**~~June 12th-June 30th chat**~~ - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by MeredithA 

casmer, I think its normal. Babies absolutely know if mom is close by. My DH can lay on the couch and place baby on his chest and he instantly falls asleep. If I do the same thing, he starts rooting and grunting. He knows the boobs are nearby and wants access to them! This is why I bought a ring sling. I figure once I learn how to use it and nurse in it, it will allow me to get some things done around the house! Now at night, Deacon does sleep in his bassinet for a few hours at a time like your little one...but he would certainly prefer to be snuggled up next to me.  During the day he likes to sleep in my arms, but he also will sometimes sleep in his chair. 

Sarah, what essential oils did you order and how did you make your bug spray? 

Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil. 

Here's the recipe. (http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-natural-bug-spray-recipes-that-work/)

How to Make Homemade Bug Spray:

1. Fill spray bottle (I used 8 ounce) 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
2. Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
3. Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin if using
4. Add 30-50 drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be. My personal favorite mix is: Rosemary, Clove, Cajeput, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus… it works great and smells good too!

It worked very well!  :)

I started putting Layla to sleep on her tummy.  Last night she slept from about 11-5:30.  I think it was probably a combo of tummy sleeping and being awake most of the evening.  We were at a cookout and she stayed awake the whole time.  She LOVED being around all the people.  She was held by about 6 different people and loved every second.  One guy was totally smitten with her.  It was so cute.  He danced around with her, and sung to her.  So adorable!  :)  She didn't fuss once until she got hungry.  And she was a great little ambassador for home birth and cloth diapers.  There was a pregnant lady there and she noticed Layla's cute diaper and asked if it was cloth so we started talking about cloth diapers.  Then a guy with an 8mo. old overheard and he was astonished!  SO went and got a clean diaper (FuzziBunz) to show them.  The guy called his wife over and was like, "Honey look at this!"  It was really funny.  An impromptu diaper party.  lol  :)  Then a couple people asked where she was born, so I got to talk about homebirth too.  Everyone was really positive and accepting, and these were "mainstream" people too.  It's not like it was a group of attachment parenting friends or anything.  They were people SO works with.  It was awesome.  :D  And I usually hate being the center of attention...or even talking to strangers.  lol

[alittlesandy]

Originally Posted by casmer 

@sandy, not consecutively, she still wakes every 2-3 hours to feed. At 5AM, when I put her down again she grunts off and on until 7 or so, but she sleeps nicely in between that 11-5 hour block - any other time is a crap shoot. She's asleep during the grunting, but I certainly can't sleep through all of that racket! Right now she's in the swing and wide awake...at least she's not upset. We will do some tummy time here in a bit, which she likes up to a certain point.

Ok, that makes sense! Although, I would have been happy for you if she was sleeping for six hours straight, lol! Doesn't six hours just sound delicious?

Aria grunts too, like crazy. Sometimes I convince myself that she's fine and I ignore her for awhile, sometimes I convince myself that she needs something. I know what you mean about naps being a crapshoot. I can't count on any stretch of time with her (sometimes she will only sleep 20 minutes), which is very frustrating, and it's hard to get anything done. Since I'm short, I can get absolutely NOTHING done if I'm wearing her, so that's not a solution for me.

[rozziemama]

I have a Grunter too! And officially a Houdini who can break out of any swaddle :/
Kai will sleep well from 8:30 or 9 until about 1, most of the time I can nurse and he will go back no problem until about 3 or 4 when the grunting and gas begins until bleary eyed parents are officially up taking care of the three year old.
Why grunting at the same time every darn night!?

Originally Posted by casmer 

@sandy, not consecutively, she still wakes every 2-3 hours to feed. At 5AM, when I put her down again she grunts off and on until 7 or so, but she sleeps nicely in between that 11-5 hour block - any other time is a crap shoot. She's asleep during the grunting, but I certainly can't sleep through all of that racket! Right now she's in the swing and wide awake...at least she's not upset. We will do some tummy time here in a bit, which she likes up to a certain point.

[Rowdie]

The grunting! Do you guys also get the accompanying squirming and leg-pedaling? I'm pretty sure she's working out a bowel movement. So much work for liquid poo! It keeps us both up. I bobble her a bit and exercise her legs, but she has to do most of the work. Poor little thing.

[Rowdie]

Sharing a moment of mother's guilt: Wednesday was my first chance to get to a yoga class. I expressed a small bottle (7oz) and figured she'd be okay with DH for a couple of hours since she usually takes evening naps. As soon as the class was over, I raced for my phone. No messages. Whew! I called DH as I jogged for the bus stop to see how things were. First thing I hear is Khaleesi's distinctive wail in the background. They'd run out of milk. After the longest bus ride ever, I got home feeling like the worst mother ever. Next time (if I ever leave the house without her again), we'll stock up three bottles at least.

[Rowdie]

I'm definitely going to try making that--though I think I'll just use your suggestion for oils, Sarah, rather than the site's blend. Couldn't cinnamon oil, even if it's really diluted, still sting a baby's skin?

Originally Posted by BubbleMa 

Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil. 

Here's the recipe. (http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-natural-bug-spray-recipes-that-work/)

How to Make Homemade Bug Spray:

1. Fill spray bottle (I used 8 ounce) 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
2. Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
3. Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin if using
4. Add 30-50 drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be. My personal favorite mix is: Rosemary, Clove, Cajeput, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus… it works great and smells good too!

It worked very well!  :)

I started putting Layla to sleep on her tummy.  Last night she slept from about 11-5:30.  I think it was probably a combo of tummy sleeping and being awake most of the evening.  We were at a cookout and she stayed awake the whole time.  She LOVED being around all the people.  She was held by about 6 different people and loved every second.  One guy was totally smitten with her.  It was so cute.  He danced around with her, and sung to her.  So adorable!  :)  She didn't fuss once until she got hungry.  And she was a great little ambassador for home birth and cloth diapers.  There was a pregnant lady there and she noticed Layla's cute diaper and asked if it was cloth so we started talking about cloth diapers.  Then a guy with an 8mo. old overheard and he was astonished!  SO went and got a clean diaper (FuzziBunz) to show them.  The guy called his wife over and was like, "Honey look at this!"  It was really funny.  An impromptu diaper party.  lol  :)  Then a couple people asked where she was born, so I got to talk about homebirth too.  Everyone was really positive and accepting, and these were "mainstream" people too.  It's not like it was a group of attachment parenting friends or anything.  They were people SO works with.  It was awesome.  :D  And I usually hate being the center of attention...or even talking to strangers.  lol

[Kamiro]

i was thinking of going to town today without her and i only pumped 5 oz so thanks for reminder to hand pump more Rowdie! sorry that happened though.

my baby girl defn. has fussy period during the evening. lots of gas.  i hold her constantly too, unless i can get her to nap in the swing and then yay!

i want to make a baby ktan.

i am not loving the moby wrap exactly. if it was about 3 feet longer it would be so much more comfy for me. otherwise i feel like its highlighting my back fat. lol

casmer - wear a shirt (but dont get milk on it) and then when you want tolay babe somehere to sleep - cover babe with shirt (or blanket if cool weather). your scent will be nearby so she may think you are!

sorry for typos..i have to pm a couple of you..i am so behind but net time is seriously non existent...for the best reason of all - i know!

[casmer]

Good idea onemore, I'll have to try that!

I think gas could definitely be an issue with us too and rozzie it's the same time for us too, so weird. I use a swaddle thing that you it them in and Velcro shut, but she can still get an arm out sometimes

She also sounds congested to me, but I can't see anything in her nose. Allergies are horrible here and I haven't dusted or swept since she was born, so there's no telling what's up in her nose. She has choked a few times during feedings, now that is terrifying! She really sucks the milk down, I wish I knew how to help her.


Bubblema - that's really cool that everyone was so interested in your cloth diapers. I havent had that experience yet, but it would be exciting!

[Just1More]

Wow!  Finally a good herbal bug spray!  Thanks so much for posting that!

I can usually only read, too.  Right now the kids are in bed, and dd4 is actually finally sleeping.  I apparently can't have a chik-fil-a sandwich either.  Sigh.  It was a long night and morning.

casmer- try laying/leaning back on a pillow or something.  Then put your baby on top of you to nurse.  Then when the milk really starts coming, it will just pour out of her mouth instead of down her throat.  I've had to do that with all of mine to keep them from gagging on the oversupply.  It's rare for a tiny baby to have a true environmental allergy like that.  Around 3-4 weeks, they often get mucousy, and sometimes get milk in their noses.  Their sinuses are so tiny and connected right now...dont' be surprised to see the milk coming out her eye or something weird like that!

onemore- try putting the middle of the wrap on your baby's back, and then take the tails up and over your shoulders (from the front).  Cross them behind your back, and tie in the front, under her bottom.  It's not quite as secure as the regular tie, but a bit more flattering in the early stages. :)  Another option is to put one tail over your shoulder, and across your back and tie it to the other tail in the front.  It makes a modified sling.

We're getting close to moving here.  Dh and I are hoping to get the whole house packed up this weekend.  Then, next week is busy, then the next week we move.  Whew.  And, I had a root canal yesterday.  I think I got the best dentist ever.  I can't believe how quick he was, and how gentle.  I wish he did general dentistry, too. 

callie-I hope you find this here.  My battery is about to die, and baby is about wake up.  When I belly bind (there's a whole thread around here somewhere) I lay down first, or use my hand when I am standing, and position my uterus where it should be.  Then I wrap under it and over it to support the ligaments, etc.  Helps hugely.  You can wrap with more and higher, but that, imo, is the most important.  Wrapping higher supports those weak abs and back muscles, though, and feels SO good.  You can use a purchased binder, long cloth, or ace bandages.  I didn't like the shrinx hips last time, but I've been using it tons this time and it's amazing.  And whoever asked, 5 weeks isn't too late.  Your body is still dealing with relaxin, so support is still good.

[MeredithA]

Rowdie, 7oz bottle is a small one for you to express? I can only pump out 1oz or so when I pump - it takes me forever to save up a 7oz bottle! Do u pump all that out at once?! If so, what are you doing to have such a great supply? :-) I had a similar experience when I got my hair done yesterday ~ by the time I got home Deacon had finished all his expressed milk and was ready for a snack!

Sarah that bug spray sounds great!

Deacon is in the grunty club too and he does the leg kicks as well. Drives me nuts and keeps me awake but DH sleeps right through it! This of course irritates me because I am so sleep deprived and get crabbier at night. He doesn't grunt as much during naptime- only at night.

[polishprinsezz]

Originally Posted by casmer 

@sandy, not consecutively, she still wakes every 2-3 hours to feed. At 5AM, when I put her down again she grunts off and on until 7 or so, but she sleeps nicely in between that 11-5 hour block - any other time is a crap shoot. She's asleep during the grunting, but I certainly can't sleep through all of that racket! Right now she's in the swing and wide awake...at least she's not upset. We will do some tummy time here in a bit, which she likes up to a certain point.

i have a grunter too! cant sleep through that because i expect him to awake at any moment.

[Rowdie]

Meredith--yeah, 5 ounces takes about 20 minutes off a full breast. I've been lucky with both my supply and DD's instincts for nursing.  Since DD started sleeping longer at night, I wake up with two achy boobs, so I started pumping one to relieve the engorgement and make sure she eats it during the same day. The milk supply is pretty abundant which has to do with the fact that DD is a serial cluster feeder. We're thinking of changing her name to boob shark.  In her first three weeks her average weight gain was 30grams/day! I'm thinking of becoming a milk donor. Pay it forward, yk?

Edited by Rowdie - 6/15/12 at 10:55pm

[alittlesandy]

This is such great group of moms, and I've loved reading all of your stories, advice, discussions, struggles, etc.

So, for those of you who don't know, I blog at http://sandyraymond.com. I'm finally getting around to blogging regularly again, and would LOVE to feature some new moms as guest posters. If you'd like to write a post, let me know (either here or at my blog). Basically, I'd like posts to be between 400-800 words and contain at least one picture. I am always open about my identity, but you can't leave out any identifying details if it makes you uncomfortable. Posts can be about your life as a new mom, balancing work or life and motherhood, parenting advice, AP parenting stuff, or even helpful products or techniques. I'm even open to controversial posts about vaccines (for or against), circ, breastfeeding, home birth, etc. If you have a website, blog, Twitter, etc. I can share your link on my blog.

[Astraia]

I left the baby with my husband for 3 hrs yesterday while I ran errands and I didn't leave a bottle. He slept the first almost 2 hours and was awake and happy for the next 30 minutes, cried for the 30 min after that and then fell asleep. I would hvae left a bottle, but pumping gets me just enough milk to have to wash everything and that's it so I don't bother any more. I figured being hungry isn't going to kill him, as much as it sucks. Running errands with him is a non-option (cries non-stop when we're out) and since we live just far enough away from everything I really do need to go to a few stores at once or it isn't worth my time.

onemore- I think that's why Everett sleeps so well in our bed and not at all anywhere else- it smells like us, even if I'm not there.

I also agree with Just1 about the wrapping- it's definitely not as secure as a double-layered cross carry style wrap job, but with smaller babies you can get away with it. I do that a fair bit with our woven wrap because it's just too dang hot otherwise. Since Everett is almost 12 lbs already (what!?!?) I can't wear him like that for hours, or my shoulders start to hurt because the weight isn't as evenly distributed.

Everett is also grunty, starting about 5 am until whenever I get up. If I lay in bed with him he grunts and farts and wiggles and kicks until about 7, then goes back to sleep again until 10-ish. I'm usually up before that, but he does the same thing if we both just get out of bed but with more fussing.

[Astraia]

Oh, also- some total stranger stopped me in the mall today to compliment me on how great I looked, since, you know, I'm pregnant and all. I was out with the older two kids and she stopped me and said, "congrats! It's so sweet to see growing families. Two little ones already and a third on the way! And you're looking great"

Grr.

[alittlesandy]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

Oh, also- some total stranger stopped me in the mall today to compliment me on how great I looked, since, you know, I'm pregnant and all. I was out with the older two kids and she stopped me and said, "congrats! It's so sweet to see growing families. Two little ones already and a third on the way! And you're looking great"

Grr.

Oh, that drives me crazy! I am so frustrated to be seven weeks post partum and not have lost as much weight as I did last time. I know that this time I'm older, started out this pregnancy heavier, etc. My old clothes are not even close to fitting anytime soon, so I went on a purge and got rid of a bunch of stuff. I have a small wardrobe of clothes that fit now, and I'm happy with that. If I do lose more, I'll get some clothes at goodwill or whatever, but I don't want a ton of clothes around that might never fit. It's too depressing. Anyway, DH said he was worried that I was "giving up," which really pisses me off. Needless to say, he was in the dog house for a while after that, lol.

[MeredithA]

I should really clean out my closet now too, Sandy. I am no where close to squeezing into my old jeans (like, they won't even go over my thighs!) and it is depressing to walk into my closet full of clothes I can't wear. I have heard it is harder to lose the weight w/ the 3rd baby but geez this is rough. You know, Astria, I had the same thing happen to me after I has DS2. So frustrating.

On a positive note, when I wear my new ring sling I feel it hides my baby pudge quite well! Plus everyone just looks at the baby and not my belly :-)

[Kamiro]

Ladies, I seriously suggest you find a pic of yourself 2-3-4-5-6 (whatever week out from childbirth you are) weeks BEFORE you had the baby and look at yourself now. Chances are extremely good that for being X numbers on the 'after' side of childbirth - you all are looking marvelous.

I'm a bigger gal but I do understand the frustration, and the logical side of me knows its absolutely silly because in what sick culture should women even be concerned about how they look this early out. Some cultures they haven't even got out of bed at this far out..

So please, (I know we all hear this a lot) cut yourselves some slack! I will do the same :)

[rozziemama]

Onemore that's wise advice... I only wish I could stay level and follow it :/
Instead, I'm so darn insecure about the phantom baby bulge ... Honestly I feel naked/exposed when I'm out and not wearing Kai -- I feel like people think I'm pregnant even though thus far no one has said anything - and I just feel embarrassed... But I am trying super hard to push through this kind of dark, insecure time and trust that I'll drop the weight and fit into at least one pair of jeans again...!!

[lightheartedmom]

Originally Posted by rozziemama 

Onemore that's wise advice... I only wish I could stay level and follow it :/
Instead, I'm so darn insecure about the phantom baby bulge ... Honestly I feel naked/exposed when I'm out and not wearing Kai -- I feel like people think I'm pregnant even though thus far no one has said anything - and I just feel embarrassed... But I am trying super hard to push through this kind of dark, insecure time and trust that I'll drop the weight and fit into at least one pair of jeans again...!!

Onemore's advice is really good, we should probably all take it. ;-) But I feel the same way...when I go out without DD3, I feel very self-conscious and almost feel the need to go out of my way to insert it into conversation that I just had a baby a few weeks ago. What makes me feel the need to apologize to people for my figure right now?!
I've had a different physical recovery this time, at least weight-wise. I started out a good 30lbs heavier than I would consider healthy for myself. And I gained about 20-25lbs total during pregnancy. But once DD was born, I felt very different about my body than I did in previous post-partum phases. I've been making an effort to walk around in my bra and panties and enjoy the feeling of not being pregnant instead of trying to hide the extras I'm still carrying around. And my husband has been an absolute fountain of non-judgmental affection for my new baby-free body (although, the frequent jokes about getting me knocked up again scare me a bit ;-)). We're so hard on our bodies...I know that for me, the more I focus on what my body isn't at the moment (thin), the more I hate my body as it is and that quickly turns into a vicious cycle. It's nearly impossible not to hate when every other day we're hearing about so-and-so model/actress/singer walking the runway or putting on a concert five weeks post partum looking like she never went through puberty, let alone had a kid...for me it was important to learn not to hate my body...somehow loving my body (hello - miraculous, life-giving vessels of nourishment!! Look at all the new amazing beings that have entered this world in the last month thanks to our bodies!) led to taking better care of my mind and body and over time, that's led to weight loss. I highly recommend the book The Gabriel Method for those struggling with body image and weight issues.