Newborn Care

Posted by Meagan Church on February 24, 2012

Au Revoir, Newborn Fears

I’ll be honest; I’m not much of a newborn fan. At least generally speaking. I prefer the stage when they get a bit older, more interactive and independent. Or at least that’s how it has been in the past. When Jonas was born, I was overwhelmed and afraid. I didn’t know what to do with this little, helpless, crying kid. I feared the day when Matt’s paternity leave would end and I’d be left alone with this little creature. Of course that day eventually came and I somehow figured things out, though I was a bit tentative and uneasy at first.

When Kenna came along, I was still worn out from Jonas. I wasn’t really sure I was up for another baby, but we wanted them to be two years apart. Jonas was such a bad sleeper that I was still exhausted from him. Nevertheless, Kenna joined us and then we decided to put our house on the market when she was only a few months old. That meant I was especially exhausted and much of her babyhood is a bit of a blur to me.

I didn’t know if I was ready for a third child, but away we went. Would I remember what to do with a newborn? Would I be able to survive on less-than-ideal sleep? Then Adelyn was born. From day one, I felt at ease. Sure some of it was knowing how to change a diaper, initiate nursing and care for the umbilical cord. I’d been there and done that. I have enjoyed her first three weeks more that I did with the other two babies combined. Gone are the hesitations and even the exhaustion I felt with the first two. Don’t get me wrong; I’m still tired, but it’s different. (more…)

Posted by Sessilee Lu on February 20, 2012

Am I Hurting My Baby?

I’m now four months postpartum. Little D was born in late September. Together, we had a great fall and holiday season at home enjoying each other’s company. It was lovely, warm, and sweet!  We got to know each other, learned each others’ tics and schedules (I yell, she cluster feeds) and it was bliss. Promptly, with the new year, I was back at work (13 weeks maternity leave) and Little D was ensconced in full-time daycare.

The hurting in the title of this post does not refer to my daughter being at daycare.  I love daycare!  My 5 year old, still in daycare as  Pre-Ker, has been dropped “in school” since he was three-months old and we are the better for it. As Little D grows, I know I will neither have the patience nor creativity to give her what she needs in entertainment, activities, and learning experiences (a day home from work to me means tv time and vegging out – just saying). And frankly, selfishly, I want to go out, make money, interact with adults, enrich myself professionally, and further my career (more about that in another post). Daycare is a win-win in our family.  So, why am I questioning whether I am hurting my baby?  Well, the poor little one has had a constant stuffy nose for as long as I can remember. Having entered daycare, Little D’s cold and runny nose have just gotten worse.  With a runny nose, comes encrusted boogers.  Yes, I said it and yes, I’m blogging about it. Boogers. It’s a universal annoyance to parents. Like poops, boogers are talked about in our set (they even sell wipes branded  as “Boogie Wipes”).

Little D’s cold has resulted in boogers that range from wet and bubbly to hard and mask-like.  Her poor little nose! (more…)

Posted by Jane Highley on February 14, 2012

Top 10: Newborn Must-Haves

I love lists, especially if it’s not a terribly long one.  And 10 is manageable.  Inspired by a certain late-night show’s regular segment, I decided to launch a short TOP TEN series (emphasis on “short”) on anything relevant to getting ready for a new baby.

Before reading any further, however, here are a few qualifications about this list (and others forthcoming).

Qualification #1:  I am expecting my third child (a boy), so I am compiling this list with some experience behind me, not as a first-time mommy.  I’ve had hits and misses with lots of baby products, so my past experiences with babies 1 and 2 (both girls) will largely inform my picks listed below.

Qualification #2:  I plan to breastfeed and pump, but I don’t plan on using any bottles until at least 2-3 weeks after the delivery.

Qualification #3:  I deliberately omitted the obvious items (e.g., diapers/wipes, crib, stroller, car seat) because I didn’t want to insult your intelligence.

Qualification #4:  This is a list specifically for the care of newborns, not necessarily for Mom (or parents), which is why you won’t find a baby carrier or nursing pads listed below.  I hope to address that in a separate list.

Qualification #5:  This list is a means to an end – I’m sharing mine with hopes that you will share yours.  If you have a “must-have” product that I didn’t mention, please comment below!  There is nothing like the honesty of other mommies who’ve put products to the real, raw test of newborn-care. (more…)

Posted by Sunny Gault on February 13, 2012

Birthdays: A Whole New Perspective When Pregnant

Today is my birthday. I’m now 34 years old, which is strange because I don’t feel a day over 33.

Seriously though, everyone keeps asking me what I’m going to do on my special day, and to tell you the truth, I really haven’t thought about it much. I guess that’s what happens as you get older, you start thinking more of other people and less of yourself. In fact, I’ve already accomplished the most important task on my plate today, which is calling my mother.

For as long as I can remember, I would call my mother at my exact birth time, 11:02am. Even at an early age, I thought it was more important to focus on the woman who gave birth to me. After all, she did all the work, right? My mom was in labor for four hours with me, without any medication. Today she reminded me of how (to this day) it is still considered the most painful experience of her life. She’s then quick to assure me it was all worth it and how appreciative both my parents are of the woman I have become. It’s actually very sweet and usually results in a few tears. It’s a great way to start your birthday. And it really is the beginning of the day, considering I was born on east coast time, but live on the west coast. So, I’m actually calling my mother at 8:02am. Yes, we are THAT hard core.

I call my mother every year, and that will never change. Yet, today feels different.

(more…)

Posted by Meagan Church on January 16, 2012

New Year’s Reminders

It’s the New Year and the traditional time to make resolutions. I’ll be honest, with the baby a month away, I’m not really looking to set steadfast goals. Would I like to write a book? Absolutely. Brush up on my French? Oui. Drop each and every pound of baby weight? I think that answer is pretty obvious. But, with this being my third baby, I know what lies ahead and I don’t want the pressure of caring for a newborn, while feeling guilty if I don’t have the energy to meet certain objectives. So, I’m not making resolutions this time around. Instead, I’m reminding myself of what I feel is important and desirable. And, so, my New Year’s reminders are as follows:

• Finally settle on a baby girl name.
• Have a natural birth with a healthy mom and baby.
• Spend at least the first year nursing without complaining about the time commitment.
• Read a lot, even if I’m tired from caring for a newborn.
• Run. And feel blessed to be able to do it again.
• Encourage a good sleep schedule for the baby, but don’t be beholden to it.
• Be more flexible. And I’m not talking about touching my toes (though that would be nice, too).

What about you? Did you set any resolutions or reminders?

Posted by Meagan Church on November 22, 2011

Preparing Our Nursery

I was listening to the recent PregTASTIC episode on decorating the baby’s nursery. Suddenly I realized just how different this pregnancy is from my first. With #1, we took time to set-up the nursery, acquire the desired furniture, paint and decorate, and get all the clothes and diapers in order well before Jonas joined us. I’m not sure a nursery will even exist when #3 joins us. Sure, it will at some point, but in those early days, weeks and perhaps even months, there might not be a designated nursery.

Nursery #1

After #1, we joked about the how the crib didn’t even get used. Jonas preferred to sleep in our arms, our bed or in the bassinet right beside us. Anytime we attempted to put him into the crib, he woke up and started crying. It wasn’t until he was about three months old that we transitioned him into his crib and finally his own room. Until that point, the nursery served as the changing room and little else. Our second worked pretty much the same way and we plan for #3 to be likewise. But with #3, it’s not just about co-sleeping and late-night nursing sessions. There is one other component in the equation: the fact that I will lose my office. (more…)

Posted by Zoe Quinton on September 25, 2011

The Confidence to be a Mother

My boy is now nearly four months old, and for the first time, I’m actually starting to feel like a capital-M Mother. I’ve been a little-m mother up til now too, of course, since I’m the one who gave birth to him and nursed and nurtured him through those grueling early weeks and months. But I have been largely reactive to his needs, not able to anticipate or predict what might come next. It hasn’t been until very recently that I have had the confidence in myself and my parenting skills to feel like a real Mom, someone who knows their child — even if they don’t always know what they’re doing.

I read a passage in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding the other day that said, “At some point you may find yourself giving in and letting go… and suddenly everything is easier. It’s like learning to swim, when you realize that struggling to keep your feet under you isn’t helping you move forward.” (154) Yes, I thought, that sounds about right. (more…)

Posted by Zoe Quinton on August 22, 2011

New Mom Worries