Breastfeeding while Pregnant

This post is two parts.  

1. How it's been breastfeeding a 21 month old and 2. what It's like nursing while pregnant.

Cheers!

Part 1.

These past few months have flown by! I checked in with our breastfeeding status at 10 months and was aiming for at least 10 more.  I am please to say that we're still milking it, and I had planned on continuing on for quite a while longer and we'll see how long my body is into that.  I hope it lasts a while longer since Sonja Cake still drinks quite a bit of milk.

It wasn't until our recent staycation, though, that I realized how much milk she actually drinks.  I thought one baby free night would be easy on everyone.  She'd have fun with her aunt and uncle and we'd sleep in and enjoy a baby free bed.  And, while all of those things did happen; it wasn't until I woke up at 6:45 in the morning, that I realized something {slightly} unexpected.  Engorgement.  I thought I wasn't even making that much milk. I thought she was comfort nursing most of the time.  I thought I had a low milk supply and she was nursing out of convenience/shyness/closeness.  I was wrong.  The cup in the photo above, is my milk, which I hand expressed {I don't own a pump} when I woke up on our staycation.

My milk was full and I had to express it right away.  I couldn't bear to toss it down the drain.  So, I grabbed a cup, collected it all, and saved it.

I jokingly told skylar, he should add whiskey to it and make it an "Irish Car Mom." 

I'm so clever.

He didn't.  

I ended up saving it in a water bottle and giving it to Cupcake when we got home.  Thankfully, our hotel had a mini fridge, so, it was chilled until we headed home.  She drank from me right away and then later in the day, this milk, from her cup.  We never had much success with bottles early on.  When I was gone for a few hours to teach; so, I wan't sure if she'd even drink milk from a cup. She didn't seem to mind that it was cold, but did prefer the real deal.  

Her aunt Gretchen mentioned to me that she was asking for milk "Chi Chi" {Spanish (Mexico) for boobs} the night before.  When Gretchen explained to her that mommy and daddy were on vacation, Sonja replied "Chi Chis on vacation, too."  Which is about the cutest thing I've ever heard.

Girl loves her milk, and I don't want her to give it up anytime soon, but with a new baby growing, the likeliness of my milk drying up is sadly greater than not.  

Part 2.

At 4 or 5 weeks of this pregnancy I started noticing discomfort while Sonja nursed.  At first it was mild and I was still comfortable once she latched.  Unfortunately, it's gotten much more uncomfortable when she latches.  It hurts.  I don't mind though, once she's on because it's so calming for her.  I know my pain isn't being wasted and as long as she's still getting milk I feel like I owe it to her {and me} to give her what is best.  I know my nipples were sore during the last pregnancy, but I do think I either adjusted or stopped noticing and maybe that will happen again this time.  I have heard that the milk does dry up though after the first trimester, but I've also heard of women nursing through their pregnancies.  I know there are some risks of preterm labor when nursing an older sibling during the pregnancy, but those risks are low and I don't fall into any of the other high risks for preterm labor.  So, as long as the midwife consents to continuing nursing, I'll endure the pain for what's best for Sonja.  It's really a small inconvenience to experience the sensation when she latches, and sometimes after a while it comes back, but I know it's one of our few sacred bonds and I'm not quite ready to break it.  Especially, since it's probably only going to get more interesting if I choose to tandem nurse with this next baby.

So, here we are at 21 months.  And I'll update you all again, closer to the 2 year mark {when I'm about 15 weeks pregnant}.  Since the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests 2 years of breastfeeding, it's my goal to make it that long.  And if desired by Sonja {and me}, as long as I can handle the inconvenience of breastfeeding as toddler and the pain of nursing while pregnant, and there after.

Wish me luck!

Jenn

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Momma Monday No. 50

Here's my reflection on this week's Journey as a Wife, Mother, Sister, Artist and Photographer.  Enjoy.


Monday, Sonja and I went to work for a few hours.  I LOVE this new set up.  There are some things I have to do at the office and not from home.  All the files, bill and checks are there, so to be able to go to work with my daughter in tow and get things done is amazing!  She's pretty independent so letting her run around my receptionist space is a great option, but as soon as she gets fussy, I nurse her and then drop her milk comma body into her moby wrap.  It helps that I time it so we're there for nap time, she sleeps on me while I make the weekly phone calls, check email and pay bills.  I am not even joking when I say this is possible because of the moby!

Tuesday was interesting... I was driving to meet a sweet family at The Phoenix Children's Museum to take photos of their 2 month old daughter when my car started flickering the battery light and making awful sounds.  After a minor panic attack {I had Sonja in the car and it's oh, 100+ degrees outside} I was able to make it to the parking lot.  Turns out it was the water pump busting... fixed now thanks to my awesome friend but still, what a way to start the day!

The photographs turned out great, so, I can't complain.  {Thanks to Brittany for helping!}  And they were sweet enough to give Cupcake and I a ride to our Midwives' office.

Because, there, we had our monthly Eats on Feets meet up!  Perfect timing because it was World Breastfeeding Week!  I rave about these women all the time, but they seriously mean the world to me!  I have only fed two of the babies, once each, but I support and facilitate the Central AZ chapter along with a few other AMAZING women and the time we get each month, to talk about milk of course. but also; birth stories, miscarriages, life, husbands, and so much more is what I look forward to most.  If you are having a hard time breastfeeding and need milk or support find an eats on feets chapter and start meet ups!  They are perfect for milk swapping and source nursing.

How generous are the mamas in my community!

My car was still out of commission on Wednesday.  So, I had to borrow my mom's to do everything I needed to.  Wednesday is my weekly errand day, Lush, Godiva, and Trader Joe's!  After running errands in her luxury cross over we headed to the Midwives' office for a Stay at Home Moms group meet up.  Organic snacks and happy babies what else can a mama ask for?!

Thursday was my much anticipated Clothing Swap!  I blogged about it here and here.  It was such a success! I got so many great items for FREE.  My daughter kept herself busy with all the other babies.  One sweet lady brought all 8 of her kids! yes, eight!  And they were so well behaved, her oldest daughter was super helpful, making sure my sweet Cupcake didn't climb up the stairs.  I am going to have to schedule another one this fall/winter for anyone and everyone who couldn't make it.

After a long busy day, we drove to Tempe to pick up my car from that great friend of ours.  Husband drove my well working car home and we called it a night! I can not explain how thankful I am for my friends and community.  Everyone I have in my life is someone who is caring and honest and thoughtful.  They are willing to help when necessary.  I strive to do this for others and I fail.  Miserably.  I just hope all my friends and family know how much they mean to me and how hard I'm trying.  I want to be as selfless and giving as they are.  I am working on it.

Friday, we normally go swimming with my BIL but he was out of town documenting the tour of Out of Reverie up the west coast.  Instead, we hung out at home, Sonja napped in funny positions and then we headed out for coffee.  It's my daily weakness and I don't care how much money I spend.  I know it's silly to spend $5 on a cup of coffee, but if that's the cost of my mental stability, something to do, somewhere to go, I don't give a fuck I going to get it.  We'll see what I think about that in a few short weeks when its time to buckle down and start saving again for Seattle, First Birthdays and Credit Cards, but until then Viva Cafe!

Friday Evening was open Mic Night at Midwives Rising {I'm not sure if you noticed, but yes, I was at MR EVERYDAY except Monday this week}.

We went out for tacos after.  It was the BEST Mexican food I've ever had at Taqueria los yaquis.  I mean, so freaking good.

 Anyway after Tacos we headed home and I had a serious headache, and I thought Cupcake would fall right asleep after such an eventful evening.  But she had different plans, we nursed from 10:30pm until after midnight, when she finally fell asleep.  She was so fussy and cranky, I think she might actually be starting the teething process!

Saturday was Johann's 1st birthday, we rushed to the farmer's market early and then headed to Tempe to celebrate with our baby buddy!  We ate some yummy frittata and fruit salad, then the babes played outside in the baby pool.

Cupcake was asleep upon arrival...

Sunday, before grocery shopping, we went on a breakfast date to jobot coffee for coffee and crêpes! yes. crêpes, in Phoenix.  I've been searching for somewhere to compare to my French cravings and I think this place might have done it.

buy one! ! or two!

Banana with nutella and whipped cream.

Black bean, pesto, spinach and savory goodness!

After a sweet morning I headed to my blogging buddy Jaymee's yoga class at Spirit of Yoga which is sort of hidden and delightfully so!  The classroom faced a pond full of ducks and turtles!  There were no mirrors in the room, which was a nice change for me, it took my focus off my visual body and forced me to feel the positions.  I had also never had the chance to practice with Mexican blankets, but boy do they make the experience much more comfortable!

Such a calming space

With a sleeping baby in my arms, I'm calling it a week!  Happy Monday! Momma Monday that is :)

Time to vote? Please and Thank You!

10 Months of Breastfeeding...

...and hopefully at least 10 more.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week and all the breastfeeding posts I've been seeing I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on Sonja and I's experiences with breastfeeding.

My experience with breastfeeding started BEFORE birth.
My midwife's office was hosting a class with Lori J. Isenstadt, IBCLC, RLC. for expecting mamas.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to go since the class was $30 and to me breastfeeding sounded simple enough.  Insert nipple into baby's mouth. the end.  But after talking to my midwife, I thought I could learn something from the class so I went.
It was a very informative class.  Simple. Direct.  We watched short videos, we talked about our expectations, Lori told us what was "normal" what was not and so on.  It was the best $30 I could have spent.  Instead of waiting until I had problems with my baby, I knew what to expect and how to handle them.  I also wasn't a scared hormone shocked new mama being force fed info with a new baby in my arms.  I was attentive.  I was able to listen and learn.  I doubt I would have had a good experience if I had waited until Sonja was in my arms to get positioning or latching advice.
My advice to expecting mamas GET HELP BEFORE THERE'S A PROBLEM!

After Sonja's birth, our midwife waited about an hour then suggested everyone including Daddy leave the room.  As much as dads should be included in all things baby, breastfeeding is between the mother and baby.  And therefore, I believe Dads should wait to be involved with breastfeeding until it's well established, then he can watch baby eat, hold baby's hand, support mom.  Until it's well established, he's just a distraction.  Anyway, my lesson from the group class kicked in, Nose to Nipple, Big Open mouth, LATCH!  it worked.  It was exciting, weird and painful. But it wasn't supposed to be, that's what EVERYONE said.  It should not be painful.  I thought we were doing something wrong.  and before I knew it she was off.  was she full?  was any milk coming out?  did we do it right?!  

I was concerned.  Luckily, my midwife was in the next room so after a few moments of letting us experiment, she came in and asked if we need support.  I asked her everything and she answered.  Everything looked normal.

For the first 2 weeks I was in a lot of pain, engorged and sore.  I asked EVERYONE to check her latch, and everyone said it looked good.  but it hurt.  My mom gave me the best advice, she told me her doctor told her the first 2 weeks are the hardest, but if you make it through that you'll have great success.  So, we powered through.  I was making so much milk I was leaking through all my nipple pads.  I hand expressed a lot of milk, which I ended up dumping! because I didn't know how to store it properly :( 

I also found the book, Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, extremely helpful. I think all new moms should read at least one breastfeeding book.  There is just too much information to not have a reference for questions!

After the first 2 weeks it got better, no more pain, no more wishing I could just give her a bottle, no more extreme leaking, although I was properly hand expressing and storing after that.  

I breastfed...

at the park

at the mall

in the kitchen

in the living room

at the tattoo shop

on the street corner

on the beach

at the midwives office

in the car

in the back yard

in the front yard

at the grocery store

at the farmer's market

I breastfed...

standing up

sitting down

walking

laying down

football hold

cradle hold

I also started saving my milk to store and donate to Eats on Feets.  My midwife, Shell Walker, started a page on facebook to connect moms with milk with moms without.  It's become a global success and I wanted to help.  Sometimes moms can't make enough. Sometimes they can't make any at all.  Sometimes the moms were never pregnant (adoption) so they need milk.  Sometimes gay dads want milk for their babies.  Whatever the reason, breast is best.  So, I found a one time recipient and offered her my milk, her and her adopted daughter and family were visiting the Phoenix area and she needs a few day's supply.  Now I'm no over producer, just a little more than necessary producer so I saved the milk and gave them a 30oz stash.

I was working for about an hour to two a day just three weeks after giving birth.  I'd hand express a few ounces everyday for the next day and keep it in the fridge, sometimes she'd drink it sometimes not.  I wasn't sure why she didn't like it.  I thought maybe it was the bottle's nipple or the temperature or maybe she just wasn't hungry.  But I didn't worry about it since it was such a short time that she needed it.  It wasn't until a vegan friend of mine tried my milk (sort of as a dare, since he hadn't had milk in three years!) and mentioned it had a strange after taste that I thought I should look into it.  I tasted a sip myself and realized why she didn't like the bottles.  It tasted like soap.  Excess Lipase. After 24 hours in the fridge the milk would usually get too much lipase causing a soapy taste.  I wouldn't want to drink it either!  Anyway, by the time we figured it out it was almost summer so we didn't treat the milk, I just stopped storing it in the fridge for longer than a few hours.  During the summer, she never had a bottle, and I'm interested to see how she does with me teaching again this fall.  It will be such a short time, she shouldn't even need milk during it...

Recently, at a local Eats on Feets meeting I was able to breastfeed not only one but two babies!  It was great to fill a belly of another baby.  I love my Eats on Feets mamas.  They are such caring loving women.  They want the best for their babies.  Some of them are moms who can't make milk, some of them are adoptive parents.  Some of them donate their milk.  Some of them support other moms donating milk.  I feel so blessed to have a supportive community to share milk with.  If you're interested in Eats on Feets, comment or send me an email (DIYCupcake@yahoo.com) and I will tell you everything I know, I can also get you in contact with the admins so you can start a chapter in your area!

Sonja got jealous, so I got to practice a tandem nurse!

And here we are, 10 months of sweet success, now battling Thrush.  I'm so thankful that we've had such a great experience in the past, I think it will make this hurdle so much easier.  I'm also thankful to not have experienced mastitis, although even moms who choose to formula feed can get breast infections from engorgement during the drying up process.  I'm also thankful I knew my rewards from breastfeeding, a baby with a strong immune system, a lowered risk of breast cancer for myself, and a FREE food source for my daughter for the first year of her life!  

If you've breastfeed for a day, a week, a month or year, I'd love to read about it.  Link up your story below!

and please feel free to vote as often as once a day...

Momma Monday No. 43

Here's my week in review:

Monday, my brother in law came over to help out while I cleaned and baked.  So thankful for family!

Recipe HERE.

On Tuesday just before heading to our Eats on Feets gathering, Sonja puked all over the bed.  I mean all over.  She's not a spit up baby and it was the entire contents of my left and right boob.  I have no idea why she threw up but as soon as she did she was fine. I'm going to blame it on teething?  I decided we should go to the Eats on Feets meeting, and I brought my cookies and some a shit ton of watermelon and a bunch of mint and oregano since my herb garden is out of control.  While at the meeting, two recipient mamas had myself and another mama nurse their babies.  I even tandem nursed because Cupcake got a little jealous of the little five day old babe and wanted some milk too.

gah, my boobs look so saggy here, oh well.

Full tummies and no formula here.

My sister and I had our usual Wednesday hang out.  We met up and headed to Fashion Square Mall so I could get my Lush fix and we could get our free Godiva chocolate.  I also had a free Victoria's Secret panty! I love those stupid rewards programs, because we have such a tight budget, it let's me get my shopoholic fix without really relapsing.  If you're not getting free stuff from somewhere, you're not paying attention.  I don't have TV, so I don't watch that coupon show, but seriously people are giving shit away, and if you look in the right spots you can get some great stuff. 

In the mornings.

Also, Wednesday was open hours at Midwives Rising.  So, my sister and I stopped by to hang up the first of many Mumby Photos {Mumby Photography- Mum and Baby Photography (and daddies too) by yours truly}. 

I went through several name choices for my Mum and Baby Photography project;

Mumtography-taken

MamaFoto-taken

MadreGraphia-not my native language

Momograph-too much like telegraph

Mamagraph-too much like mammogram

Maternography-refers to ONLY pregnancy

and FINALLY, Mumby Photography

We stayed for a bit an hung out with some new parents and some expecting parents and then headed off to meet our mama for lunch. It's so nice to have a flexible schedule to meet up with others when they're free.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful Husband who does SO much so Sonja and I can bond and breastfeed.

Broccoli.

On Thursday we were supposed to have a play date with K&R but they had family in town, so we rescheduled and Cupcake and I hung out all day.  I caught up on blogging, photo editing for my students' artwork and did some last minute grocery shopping.  I NEEDED bananas and fruit.  So that I could make a smoothie, cravings post pregnancy just make you sound crazy, BUT I'm blaming them on breastfeeding and when I NEED a banana or whipped cream I NEED it.  So, we got it.

Swimming.

Friday we went swimming at Uncle Wayne's and I went thrifting! I've got a bunch of projects to start on this week, so look out for some Before and After posts.

"New" tea cup from a yardsale!

This Saturday we did our usual lux and farmer's market routine.  Then headed to Midwives Rising.  I was taking photos of families coming in for their prenatal visits and of the midwives just hanging out.  I'm really excited for next weekend though when I'll be taking semi planned photos of families that birthed with Shell or Mani.  I'm so thankful for a husband who is willing to hang out, watch our daughter and chat with the ladies of MR, while I take photos.  Saturday night dinner was fancy grilled cheeses and butternut squash (from my garden).  If you've never added tomato and artichoke to your grilled cheeses you're missing out.

The butternut squash.

a mini eggplant.

and a future pickle.

Last but not least; Sunday.  I really wanted to try Rita's Italian Ice after Danielle RAVED about it. So, we did.  

It's actually close to my in-law's house so after I got a delicious blue raspberry with vanilla custard Gelati we headed over to see Sonja's grandparents.  We hung out for a bit, while I got my grades completed.  

When we got home I wasn't feeling amazing so I nursed Cupcake down for a nap.  When we woke up I felt worse.  Husband took over and I stayed in our room/bathroom.  I had a serious headache (surprised?!), wicked cramps (even though I'm done with my monthly event), and felt like I was going to puke.  NOT AWESOME.  So after spending hours in pain, I called my midwife, well ex-midwife? not sure how that works once you have the baby... Anyway, I asked her if it was normal to have ovarian/uterine cramping post-period and she recommended Cramp Bark  Which I had some of, but in a compound form.  So Hubs ran to the store for me. LOVE him.  Got me some liquid Cramp Bark, and Sea Salt and yogurt (my anti-puke food).  And finally, after taking the CB I felt better.  Almost instantly, although, I think it was more like 10 minutes. 

I still took a bath with Sea Salt and Epson Salt, just to be sure.  Then I headed to bed, where Husband started watching Sons of Anarchy on netflix- just what I need.  A new show to get sucked into.  Anyway,  I'm feeling much better now, and I can't describe the comfort of knowing that even though I'm not with child my midwife will still answer her phone and my questions.  

I always feel like these posts are too much info at once, but if you've made it all the way through, I guess you like reading about my week. 

Hope you guys are all having a wonderful Momma Monday

...and if you have the time, click the banner below and then the owl on the left.  I'd love to keep this blog easily accessible to mamas in the blogging world.