breastfeeding

August 24, 2018August 24, 2018

RETURNING TO WORK

M playing doctor with E. Nowadays when I leave for work she says to me “Bye! Have fun with your friends! And help kids feel better!”

The thought of returning to work was always looming in my head during my maternity leave. After the initial shock of the first month of having had my first baby, M, I then thought about how I needed to prepare over time a new routine for my return to work. I certainly felt sad about returning to work after being home with the baby, but a part of me was excited to return to work — to see my coworkers and patients again, and if truth be told, I thought it might be good to get a little break from being with the baby all the time.

Continue reading “RETURNING TO WORK”

May 31, 2018July 12, 2018

NEWBORN SLEEPING (OR LACK THEREOF)

Past the newborn stage. She preferred to roll over onto her tummy to sleep

We all get the advice and give the advice – sleep when the baby is sleeping. So what happens when the baby is NOT SLEEPING?

With my firstborn M, I was very focused on breastfeeding and making sure she got enough milk. So here I am worrying about breastfeeding, and in between feedings, she decides she does not want to sleep. Lack of sleep for baby made for a cranky baby and a stressed out mommy.
Continue reading

April 24, 2018July 12, 2018

PUMP, PUMP, PUMP IT UP

Here I am taking a break from snowboarding so I can pump. As long as I had an outlet and a quiet corner, I was happy.

After I wrote about breastfeeding last month, I realized I need to talk about pumping, especially as a working mother. Similar to when I first started breastfeeding, it was hard for me to grasp what pumping would feel like or how it would work before actually doing it. During my pregnancy, I made sure to research breast pumps, and I talked to my insurance about what was covered and where I could get one. Being my Type A self, I made a whole spreadsheet about breast pumps. If I couldn’t prepare myself for what it would feel like to pump, at least I could prepare myself for what pumps were out there!

After I had M, I pumped after each time I breastfed her, and I would get a little milk each time, which I slowly saved over time. In my own head, I thought if I pumped between her feedings, that it would take away from milk that she would get at her nursing sessions. And I had to work hard for that milk. If I was distracted or stressed, I could visibly see in the bottles how much less milk I was making, which discouraged me at times.

Continue reading “PUMP, PUMP, PUMP IT UP”

March 23, 2018July 11, 2018

Breastfeeding was such a source of stress for me the first time around. I had taken a breastfeeding class when I was pregnant with my first daughter to prepare myself, but, of course, I had no idea what it would feel like or how it would work in real life vs. on paper. I was determined to breastfeed my first born exclusively, so the pressure was really on.

I felt an incredible sense of relief when my first daughter, M, latched immediately and stayed latched for 20-30 minutes. “Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all!,” I thought to myself.

But then, over the next month, it felt like there was non-stop crying and difficulty consoling. M fed well enough, but after feedings, especially at night (why the night!), she would cry every time we tried to lay her down in her bassinet. In the wee hours of the night as I held her, lacking for sleep and emotions running high, I questioned, ”How did I think I was prepared for breastfeeding after just taking a single class?! I desperately need help!”

Continue reading “BREASTFEEDING”