Baby / Breastfeeding & I

Let me just start saying that breastfeeding is not a walk in the park...

Lara is now 6 months old and I'm glad and proud that I managed to exclusively breastfeed until now as I set myself to do. 

Here are some considerations on the subject:

I was lucky because breastfeeding came quite naturally to me and I never had any 'technical' challenge, like cracked nipples or engorged breasts. I had the occasional soreness during the first few weeks and I used Lansinoh HPA Lanolin which sorted the situation out in a matter of few days; it's expensive but I can really recommend this cream, also because it doesn't need to be washed off before breastfeeding. Btw, a midwife told me to avoid vaseline because apparently has been linked to mouth cancer (I think she meant in babies).

If you've really set your heart on breastfeeding, I recommend to give it a month. 

You may be tempted to give up sooner... but you really need to experience the 3 weeks growing spur... to understand that you can do it!

Then if there are any real problems, the midwives or health visitors will be the first ones to tell you to switch to formula (but it's not likely).

Also, don't buy any formula to keep in the cupboard 'just in case'; nowadays there are many Tescos 24hrs and you can easy get some if really required, butwould be too easy to use during a particularly tiring evening or emotional night... and then you may regret it in the morning.

My biggest challenge was not knowing, all the guesswork: you can't really tell how much your baby is eating, you need to trust that she is getting what she needs and then rely on the scale.. so the days between weight ins were a bit stressful in the early days but surely enough she kept putting weight on steadily and following her growing curve without issues.

I resent comment that breastfeeding mums are judgemental toward bottle-feeding mums; I actually feel the opposite and I rarely volunteer the information if not asked.

At the end of the day, it's your decision - Personally, I felt that giving a bottle would have been easier in terms of logistic/practicality but at the same it was paramount FOR ME to do what I though was the best for my daughter. 

This was my priority, my personal decision and you shouldn't be threatened by it!

Now: I plan on carry on breastfeeding, of course. The aim is to gradually end up with a morning and an evening feed until she is about two (working schedule and baby routine permitting).

Finally, I'm gonna conclude with some numbers that may help you make this decision:

By exclusively breastfeeding for 1 month - you have given your baby significant protection against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age;

... for 2 months - you have given your baby significant protection against food allergy at 3 years of age;

... for 3 months - you have also given your baby between a 19 and 27 percent reduction in incidence of childhood Type 1 Diabetes;

... for 4 months - you have reduced your baby’s risk of SIDS;

...for 5/6 months - You are now in the 1% of mothers who have breastfed for this long!

You have also given your baby a 19 percent decrease in risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia and a 15 percent decrease in the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia. 

more facts here: http://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/12/timeline-of-breastfed-baby.html 

Maternity / The Things That Noone Tells You About

When you are pregnant, google becomes your best and worst friend. I learned to stick to 'reputable' message boards and NHS endorsed websites, but in any case you will most likely find yourself googling A LOT: a new twitch in your pelvis area or kicks (umm) down there.. and as soon as the mighty line starts auto-populate, you feel relief and that you're not alone.

On your dozen searches a day - kidding (not really!) - you will read A LOT and come across the same stuff/tips all the times... so why the hell was I not prepared for these??!!:

- Growing Spurs: at around 3 weeks, your newborn will want to feed ALL THE TIME! Like that, out of the blue, she started wanting to feed every hour and I was pretty much nursing around the clock. Again, a quick search on the web and you come across the growing spurs... AND WHY NOBODY PREPARED YOU FOR THIS? They are exactly what they sound like: baby growing, hence wanting more food. And rejoy, there are several in the first year - but you will learn to recognise them.

- Wonder Weeks: so your baby is 12 weeks and has become incredibly cranky, doesn't sleep well and putting 2 & 2 together, you realise that he is going through another development leap. These are basically like growing spurs but for the brain where babies learn new skills/reach milestones.

- The 4 month Sleep Regression: (Touch wood) Lara has been having a smooth transition with this change. I don't like the word 'regression' - it's more like a change where the infant starts to sleep in cycles like an adult so having 'light sleep phases'  where she is prone to wake up because she hasn't learnt to self-soothe yet.
And your best defence is the attack: teach your baby to self-soothe from the beginning! It will probably save you a lot of stressful and tearful time when you attempt to sleep training, later on.

- TMI ALERT!!! Your first Number 2 after birth... is like giving birth all over again! And I had a c-section, mind you, so it's possible that I may be a tad exaggerating here but - BELIEVE ME - I was kind of glad that I had a caesarean. 

Sure! You may be worried to pull stitches down there but I was also wary to pull my stitches inside and outside (which I really hope it takes more than that!).
 It's not only a psychological block, so if you're still pregnant get your doctor/midwife to give you some Lactulose that is like a sugary syrup and makes all the difference (also safe for breastfeeding). That way you don't need to waste time to the GP once your newborn is here and a million other things to think about. 

Please, be aware that  this is to be viewed like a checklist - Topics that I'd recommend you read about because there are reasons behind your baby suddenly temperament changes. There are plenty of exhaustive information out there and what I found interesting is that, althought very baby is unique, they do follow the same developments/stages in quite a set timeframe... and it's reassuring to know that it is 'normal'!

Pregnancy / Birth Story

Let's start from the end, I guess.

Lara was delivered through c-section which is a bit of anti-climax really.

Anyway, here it goes...

On 20th of January around 4:40pm - I was resting in bed, dozing off... when my waters broke; luckily, I managed to rush to the toilet and save the mattress. I remember how people told me that it's not like in the movies, that you probably just drip some water or your waters may not even break... and surely enough, mine went big style!

I immediately phoned the maternity assessment that told me to go in to check 'if' my waters really broke; then, I phone my husband - which was in work - and told him to come home.

At this point, I was calmer than expected. This was 2 weeks earlier than my due date, so I quickly checked my hospital bags and then sat on the toilet waiting for the hubby with buckets and buckets pouring out of me. ;)

I didn't have any contraction so, once at the hospital, I made my way to the maternity assessment and Richard went to park the car.

I didn't spend much time there, around an hour: they put few needles in my arms, whilst monitoring the baby and waiting for the labour ward to take me to my room. 

I have to say the birthing suite was lovely - the light was dimmed down, it was warm and clean, I had my private bathroom... but what I noticed straight away was the wee baby table in the corner with the tiniest hat waiting for my baby.

I was pretty relaxed and  - since I still had no contractions - I was going to be induced.

My midwife was in her 50s, lovely chatty lady and I remember her joking "I wonder if she will be born today or tomorrow".

At around 8pm and minutes (!!!!) before getting induced, she was going to give me an examination and she started with my belly.

She suddenly said "ummm, I think that's a head", touching the top of my belly, where the bum is supposed to be.

My husband & I, nearly in unison, said that it was not possible and we were positive that it was the bum!

Hehe, the lovely lady must have sensed how strong we felt that she said that she was probably wrong but she wanted to get a doctor to double-check; 2 female doctors came with an ultrasound machine... and surely enough, she was breech!!!

I felt a bit of shock! My bloody community midwife had been telling me for the past 3 months that that was a nice, round bum.

I was also pretty annoyed - she fuc**d up big time!

As a matter of fact, we went to see her for a routine check that same morning and she still didn't notice what was going on.

Anyway, I didn't have much of a choice and had to have a c-section.
I really didn't want a cesarean, never had an operation before or spent the  night in the hospital. An amount of doctors, anaesthesiologists started coming into my room, asking me question which I replied to but it's all kind of a blur... my baby was definitely going to be born tonight!

Luckily the ward was quite so I was next - my midwife put me in a hospital gown and then we all walked to the theatre.

Everyone was extremely lovely, supportive and reassuring - I was a bit tachycardic (considering the situation) and I felt really well looked after. I had a spinal and then Richard joined me, sitting by my head. 

I felt the operation was so long! In actual facts, it was probably only 20 minutes from when they started 'til when she was born... but I was waiting for a wee cry and it felt like forever.

I could also feel all the pulling and stretching which wasn't too pleasant but not sore.

I remember looking up and the assistant anaesthesiologist was bending forward the screen to look at my belly and she was smiling... and Lara was born!

I didn't manage to get a glimpse when they took her to the table to get her checked and cleaned, but I could hear her and that was all that mattered.

Said assistant was fantastic: she grabbed my husband phone and started taking pictures (and videos!!!) for us. Awesome!

Few minutes later, we were introduced for the first time - they lied her, all bundled up, on Richard's arm next to me.

I was dying to see her: she looked a bit squashed, crusty, with a tiny bloody tear at the corned of her right eye... and pouting! :D

After they finished stitching me up, they placed her on my chest and wheeled me to the recovery room which was empty... a quiet night indeed.

I was there for only an hour and we started with the breastfeeding practise; she latched on after few attempts but she didn't seem too convinced or simply pretty tired.

Finally, I was moved to the maternity ward around midnight where I had to say goodbye to my husband for the night.

I had never spent a night in a hospital before and was a bit apprehensive on how I would cope.

Instead, I felt extremely calm, content and serene... and she was there - my wee girl - staring back at me thought the crib and there was nowhere else that I'd rather be!

How I feel about the c-section: annoyed that my midwife fuc*ed up; she apologised afterwards and, considering that all went well, all is forgive

The c-section per se was easy but the recovery was a bitch; caring for a newborn is demanding enough, without having had major abdominal surgery; it's frustrating and sore and makes nursing that much more challenging.

Feel free to ask any question or to share your experience - and leave the link in the comments!
xxx

Introducing... Lara

soooo... I'm happy to announce that our daughter Lara arrived a few weeks back.
It's probably a surprise since my husband and I kept the news pretty private 'til the very end.

My hands are currently pretty full, as you can imagine and I've been feeling pretty rank the whole pregnancy, hence the reason for my erratic presence on the blog lately.
We are utterly in love with her and - although she is less than a month old - it's like she is always been here.
At the same time, it's still pretty surreal and I haven't quite realised that I'm a parent yet.

Now, I'm planning to introduce some pregnancy/motherhood posts too - I relied on reading people's experience for tips and reassurance during my pregnancy myself which I enjoyed very much... so hopefully they could be helpful for others too.