
10. People are more nice and friendly than I ever thought. Go humans!

Photo of Bridger touching the Gulf of Mexico :)

Purpose

As this new year begins, I would like to make a note about this blog. I started this blog over three years ago in hopes that it would prevent boredom at my student job. I blogged on and off with no real purpose. I started more frequent posts after Nate and I got married. I thought I had more to share. I also began reading lots of blogs at that point. I was so intrigued by their creativity, I mirrored or matched their content on my own blog. In the last several months I have grown tired of this pattern. I like to think that I am a creative person. I have my own things to share.

And so this year, my blogging resolution is to publish my own content which I believe to be beautiful or useful. In the past, I have shared some of our adventures and I am excited to continue that. I will also share about books or authors I am enjoying. As well as good food choices here and there. Another theme you might notice is motherhood. My role as a mother consumes me (in a good way) and I imagine it will become a more frequent topic here. And I would like to write more in hopes of becoming a better writer. Other than that, I don't have any real goals. But I promise to not blog simply for blogging's sake. I promise to publish content (perhaps sporadically) that is beautiful and/or useful.

As fresh as it gets

While I am going through all of my holiday photos, I thought I would share one real quick...

What do you do at the Aukema house when you run out of milk on Christmas morning? 

Go straight to the source of course!

Yes, I drank it. 

Yes, it was delicious.