I’m back! Well, let’s get realistic, I am back with a caveat that peanut takes precedence and I am only able to contribute a little bit here, a little bit there-in between feedings and naps, but I’ll take it.
It’s a new week…a week where Jeff is back to work, and I am attempting to manage this on my own {with a little help from Mimi and my grandparents}. This has been interesting to say the least, yet I have already set my expectations fairly low as not to overwhelm myself-I know this is going to be challenging.
However, I can’t really complain… Caroline sleeps right at 2.5-3 hours between each feeding, is growing like a weed, LOVES to eat, and it seems like she is getting accustomed to our her way of life. In all honesty, she runs the show these days ;)….
Breastfeeding, wow, there is a post in itself for another day, but, if any of you mommas out there want to give me any recommendations on pumping and building up a supply so I can get some sleep, I am open ears and welcome any advice you can give.
In other news, so much has gone on this past week—2 of our friends welcomed babies so CC is going to have all sorts of play dates once she gets bigger, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for God’s blessings.
I’ve also already realized getting ready for the day is simply a must for me, as it makes me feel a little “adult like” even though it only consists of having time to take a quick shower, partially blow dry my hair, and throw on some mascara and lip gloss…whatever helps feel normal, right?
I’m working on writing Caroline’s birth story and I can’t wait to share it soon!
For now, I’ll leave you all with some inspirational quotes…I’ve got some of these posted around the house to help me when I get a little frustrated and helps remind me of the positives!
Thanks for all your sweet words of wisdom, advice, and support as we get adjusted and shift focus from our life as a couple to a family of three—it’s not glamorous by any means, but I wouldn’t change it for the world and I can’t help but realize my role as a mother is my most important role yet! Until next time…
Congratulations on your precious bundle! She's just beautiful!
I'll be referring back to your comments section on this post to get some advice 😉 Our girl will be here any day & I need all the help I can get when it comes to bfeeding/pumping!
You can speak to the pediatrician about supplementing with formula
for the nights 11 am -7 am.
My daughter fed at 9pm, 11pm and every two hours after that until morning. 🙂
I think that they can last a little bit longer on formula.
ps Caroline looks so comfy in the first picture and I missed that last picture the first time I scrolled…great smile! 🙂
She is beyond adorable! Hang in there…I've had new mom friends tell me how tough the beginning can be, but God will only lead you to it if he can see you through it 🙂
Congratulations on "1500" followers!
Congratulations! She's beautiful! Try and get some sleep where you can!
She is just beautiful ! Good luck with adjusting! Hope you can get settled soon!
She's adorable!! Congrats!!
I'm no mama yet, so have no words of wisdom for you. However, I look forward to following along with your journey!
Awwww she is so so sweet Natasha! Love her little smile and how curious she is! Glad to hear everything is going smoothly! 🙂
Natasha, congrats on CC – she's a cutie! Breastfeeding is hard so give yourself some time to adjust to it. It took us a good month to month & a half to truly get it and even be able to think about building up a supply. Taking Fenugreek (they have it at Whole foods) can help with your supply and/or you can try pumping even after CC's nursed to help trick your body into an increase as well. Good luck and hang in there – it gets easier, I promise!
she is so precious! you are a wonderful mama and cc is absolutely beautiful! xo
She is so beautiful!!! Congratulations Natasha!!! I can't wait to read the birth story 🙂
I actually just posted today on what I'm doing to help my future supply. The supplement I am drinking is recommended by a lot of LC's. That's great she is sleeping three hour stretches. She will start to go longer when she can eat more and gets the hang of things.
Oh how quickly things change! I think you have learned quickly how such a little thing truly runs the show! Seems like you are adjusting well and the only advice I have is everyday is a new day! Let me know if you need anything!
She's so precious! I love that last picture of her smiling 🙂 My baby sister was born a couple of weeks ago and she loves to eat more than anything, haha. They grow so fast!
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Oh she is so precious! Glad to hear things are going well, can't wait to hear all your tips and tricks for the first few weeks! 🙂
Congrats!! Her pictures are absolutely adorable! Can't wait to hear more about her! 🙂
She is so beautiful! Enjoy every minute of this teeny tiny stage.. I know how stressful it can be trying to figure it all outm but they are only so little for so long! Before you know it you will have a giant baby that makes your arms burn from holding them.. or maybe that's just mine – haha (my 7 month old is 22 lbs, oof)
Congrats, she is a beauty!
I am with you, after I had Caleb even if I wasn't leaving the house I had to shower, get dressed and put on a little make-up so that I felt human!
My sis just had a baby too. She usually goes to bed around 9 and has her husband feed him out of a bottle at around 10 then she'll get up around 2 to feed him. That way she gets a 5 hour stretch of sleep before having to get up every 2-3 hours. Caroline is precious…love all the pics, keep them coming!
Omg she is such a doll Natasha! Best of luck getting adjusted with everything, I know that it's a big change but it sounds like you're doing great! 🙂
Congrats! CC is beautiful! Breastfeeding is a huge commitment and takes time to get used to.
So great to hear from you! Sounds like you are adjusting and I think it is good to set expectations "low" (for lack of a better term) because it is so easy to get exhausted, frustrated and overwhelmed if you think things will go a certain way. Good job with the breastfeeding–it is hard, time consuming, a learning experience–and it definitely becomes easier. Love the pictures, she is a doll. Can't wait for more pictures and to hear all about her debut! Good job, Mama!
Congrats! She is so cute!!!
she's a doll!
She is so adorable! My daughter takes the soothie paci and they are so funny looking. I thought I could change it after a few months, but she's a year old now and still won't take anything else. Target does have some called "gum drop" {I think} pacis that are a little more aesthetically pleasing but have the same end as a soothie so we use those sometimes. Regarding breastfeeding, I did it for about 11 months and the first month was the WORST, so I totally know where you're coming from. I pumped after the first feeding in the morning and after the last feeding before I went to sleep. Pump for about 5 minutes after milk stops coming out to create more demand and within a few days you will be producing more. This was the most stressful thing to me, you can e-mail if you have any questions
Love this! Congrats again!!!
this post makes me feel so much better because it sounds like we are experiencing the same things. My little lady is one week today and let me say this has been quite the adjustment. I agree breast feeding is deserving of a post in itself! I think I am going to start pumping next week so that I can give my boobs a break and daddy can help out with the feedings. I start to get a little anxious at night time because I just never know if I'm going to get some sleep or not. I try to remind myself to take it one day at a time and that there will be good days and bad days. Funny you say you have to shower and put some mascara on to feel normal…my mom just told me the same thing. I will feel more human if i pull myself together a bit. Good luck to you and your new family! xoox
She is too cute for words! You seem to have your head on straight, and I know what you mean about the importance of getting ready in the morning, even if you aren't leaving the house. That's always my mom's advice to soon-to-be mom's.
Congrats on CC! She is so adorable!! I have a 4 month old son and had the same initial trouble with breastfeeding/pumping. I promise, it does get easier!!! The thing that really worked for me was I tried to pump for 5 minutes after EVERY feeding… exhausting, I know. It kinda tricks your breasts and increases your supply. When he started sleeping through the night (around 6 weeks), I put him down around 9 and then pumped once before my bed at 11… that really helped!
She is darling and has such a sweet smile! It sounds like you're role as Mommy is going great so far! She is one blessed little girl!
She is the cutest! Enjoy your new bundle of joy. 🙂
She is just precious. I know you truly appreciate all of the help you're getting!
I'm terrible at remembering to pump milk to store, so I won't try to offer you any advice there, but…
It sounds like you are doing great! Remember to sleep when she sleeps, eat nutritional food, take a little time to do something you enjoy, don't over do it on household to do's–they can all wait, remember that she will eventually sleep through the night and make sure you and your hubby at least get a 30 second hug each day.
I wish you all the luck in the world this week while you're "on your own" for the first time. The days can go slow sometimes but the weeks fly by!
So glad that you and sweet, beautiful CC are doing well! She's so precious and I am sure your heart has grown ten times over!! Good luck with adjusting to your new life as a mommy!
Precious little princess! Love that pic of her smiling.
Congrats!! She is precious. I only breastfeed for about 4 weeks. I was just so exhausted, not producing very much milk, and getting extremely frustrated. I am so much happier now that we have switched to formula. Happy mom = happy baby. Do the best you can do with the breastfeeding, but don;t beat yourself up over it.
How cute is that little bundle! Breastfeeding is hard work, don't stress yourself out too much over it. I pump after every other feeding for 10-15 minutes as much as I can- now my little one sleeps through the night but I never pumped after night feedings.
I also took fenugreek before going back to work which has worked great, you just have to make sure you take enough, because you need to take a lot for it to work.
And you can always call your pediatrician's office if you need some advice, most of them have lactation consultants that can answer questions without having to physically go in.
Congratulations on your adorable family! The weeks will fly by- enjoy them!
I was excited to see a post from you today! CC is so precious, and that pic of her smiling is so sweet! I'm not a mommy yet, but you seem to be doing a great job! I'd love to hear some tips from others too– for future reference!
I was excited to see a post from you today! CC is so precious, and that pic of her smiling is so sweet! I'm not a mommy yet, but you seem to be doing a great job! I'd love to hear some tips from others too– for future reference!
She's so precious! Girls are definitely more high maintenance!
As far as breastfeeding, the lactation consultants at Baptist were wonderful! They helped me so much! Call and make an appointment, definitely worth it!
She is so so precious! I'm glad you're getting back into the swing of things.
Allyson
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She's just so precious! Enjoy every second of the newborn stage, it goes by so quickly.
Love seeing all of little C's pics on Instagram, hang in there momma, I hear it gets better! xoxo
Welcome sweet girl! You are so loved!
Ahh, she is so precious! It seriously feels like yesterday I was in your spot so believe me when I tell you in DOES get easier 🙂 A few pieces of advice…Breastfeeding was harder than I expected…it takes a little while to get used to (for you and that baby!) but the more you feed, the more your supply will increase. Most people told me the six week mark was like magic…and that seemed to be to be true. After that it was smooth sailing! I would pump a little after some feedings in the beginning to build a little supply… Some one else mentioned lactation consultants and they are awesome! Seriously so helpful, don't be afraid to use them as a resource…they are a wealth of knowledge! So funny what you said about showering and mascara…those were the things that kept me sane/human those first few weeks…even if it's a 2 minute shower! Enjoy this time, as hard as it is, it flies by 😉
what a beautiful little baby you have!!
Congrats… she is a doll! And I love your honesty- those first weeks are not glamourous at all, but good for you for doing things already to make yourself feel normal. As for feeding, your supply will increase over the coming weeks. Once you get a little bit "ahead" it will be easier to get farther ahead… just stick with it!
I loved my medela breast pump! make sure you get a double not a single, saves SO much time! Also, load up on Lansinoh cream!! It is the best!! Good luck, sounds like things are going well 🙂
Just found your blog! What a sweet cute baby! I am also a 20 something Nashville native… and it looks like we got married at the same place 😉
Enjoy your precious bundle! I can't believe my son just turned 11 months, the time really does FLY!
Looks like you're doing a great job, Mommy!
She's so cute too!
So, so happy for you!!! CONGRATULATIONS on your adorable, little bundle of joy!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
When my daughter was first born, my milk wasn't really coming in thanks to my c-section and her jaundice, so I was pumping constantly. What ended up working for us was that I fed her from both sides, and then pumped for about five minutes total after each feeding. That normally produced enough milk for one feeding, and my husband took that one on for me so I could sleep. By six weeks I was down to pumping once a day, and I was putting five ounces straight in the freezer.
Oatmeal and wheat help to increase your supply. I made a large pot of steel cut oats once a week and had breakfast for an entire week. Mash a banana and put int a dash of cinnamon and you've got a great, easy meal.
Also, pay attention to "growth spurts". They are times where your baby will eat SO much more than normal in order to increase your supply. It is exhausting, but just let her nurse. Having a well established supply will help an insane amount when you go back to work and have to pump more. Good luck! You can do it!
She's just precious!! Hope you're having a fabulous weekend girl 🙂 Enjoy your little muffin!!
Something that really helped me was to pump on one side while nursing on the other side. A little tricky to get the logistics down, and you'll almost certainly need another set of hands to help hand you stuff…but it produced a lot more milk!