Watching the drummers on Pearl Street with daddy!
Picking out all the green toys at the toy store.
Wearing her tutu for her friend's birthday party.
Helping me make Chocolate chip cookies
Hanging out at Grams and PopPops' while I was at the dentist.
Digging for toys.
Being cute!
A nice seat!Hello and welcome to the new private blog. I have invited some people that I know have never read, but I invited all the new moms in my life in hopes that I can occasionally get some advice from you and we can create a little network of support.
So, to any of you (moms or not) who have a free moment and have any thoughts on the following- I'd love your advice.
1. Coranelle is going through a stage where sharing seems to be impossible- especially her own toys in her own home. It is very frustrating and I just am not sure how to deal with it. This morning, she had a little friend over and everything her friend touched or tried to play with, Coranelle grabbed from her and said "Coranelle's". I tried to coax her into other activities and toys, but she kept taking toys from her and then hoarding them in a little pile near where she was sitting. She would get aggressive and pushy if her friend took things from her. I felt like I said, "Give Anna a turn" about a thousand times. We have talked about sharing, playing together and have even been reading books about sharing. What else do I do? I have done time-outs when she takes toys and made her play by herself in her room. What other techniques are there out there? I know most kids do this around this age, but I'd love to know if there is a better way to handle it. My patience gets worn thin. Can I blame it on pregnancy?
2. Breast pumps- I was talking to a few moms at Mops yesterday about weaning their kids from nursing. They all talked about some pretty intense pain when they stopped nursing. Even though Coranelle stopped nursing-cold turkey... I never really hurt. A little, but not much. So, it makes me realize I didn't have much milk. So, second go-around, I'd like to monitor that better. I just had a hand pump with Coranelle and didn't really feel the need for much more as I wasn't going back to work. I am still not going back to work, but it is one of our priorities that Sheldon will take a bottle. That means, I'll need to do some pumping. Not tons, just once a day or so. So,I'd like to purchase one. We've had offers to reuse other people's, but Ryan is dead set against it, and I respect that. So, we looking to buy one. I am not sure if I need a single, or double. But, I want an electric. I don't know which brand is best, but we're looking to spend less than $100. Thoughts? Advice on when to pump? How often?
3. Double stroller- I don't think we will use this too often, as Coranelle's patience for a stroller is never more than about 15 minutes (if we're lucky). But, it seems like it would be good to have for trips to the park or zoo or in and out of places in the winter. We don't need anything fancy. I'd rather have front to back than side to side. We're hoping to spend less than $150. Any recommendations or words of caution? I am clueless.
4. Related to pregnancy- Baby Sheldon's head seems to rest right about my sciatic nerve. I have mentioned this before. Last night, after swimming some laps, I was taking a shower and Sheldon shoved his head into my nerve. I literally collapsed onto the tile floor because my leg gave out. What do I do about this? All my doctor suggested was doing some cat/cow yoga positions. Don't you think that it would be so much better if full-term was 35 weeks rather than 40? Being this uncomfortable seems unnecessary. Any other suggestions?
Thanks for the feedback.
Here's my little praise for my peanut this week. We went to her friend's 2nd birthday party this past weekend and he received a green strider bike from his grandparents. Coranelle saw it and was SO excited about it! She even attempted to ride it in the midst of the party chaos and did wonderfully. She is really looking forward to getting her "OWN" from baby Sheldon. Ryan already has it and put it together for her and I wonder if he'll be able to wait until the baby arrives to give it to her. She's going to have so much fun. Every day we hear - "GREEEEN bike, baby Sheldon. Green helmet (as she pats her head). Mommy- Daddy help-A-you.". Pretty cute!
5 comments:
Kari,
The only thing I really have advice on is the pump as I don't know what to tell you on the sharing, stroller, or the sciatic pain. So here goes. I had a low milk supply with Tristan and in the hospital they gave me a hospital grade pump to use. It was awesome. It was the Medela Symphony and even had to rent it for a few weeks after we came home from the hospital. I rented it from the pharmacy. At the hospital they asked me if I had a pump and I did. I have a medela pump in style. They told me that that was a really good pump. I was told to pump every 2-3 hours to increase my supply. Because of how frequent I was pumping I was so glad to have a double pump. They also told me that first thing in the morning you are going to have less supply then at night because your body slows down production when you sleep. Also, they gave me a prescription to increase my milk supply. I don't remmeber what it was called but the down side is that it can cause and increase post partum depression. I also tried Fenugreek from GNC or vitamin cottage. It is a natural herb. They both helped to increase my supply but not enough to keep breastfeeding him. I hope that helps.
Stacy
Hi Kari!
I agree with Stacy, the Medela Pump in Style is awesome as a double pump but it's about $250 new. The symphony is REALLY expensive, but an awesome pump to rent to see how pumping would work for you. (In addition to renting them from the pharmacy, you can also rent them from your hospital) You can use it as a double or a single pump- you can also do that with the Pump in Style. Medela has some single pumps that are good. I would suggest "Bosom Buddies" in Westminister on 88th (right off Sheridan by the Toys-R-Us) as a place to go for pump recommendations. The women there are knowledgeable and will help you figure out which one would meet your needs. That being said, don't feel pressured to buy one there, let them know you are "researching your options" as you will probably be able to find the same pump online cheaper (or at least that has been my history with buying nursing bras there.) If you can stretch your budget to buy the double pump it really is wonderful and I have an extra pumping band that I'd be more then happy to give you (I used it once-long story, I'll share with you if you really want to hear it) and what it does is holds the flanges in place so you can be "hands free." The advantage of the double pump is you can really get a lot out when both sides let down as the same time and your body gets into a "rhythm" with the pump.
I also agree that pumping AFTER you nurse Sheldon will help your supply but I have to disagree about having less supple in the morning then in the evening. I do I have an over supply, but as someone who pumps regularly throughout the day (including weekends and Hannah will only nurse off the left side, leaving me to regularly pump my right side) I always produce the most first thing in the morning. Most moms that I know that pump regularly find that they have the most supply first thing in the morning.
Fenugreek does help with your supply, as does oatmeal and TONS of water. The water is bonus because it also helps you lose the baby weight! ;-)
Re: the double stroller, we have the Graco Quatro double stroller-it's a bit cumbersome and hard to maneuver. I wish I would have gotten a jogging double stroller (I believe they make them that so that they hold the baby carrier car seats). My mom bought our stroller and it was about $250 new, so either save up those gift cards to Babies-R-Us or look on Craigslits. Once Sheldon is 6 months, I would look into double bike trailer that also doubles as a double stroller. A mom I met at a park last summer showed me hers, it was light weight and easy to push, especially easy to lift up and down on curbs (I basically have to put all my weight onto the double stroller we have to make the front end pop up so I can get it over a curb) They are pricy new but you can find some great deals on Craigslist.
Regarding the sharing thing, if you figure it out, let me know! It's a huge struggle for us with Noah still. He's gotten a little better as his level of understanding increases and preschool has helped out but he gets made if Hannah takes his things still.
I never had the nerve problem with either of my pregnancies but Noah was breech (a few times- he kept flipping) and the thing that made him shift positions was to lay on my side and bring my top leg up to my chest, kind of over my stomach (if that makes sense).
If you have any questions, especially regarding the pumping (I don't usually brag about things, but I am kind of a "pro" at it) feel free to call me or message me via facebook).
You are nearing the end, but I know 5 weeks when you are pregnant are SO much longer than 5 weeks when you are not! Hang in there. . . once your 37 weeks you can start getting those WONDERFUL foot massages! ;-)
Amy
I'm pretty clueless about breast milk, but I've heard "older" women say that drinking some beer helps with milk production...I don't think it helps if Ryan is the one who drinks it, tho
Hi Kari, I agree the Medela is a really great pump. I also used the double pump in style, but then I had to do a lot more pumping than it sounds like you would be doing. I had much more milk in the mornings than the afternoons. And Mason usually was finished after one side, so I would pump the other. I also used Fenugreek and found it helpful. I have some left I can bring to your mom if you'd like (capsules).
I agree with finding deals on craigslist and I've found a ton of things at the church baby sales and Once Upon a Child. I know there is a Grow with me Kids Sale in just a few weeks. I think it's at the Ranch.
Sorry, I'm no help on the sharing or the pain.
Amy
regarding sharing, if samuel refuses to part with a toy, i ask him to pick something else out to share with his friend. he is usually happy to do so and often his friend is thrilled with whatever toy is given. sharing is such a tough thing at this age, i think every parent struggles with it, so rest assured that she will grow out of it!
regarding sciatica, i've had it with each pregnancy and have also had moments of collapsing on the floor due to the pain. the chiropractor did wonders for me last time, so you could try that. still, it was usually only temporary (a week or so) before i'd have another flare up. i did the yoga poses my midwife suggested, but felt that they didn't help much. sleeping with a body pillow helped a bit at night, but once you get to the end, nothing really feels comfy, does it? i feel for you!
we have a double jogger stroller which is awesome, but the baby needs to be abit older (5 mos or so) before he can sit in it without flopping over on himself. ours was given to us; i can't remember the brand, but it is lightweight and works great. the only thing i wish it had was more basket room in the back so that i could buy more than one bag of groceries at a time!
and ditto what your friends said about the fenugreek, water and oatmeal to boost your supply. water is key, and whenever i had a big bowl of oatmeal (not instant; do the good old fashioned oats) i felt let-down within an hour of eating it!
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