How Long is Too Long?

Question: I was wondering since Jude is/almost is one are you going to continue to bf? if so for how long?

Answer: This is a Question I struggle with myself. Jude turned 1 last week and obviously I'm not going to flip some switch and BAM he'll be done right away. These kinds of things generally take a little time.

Part of me is totally ready to stop breast feeding right now. I've given it a year which is a lot more than some people would ever have done. I'd like the freedom to not feel like I need to come home on lunch breaks for a feeding (I never feel like I 'have' to, but just that it'd make life easier if I did). I'd like the freedom to drink something with a little alcohol without wondering "am I going to have to feed Jude soon?", I'm considering getting a tattoo, want to give blood, I want normal bras, I want to wear a dress without wondering "how can I nurse comfortably?... and although I'm not ready for a night away from Jude, without breastfeeding, the option is there.

I failed to mention that at Jude's most recent check up, I was heavily encouraged to discontinue nursing. Basically, the doctor said he recommends making the switch to cow's milk at one year because it allows Jude to get the vitamin D he needs that breast milk does not provide (in short: he thinks it's healthier to switch now). He also said that nursing beyond one year has no real 'nutritional value', but instead is more of a security for the child. In my opinion, Jude spends more than enough time outside, so vitamin D is the least of my worries.

Knowing that WHO and LLL and a number of other groups would advocate at least 2 years, I did a little research. I've come to the conclusion that for the most part he is correct. A lot of information for nursing past the first year really indicates that the benefit is the bond for mother and baby. There is a lot of information that discusses the soothing affects on mother from the hormones released during nursing (which apparently helps with patience and loving a crazy kid running around). There's information about the positive feeling a child gets from having a 'base' to lean on after he's done exploring the world around him - which can make him more independent. There's a lot of talk about how comforting it is for an upset child... etc.

I totally get it all. I know when I walk in from work, the second Jude sees me his face lights up. He'll stop what he's doing, come crawling over to me, and reach for me to pick him up. The second he's in my arms, the thumb goes in his mouth and his hand goes down my shirt. It is perfectly clear that my breasts ARE his comfort spot. It's perfectly clear that although he's totally happy exploring the world around him, there's nothing quite like mommy's arms.

However, a lot of information also indicates that nursing beyond the first year continues to reduce the chance of cancer (in bother mother and child), continues to give your child natural antibodies and all around provides for a healthier toddler. Some information mentioned that in many cases a sick baby will nurse when rejecting all other food.

All of this information still has not given me a solid end date. I've made it to one year and from here it's a day-by-day process (really the whole thing has been pretty day by day). There are days when I tell myself 'that's it!'. Jude will skip one usual nursing time without a problem and I decide that from that day on I will not nurse him between breakfast and lunch... or before bed... or whatever the case may be that particular day. But alas, we wake up the next morning, Jude will be especially cuddly and who am I to deny such a beautiful baby boy what he wants most?

It's safe to say that I will be done nursing Jude by the time he's two... but at what point between now and then... I'm just not sure.

Bye Bye Boobies...

Well... not 100%.

We have reach the inevitable day where we are running out of frozen breast milk.

Currently, we have a mere 2.5 ounces left. I told Ryan the next time he needs to give Jude a bottle he should mix that with 2 ounces of milk and that will be the last time Jude gets a bottle. Once that is gone, then the bottles will be packed away and Jude will begin getting a sippy cup of milk before bed.

At this point, the sippy cup of milk will not even be necessary, because he's still nursing about 4-5 times a day (yup, I'm working his nursing down too) but I want him to get used to the idea of drinking cows milk.

From what I've gathered, there are a few ways to make the switch to cow's milk. Two of the most popular are either switching a bottle of formula/BM to milk one at a time (so if they nurse/have formula 4 times a day, make one milk, 3 formula, etc...) or doing part formula/BM and part cow's milk with each bottle (so 3/4 formula/BM, 1/4 cow's milk... and then slowly adjusting the ratio).

Obviously since we have only two ounces of BM left, Option A is the way we're pretty much going to go. We're going to start with his last feeding being switched to cow's milk and then I'll eventually knock off his day time feedings... and I'm pretty sure his morning feedings will be the last to go. Right now, mornings are Jude-and-mommy-cuddle-time, so I'd like to keep them that way :)

Currently, I don't plan to start switching any other feedings to cow's milk until after his first birthday.... but even that is RIGHT around the corner.

An End to Pumping...

Have I mentioned that I hate pumping? Like really hate pumping? Like, the only thing that got me through pumping when I went back to work was knowing that I'd soon be out of work and pumping would become less common? That I hated paying over 10 dollars for what is basically a zip lock bag. That I hated that frozen breastmilk took up a good 1/4 of my freezer? That I hated cleaning the parts, breaking down the machine, etc. Well, I do. (Ok - maybe 'hate' is a strong word for some of the above). Even worse is getting off at 10 o'clock at night, coming home tired and wanting to just relax... but needing to pump.

Even though I hated it so much I did it. I did it because some weeks, I only needed to pump a couple times. I did it because I didn't want to wake up to swollen boobs. I did it because it was kind of a big deal for me to be able to say "Jude has never had formula" (like-wise, we did it to save money). I did it for a number of reasons.

There were plenty of times that I considered just giving up on it, finishing off what was in the freezer and just weening Jude off of his last suckling - or switching to formula, milk, or whatever (obviously I never got far enough to make a decision/research what I would do). But I didn't.

Just recently, I went into the freezer and saw that a good 60 ounces or so had expired. When I had to put it all down the drain, what really bothered me was all the time I spent pumping... doing something I hate doing... and here it is going down the drain. Then I started wondering how it could have all expired! We always use the oldest milk first. Then I realized a few things: 1. I hadn't worked much lately (and if I'm not working... he's nursing) 2. There are nights when he will go to bed without a bottle.

So it got me thinking... maybe it's time to stop pumping.

So, I started doing some research.

According to earthsbest.com, as your child reached 9-12 months, the number of feedings should drop to about 4. HAH! Jude is not a 4 times a day kind of guy! Jude gets 3 solid meals and somewhere around 6 nursings (is that a word?) a day. So, I made the decision that pumping is done. Ryan will continue to give Jude the milk in the freezer when I'm not home. I will continue to nurse him at bed time if I am home... but if for some reason my body adjusts to not having that last feeding - so be it. I'm sure if anything, it will work in our favor if Jude falls asleep on his own, without the aide of a bottle or a boob.

Really, at this point my biggest concern is consistency. I try to make things consistent for Jude. We have pretty regular nap times, pretty regular times he eats and pretty regular times that he nurses. Being regular while nursing is what keeps my supply going... as nursing mothers know. So, if I stop pumping... and continue working frequently, the few nights I am home, I probably will not be producing an adequate amount... which really stinks, because quite frankly, I enjoy nursing him to sleep and holding him in my arms.

But at the same time... this is the first step towards 'getting my body back'... and it feels pretty good.

Trip for Two: Recap - The Flight

This past week, Jude and I took the trek to North Carolina to visit my mom. My mom is from Delaware and her and my Step Dad moved there about 5 years ago to be closer to his family... and get away from the bitter cold. In addition, my mom opened up a coffee shop there. She's made a bunch of friends there and obviously raves about her grand baby up north. She really wants to show him off, so I've been trying to get back down to visit.

Since I was short of hours this past week for work, I mentioned going down to visit and of course she was thrilled. I considered driving and instead decided to fly - which was a GREAT idea! I planned to fly down Monday and drive back on Thursday with my parents - who were planning on coming to visit anyway.

We had a later flight than I would have liked. Not really thinking, when I asked Ryan what would be the best time for me to catch a flight, he told me to make it as late as possible so that he wouldn't have to leave work. Well, the flight was at about 3:40 - so he had to leave early anyway. But it ended up being perfect.

We got to the airport and I piled out of the car. Ryan couldn't come in with me, so we had a quick goodbye at the curb and we were off. I had plans to not have to check any bags, but my plan fumbled. The car seat I ordered to be delivered to my mom's house was back ordered, so I had to bring Jude's car seat (checked bag #1). Then, Ryan turned into ultra-concerned, super sweet husband-of-the-year when he saw my packed suitcase and carry on bag and told me he really thought it'd be too much for me to carry through the airport with Jude in tow. So, I now had checked bag #2 - my suitcase. Since he told me just to check the bag, I then threw a few more things (that I wanted to take, but just didn't have space for) into another carry on bag.

Luckily, I was informed before I left that US Air let's you check a car seat or stroller for free. I say luckily because apparently everything is automated and I wasn't allowed to check-in with a person. I had a baby on my front in a carrier, two carry-on bags, a stroller bag and a suitcase and I was told I had to lug it all to the automated check-in. Well, had I not been told in advance that my car seat was free, I wouldn't have been told not to pay for it at the machine... thus costing me an extra 25 bucks. So, I had to have a teller help me anyway. Once I got the car seat and my suitcase out of my hands, I felt instant relief.

Also, I needed to get an infant lap pass - which also required teller help. But I digress.

Next, I headed in the direction of security and my gate. I got to go in the 'express' line because I had a baby in tow! The security line wasn't that long, but I must say it was GREAT to be able to walk up to the front! I knew that I'd have a lot in my hands, so thought ahead when packing and getting dressed. I was sure to wear slip on shoes and put my camera pieces on top for easy unpacking. I got through security in a matter of 10 minutes (and that includes the time waiting behind a family of 6 with lots of little ones, carry on bags and strollers!).

Jude was great during our waiting time. I let him crawl (yup - on the dirty floors) to get out energy. He had people cooing at him and we took a trip to get a pretzel. AND GUESS WHO WE SAW!!! Me-Shell was there getting on a flight to Florida and also had a little taste for Auntie Anne's! By the time we got back, the flight was about ready to board and (of course) we were one of the first on (I need to carry this kid EVERY time I fly!).

The flight was about 2/3 full and had three seats on each side of the aisle. So, basically there was a person in a window and aisle seat in just about every row - with the middle seat empty. I got the impression that just about everyone on the flight was flying for business, so even though I had been 100% confident about flying with Jude, sitting on the plane I got a little nervous. I kept telling myself it was only a 50 minute flight, so even if he was a terror - it'd be over before we knew it.

We got a window seat which worked out well, because I planned to nurse Jude and take off. This allowed me to whip it out and not be exposed to anyone. Not too long after getting in our seat, Jude began getting fidgety. He wanted to move, so I let him play a little in the seat between me and our passenger friend. There were a lot of middle-aged men around me and they all seemed super friendly. When I would apologize for something, they all assured me they had kids of their own and that Jude was perfectly fine. He made friends with the guy behind us and it helped assure me that the flight would be a breeze!

When we were ready for take off, I got myself ready to nurse. Put on my cover, got Jude in position and started nursing. At this point he was getting fussy and ready for a nap, so I didn't really have time to wait through taxi-ing. Of course Jude being the curious little man he is, when the plane started making all sorts of noises, he was latching on and off. The fans began blowing, the engine started making noise, etc. I was discouraged and thought for sure he wouldn't be fall asleep. He kept looking up at me wide-eyed, looking out the window, looking at the guy behind us, playing with the blanket (he hates being covered when I'm nursing him) and much more. But eventually he gave in and fell asleep just as we were taking off. I was almost a little disappointed - I thought for sure he'd be really interested to look at the window as everything got smaller and smaller.

There's really not much else to say about the flight. He literally slept through the entire flight - giving me time to read. He didn't wake up until I started moving him around as I was getting out of the seat. The other passengers around me helped me get my bags down and we made our way to baggage claim and then to the loading zone to meet Curt so we could go to dinner!

By the time we were in the car, Jude was hungry and we were in traffic. He threw a fit all the way to the restaurant and then ate like a champion! We had dinner with my parents and my brother and his family. It was great - but it was even better to get to their house, get settled in and go to bed!

A new kind of super hero

I once had a fear of security blankets, pacifiers, favorite stuffed animals... and all those other things that kids get attached to.

Then, Jude became a thumb sucker. While I think it's quite adorable and he seems to love it, as we've discussed, there's this little thing in the back of my head that says "remember that girl in 7th grade who used to suck her thumb???". But I push this little voice to the back of my head and relish in the glory of my wonderful baby boy who sucks his thumb and is oh so amazing. His ability to sooth himself or put himself back to sleep when he just slightly wakes up is just perfect. His pudgy fingers curled up in a fist connected to his rubber band wrists is just priceless. Then of course, there's the most adorable moments when he'll coyly smile at you mid-suck: finger still in mouth hiding his bashful little grin (and then follows that little treasure of a moment with a head butt into my chest to hide his face). It's sure to make you melt.

But thumb sucking was not the complete purpose of this post. It's that other security blanket that Jude has found. It's the comfort food/pillow/source of nutrition that I carry around with me every where I go. My breasts.

I'm not sure at what point exactly, but within the past couple of months, Jude has gained an uncanny reflex that begins with me picking him up. Once he is snuggly in my arms, thumb goes in his mouth and hand goes down my shirt (see above photo). No longer is using my chest as a pillow sufficient. Sucking me dry every 2 hours is just not enough. He will nuzzle his little hand right into my cleavage (or if he's feeling really frisky try to find his way to the nipple and pinch) and either let it just sit there or even fondle around a little. Turtlenecks are not longer a fashion statement, they are his Achilles Heal.

This is a little... uncomfortable(?) from time to time. People without a doubt have noticed and just chuckle at it and make the standard "typical boy" or "he knows where his food comes from" jokes. However, this reflex of his has gone beyond when mommy picks him up. Now, just about anyone/thing with breasts that picks Jude up, gets a good ol' fondling.

Apparently he was at my mother in laws the other day and she made a bit of a stink about it and he would just laugh every time she tried to stop him. Apparently he thought it was just the finniest thing in the world. But, it's not only my mother in law, but the waitress who just HAD to scoop him up... my mother... and countless other women. He has a superpower that most men would kill to have. He has the ability fondle women's breasts whenever he wants and have it come off as 'sweet' or 'silly' or just plain adorably awkward. He now has the nickname "Boob Man" from my father in law.

Is it wrong to now wish he had an actual security BLANKET? At least for the sake of his nickname?

It's like he misses it...

Recently, we've worked Jude up to three (fairly) consistent meals a day. Since he currently doesn't seem to rely on any of them, it's not a huge deal if I substitute it with nursing. I think in the last week or so, I've skipped one or two meals and replaced them with breast milk and he didn't seem bothered by this at all. But really, I'm trying to stay pretty regular - and have been doing a pretty good job of it.

I'm not sure if Jude just is not happy about this... or if it's his 9 month growth spurt, but lately he's been wanting to nurse more than ever! Right after a meal, he'll start grabbing at me, giving me some very obvious signs that he wants to nurse... so I let him.

Then, he'll nurse again about an hour later... an hour after that... basically any time I'm holding him. It's never for very long, but it's definitely happening. This really surprises me, because he eats like a champ and get water to wash it down. I'm pretty convinced this is his way of telling me that he's just not ready to let go (and maybe he's growing...).

And speaking of growing... this he is. The past week or so, I have felt it. when i pick him up, he feels so much more solid! his legs are getting beefy, his belly is getting bigger and he's just growing up... it's adorable and oh so sad at the same time.

Chompers

The day after Christmas, Ryan and I woke up to a wonderful surprise.

We were laying in bed and all of the sudden Jude threw up. Not just your standard spit up that we'd grown accustomed to, but projectile vomiting. It was still that light milky color, but there was still something different.

I didn't really worry too much. He had just had two very busy days and I assumed he was over whelmed or something. Then of course i also considered that it was possible that he was teething. There are a million things that people associate with teething, and throwing up is one of the things that I've heard.

So we cleaned up his little mess and moved on with out morning. Then it hit me. I should check his mouth for a tooth - so i did. What do you know... there it was. This little bitty piece of a pearly white just making it's way out of his gums.

While I was excited, I was also sad. I love, love, love Jude's goofy little gummy smile. I love tickling his tiny little belly and having him open his mouth as wide as possible as he laughs to his heart's content. But of course, I will grow to love his not-so-toothless smile just as much.

Already, he's beginning to do something adorable as a result of his little buddy. From time to time, I'll catch him running his tongue along the top it. I'm sure it's a new and interesting feeling for him.

I'm very curious to see how quickly the rest of them come in and I'm even more curious to see how teeth begin to work with breast feeding. I still have 4 months left until I'll be ready to start the weening process, so I'm hoping he's not much of a biter.

I haven't been able to get a picture yet... sorry.

Still Breastfeeding at 7.5 Months...

Question: now that jude is "getting older" have you gotten any comments/questions from people about your "still" breastfeeding him?
positive or negative

Answer: I remember when I first made the decision to breastfeed, I said I'd try it and if I was successful, I'd BF until I went back to work. My family all seemed to have problems with it, so i thought if there was some genetic component, I'd surely have it. Well BFing fit me well, so then I decided I'd try pumping at work. I figured if anything I'd get to around 6 months before it would get weird and I'd consider quiting (that's when they start to crawl and really communicate - BFing at that age just HAD to be weird). Ryan on the other hand totally supported me BFing as long as I had to, to totally skip formula all together (this is because he's cheap, not because he's a male advocate for BFing - although he appreciates the health benefits).

I'll share a few stories:

1. A few days ago I was at my grandparents. I was laying on the floor and Jude was crawling around playing. He instantly got a little cranky and that meant he was hungry. Well, with my grandparents sitting there, he crawls over to me, puts his head in my chest and opens wide. It was quite obvious what he was after. My grandmother chuckled and said "well, we all know what he wants!". I politely left the room and fed him.

2. Today, I was getting out of the shower, Jude saw me and instantly starting reaching for me/whining a little. I picked him up (I was still bare chested as I had literally JUST gotten out of the shower) and he stops crying. Then he grabbed my nipple and tried to pull my big old saggy breasts into his mouth.

3. Quite regularly, I'll be holding Jude and he will shove his hand down the collar of my shirt and just hang out with my cleavage. He will try to "pet" me and nuzzle his little head into the most natural pillows he knows.

I wasn't quite sure I'd be down for all that. The thought of Jude actively going after his breakfast/lunch/dinner was just a bit much for me. However, as he is getting more and more mobile and he is in fact going after his food source, I'm not really that embarrassed? freak out? grossed out? by it as I thought I would be. Perhaps because it all happens so gradually? Perhaps because I just love his kid so much that he could murder someone and all I'd have to say is how adorable he looks with a kitchen knife? Perhaps because I know that even if I switched to formula, out of habit, he's still signal to me he wanted food by reaching for my breasts? Who knows.

Even with his angry man face on he's adorable...

Sure, when he's got his hand down my shirt people chuckle and say things like "must be hungry" or "typical male" or "like father, like son", but I've yet to get any real negative (or positive) comments about how long he's been breast fed. This surprises me because I can distinctly remember people commenting about how when babies get too old it's just weird. But I guess those comments are for the two year olds who can walk up and say "milk please" and not for the baby who simply grabs at what he loves the most.

Occasionally I'll have someone tell me how great it is that I breastfed at all and how good it is for the baby or how if they knew the benefits when their kids were young they would have done it. In addition, I always hear about how HAPPY Jude is and that it must be because he's breastfed and how good it is for his belly. Then there are the times when old women feel the need to justify and say "my children thrived just fine on corn syrup and evaporated milk" - or whatever the combination was. But besides that, I never get any comments directly related to Jude's age.

I wonder if people were making comments that it'd make me feel uncomfortable or if I might try giving him more solids to avoid always going right to breast milk? I'm really not sure how I would respond... but either way, I'm glad they mind their own business :)

Question: When do YOU think is an appropriate time to stop breast feeding, regardless of what is recommended by any organization? This isn't to say when you personally would, but when do you think they're just "too old"?

Supply and Demand

Question: I have been breastfeeding for 7 weeks now. WE have had some issues with Brooklyn gaining weight so we have been supplementing. They only time I can get her to have a good feeding is first thing in the morning since my milk is stored from the night, or if I skip a meal and use a bottle instead. Do you have any tips or tricks to increase milk production so she can be totally reliant on me for meals instead of me having to top her off all the time. She wants to eat every 2-3 hours still and I don't have enough time between feedings to make sure she does fill up.

Answer:

This is really a tough question. I'll say that the only time I TRULY had supply concerns was when I went back to work. I was JUST getting enough to cover some of Jude's feedings (and on other days getting more than I'd ever need). But I'm thinking your question is in reference to full time feeding, not pumping... so I'll skip it.

I'll start by saying that apparently there are certain foods that can boost your milk supply. Barbie mentioned one time that she ate a lot of oatmeal. I believe I've heard people say chicken did the trick for them. I'd also say that drinking a lot of water always helps me when I'm feeling less than full (not to mention it's just really good for you anyway!). In conclusion, eat healthy. I remember in the beginning with Jude, it was NOTHING for me to go all day without eating. I'm not sure why, but I'd just forget or something. He was eating every 2 hours or so for like 15 -20 minutes a piece and by the time that was done, I wanted to finish something around the house 'really quick' and then before I knew it he was eating again and I just stopped caring about me as much. But one particular night I was feeding Jude and (maybe I was starting to regulate a little) I just didn't feel 'full'. I got so worried. I tried to think back over the day to remember what I had eaten. I made quick mental list and it included something minimal like a pudding cup and a cupcake. Hardly a healthy diet for a nursing mother. I immediately jumped up after the feeding and ran into the kitchen to find the healthiest thing I could find. I distinctly remember it being a bunch of broccoli. I was so eager to fill myself with such nutritious food that I didn't even cook it. I chopped it up and ate it whole... like basically a whole thing of broccoli. Looking back it was so lame of me... but basically... don't forget to take care of yourself. Your diet reflects your child's diet.

I'd also say to let her stay on as long as possible. I know Jude used to fall asleep early on during feedings which was so frustrating when I wanted him nursing as long as possible for nutrition and for milk supply. If she's falling asleep mid-feeding, then tickle her chin, etc... do the tricks. The more you keep her sucking during feedings, the more aware your body will be that she needs more than you're giving her.

I'd also personally recommend not skipping feedings. Not to float my own boat, but Jude didn't get a bottle until I was preparing to go back to work and we wanted to make sure he'd take to it. I'm under the impression it's best to avoid skipping feedings until your body is in a routine.

Perhaps if you can, start pumping when you can between feedings to see if that will boost your supply a little.

But above all else, remember that any little bit she gets is better than nothing. I'm pretty sure if you stress out about it too much that will only make matters worse.

Good luck and let me know how it goes for you!

Hanging out with my .... boobs out

Question: as far as I can tell you've always been fairly modest (maybe not the best word) when it comes to nursing your child in front of others. You rarely do it in the prescence of other people, and when you do, it's people you are close friends with, and you always use a nursing wrap or pillows to baracade/cover yourself. Now that you've been breastfeeding for 6+ months and have it DOWN, do you find yourself caring less about who is around and/or if you're covered??

I can remember how things changed for me over the course of 11 months, so I was wondering....

Answer:
In the beginning, I think I was worried about BFing Jude in front of others because I was uncomfortable with it. I didn't want people to see my tatas. Plus, getting the hang of things encouraged me to do it alone so we could focus. I could fully expose myself and not have to worry about pulling my shirt up 'just' enough, etc.

Over time, my reasons for not doing it in public have changed a little. I still don't want to whip it all out, but I've gotten much better about doing it without being too obvious. For example, I did it today on the couch in the ladies' room at Macy's. People were coming in and out - whatever. I was mildly uncomfortable, but mostly because the lobby area in the women's room was visible to pretty much anyone going in and out of the men's/women's room. At this time I did NOT have my wrap on. I I kept thinking as different women came in "oh that woman is judging me" or "they look like they probably breastfed their babies... they get it". I'm not sure what made me go one way or the other with different people, but that's what kept thinking about the whole time

A few times I've done it while at a "babywearing" class at the birth center and did it with out a wrap or anything. When I'm at my grandparents, I always go into their formal living room and anyone who's comfortable enough with it will come in and out of the room, others stay out. I specifically will cover up or go upstairs when friends come over, because most of them (the guys) have pretty much outright said it's strange to them - of course they'd never tell me not to do it, but on the rare occasion I've just covered myself, they get a little fidgety. You get the picture.

Mostly, if I go into another room, go out to my car, or at the very least cover up, it's for the sake of others. Even if it doesn't make me uncomfortable doing it in public, I don't want others to feel uncomfortable. I mean I get the whole thing that it's natural, we have rights, etc. etc. But still. I know there are people who don't feel comfortable for one reason or another (mostly because we as a country have become so prude) and I really don't mind . So I usually find a nice place to sit or rest. Not that I really care what people think, but I don't want to be 'that girl' on the mall bench.

Plus, in addition to all of that, Jude is easily distracted anymore. If he's eating when Ryan walks in the door, he stops and looks around and laughs. If I'm at my grandparents and I'm feeding him in the upstairs living room, typically someone is talking to me from the other room and he just starts and stops. If we happen to have the TV on, he's peaking back and forth at it. It's frustrating. So, it's nice to just find a nice quiet place for him fill him up and move on.

It is amazing how much more comfortable I am now than I used to be, but I haven't lost my... 'respect?' (maybe not the right word) for other people who just really seem skiddish about any sort of exposure.

Question: To anyone who doesn't/didn't breast feed: do you think it's "inappropriate" for women to do it in public? with or without a wrap, etc?

Baby Teeth

So I have this theory... what is it you might ask? I think that after talking to other mothers that breastfeed babies get their teeth later than formula fed babies. You may think I'm crazy, but I honestly am noticing a trend among the people I know!

Everyone I know in my family all say that their children got teeth a t 3/4 months - they were all convinced when Jude was only a couple months old that he was teething. Now, when I look at most of the women I know who breastfeed, they're kids all seem to be getting their first teeth around 6/7 months.

Noticing this, I decided to do some online research just to see. I found no real related studies or anything that indicated one way or the other, but I came across chat boards and stuff that left me undecided. One chat board was a conversation started by a mother asking the same question as me. She said she too noticed a trend among breastfed/formula fed babies. Some mothers who argued that it made no difference said that they breast fed for X number of months and their kids still got teeth on the younger side. But for some/most "x" number of months was around the 3-4 months... so not really a good indicator for this argument.

I'm talking about the mothers who seem to BF longer - like 7...8... 12 months... whatever.

The only information I found that even seemed to semi-support my theory was an article saying that babies begin to get their teeth on average around 5 months (I could be wrong on that exact number, but we'll use that for the sake of what I'm getting ready to say). He said that 5 months is when the maternal stores begin to 'wear off' and so there's some sort of hormone adjust that takes place and they begin to teeth.

Now, I'm no scientist, but one could assume that if you're breastfeeding your child might be getting extra of those 'maternal stores' and thus taking longer for them to teeth.

Secondly, I found some information about how there are steroids in cow's milk that may encourage children to get teeth more quickly also... but I'm going to hope/assume that this doesn't apply to my theory as 3-4 month olds shouldn't be on cow's milk.

I think this deserves more research as it seems like it might be a credible theory - to some degree.

Question: I would love to hear your feedback on this! When did your child/children start getting teeth? Were they formula or BF? Not just your kids though... but other mothers you may know...

Jude's Favorites

Question: When I was breastfeeding Riley she would only drink from one boob leaving me to pump the other. does jude have a favorite boobie or does he do pretty well rotating between them?

Answer: The answer to this has fluctuated a little over the past 6-7 months.

When I first had Jude, he would do really well on the left but was not as good on the right. I never had very sore/cracked nipples and all that, but there was a little more pain associated with feeding Jude on the right when he first got started. Looking back, I think I'd associate that with the right producing more. So, at first, when my milk came in, it was probably harder for him to get a good latch.

Once he did get the hang of it, the right is without a doubt his 'favorite'. It produces way more and it seriously feels like it's always ready to go. The left produces much less and NEEDS the four hours in between to stock back up.

When I wake up, we always start on the right and then switch back and forth through the day - usually ending on the left. He takes well to both and I've never had a situation where I had to pump because he wouldn't take a side.

I do often 'joke' that the right is his 'meal' boob and the left is his 'snack' side that keeps him full between meals. I think it's amazing that he eats for equal amounts of time on both sides, but it produces significantly less. I guess though that it's regulated it's self according to Jude's needs.

"Are you ok??"

A few times in the last couple of days I have answered the phone while Jude was napping or nursing. As I've posted before he's become very curious of the things around him while nursing and so I try to keep things quite to avoid a 30 minute nursing session.

When he's asleep, he's very... on and off? If he falls asleep while it's noisy, he has no problem staying asleep. However, if it's quiet, as with anyone I'm imagining, the second there's a sound he perks up or startles a little and wakes up. Usually if you wake him up from a nap when he's not ready, he will not fall back asleep and I always feel bad.

Being that it's just the two of us home during the day, the house is relatively quiet. I rarely have the TV on and other than me talking to him, there' snot much spoken conversation.

Typically I hate long phone conversations. I avoid them at all cost and sometimes am just flat out NOT in the mood for the phone. I regularly use Jude as an excuse as to why I don't answer the phone - naps and nursing are some of those times I tell myself "I don't need to get it, he's sleeping". Well, the past two days I received calls that I knew if I didn't take I'd forget to call these people back and... well, either way, I answered the phone.

Every time I tried to be courteous of Jude and keep my voice semi low. Every time I got the same question 'are you ok??'. I guess my quiet, courteously low voice makes me sound depressed.

So to those of you out there - if I answer the phone and sound suicidal, just imagine me with my "nursing tools" whipped out and Jude asleep in my arms...

155...

...is the number of ounces of breast milk I have stored in my freezer.

There was a point when I could without a doubt easily get 10 ounces in the morning while pumping. Somehow my body got on a routine where at about 5am I would wake up with a full boob that wanted to be expressed. At this time, Jude was sleeping beyond 5am, so he wasn't going to be doing the work. Instead, I would bust out with my pump and thus was the beginning of my freezer stash. I remember I used to think my 2-3 ounce "breast-sickles" I originally got were so tiny compared to the big old honkers I was pumping out every morning.

When I went back to work I knew I would not be pumping at 5am and so I slowly worked this pump out of my breast feeding schedule. I would make my body wait a little longer each day and was just sure that I fed him on that side first. While I didn't mind pumping, I just didn't want to do it in the morning and also while at work. So from that point forward, my pumping was simply to maintain my freezer stash.

Once I got into a routine at work, I began to dread pumping. I did it every day twice a day, no matter what (and for a little while that was in addition to going to see Jude at lunch time and feeding him then) but knowing that I would be leaving work and staying home was always the silver lining on my pumping cloud that really kept me going. I looked forward to feeding on demand and not cleaning bottles every night.

Around the time I was working full-time I remember counting the number of ounces I had frozen and it was somewhere well over the 200 mark. I really have no idea how much other women have frozen, and I'm sure it ranges from person to person, but I was happy with that amount. That worked out to more than 40 bottles (probably closer to 50+ because his bottles were only 4 ounces) so I was content. Had I kept the 5am pump going, I can only imagine what I would have had!

Through my time there I had my on and off pumping days. Some times I would get so much I was able to ADD to the stash, other time I wasn't getting enough and had to take away, while most days I got just enough. I probably should have been pumping three times a day to always get enough, but just didn't feel like it. Once I was home, I pretty much could care less about what was frozen - he was getting what he needed, when he needed it. Until recently the amount of frozen milk was not a big deal for me.

My current routine (for the sake of not having any milk go bad, as it can only be frozen SO long) is to have Ryan feed Jude the oldest milk in the freezer while I continue to pump each night and replace it.

Typically I try to time Jude's last feeding before I go to work to happen RIGHT before I leave. You're not supposed to have a breastfed baby on a schedule so this is often hard to do. Sometimes it requires him to eat when he's probably not really hungry (thus not really filling himself up) and other times it requires me to entertain him for 20 minutes or so to keep him from fussing for food. For the most part, this typically works. When it does, it's perfect because then he will only need one more feeding before he goes to bed. However, when it doesn't it can lead to more than one feeding.

Every night I work, I come home and pump to make up for missed feedings. I try to avoid pumping at work because I just can't imagine myself being very comfortable doing it at Lowes - it's nothing like the office setting I was used to and so I found myself going out to my car. My shifts are usually only 4-5 hours long, so if I feed him right before I leave it's not really messing me up too much. I can typically get more than enough to replace one feeding, but getting 2 is pretty rough.

Why am i telling you this? Because of the number above. 155.

After pumping tonight I decided to count what I had in the freezer and it's only 155 ounces. This is still a significant amount - I mean if I just stopped pumping after work I would have enough milk for one bottle for the next month - he'd be at least six months old before needing some sort of supplement. I'm still typically replacing what is taken each night - but obviously there's a lag somewhere/sometimes.

Between what I didn't replace while at work, people over feeding Jude when I'm not around, a busted milk bag and those nights he just needs to eat twice, things are decreasing (I'm not naming any names...). Considering Jude is already 5 months old and still only ever fed breastmilk, I would be bummed if I needed to start supplementing with formula now. I'm not against it at all... but now it's like "oh I can do this!". It's almost like a mission for me to go with out formula all together - a challenge if you will. Lame - I know.

All of this makes me realize that I am even more eager than before to start Jude on some form of solids. After the first couple of days where we'll probably feed him earlier in the day to watch for allergic reactions, he will probably be getting his solids in the evening and so this will maybe cut back on how much breastmilk he is consuming while I'm not around. He and Ryan can have their little man bonding time over rice cereal and pureed veggies. It'll be sweet - and a slight relief for my lovely ladies.

Do you mind?? I'm eating here!!!

It has been so amazing watching our little man develop over the last 4.5 months. It seems like every day... week... month, it's something new. Every step brings him closer and closer to a fully aware and functioning being.

Most recently his awareness has developed most around feeding time. I must say that this particular change came out of no where and at the time was just too cute (as it continues to happen though, it's getting less adorable).

The other day I was sitting in the living room feeding Jude on the couch. Typically when Jude's eating, that's all that matters. Stopping him before he's finished or not having enough (in the rare instance that he gets a bottle anymore) is like "seriously?? feed me more!!!". However, while sitting on the couch earlier this week while feeding, Ryan walks in the door. Being that Buddy is always the first to acknowledge Ryan's coming home, Ryan was praising him for being such a good dog and then made his way into the living room.

Well, it seemed almost as soon Jude heard Ryan's voice he stopped eating and just looked up at me. He seemed to have a half smile ("awww daddy's home!") but at the same time had this look that was like "I enjoy my peace and quite while eating if you don't mind." At one point I had to specifically ask Ryan if we could finish out greeting one another after Jude was done eating because he just could not concentrate and at that rate I'd be feeding him for the next hour.

Since then it had happened on more than one occasion. For example feeding him in the family bathroom at the mall today, he heard so many noises on the other side of the door he was just too curious to really stay focused. Thank goodness he eventually let it go though and fell asleep in my arms.

It's so neat to see him become more and more interested in what's going on around him!

Lowes: Pumping, Friends, Lack of working full-time, and my opinion in general...

Question: when you have some time would you mind talking a bit about your part time job. Maybe touch on how you like it so far, how pumping fits into your schedule, how coworkers react to pumping, if you've made any friends, etc.

Do you ever "miss" working full time?

Answer:

A. The job is going fine. To this point I've had a nice mix of training and "hands on". I'm a cashier and so it's not exactly the most difficult job in the world. It's nice getting out of the house a little, but I still miss little man. However, it's nice that Ryan and Jude get a little bonding time. Perhaps the worst part is that I don't have a set schedule. Now when I plan anything for the evenings or the weekends I have to put in a request off. If I get invited some where last minute i have to check my schedule to see if I can go. I really haven't missed this since I start working full time on a set schedule how ever many years ago.

However, for the most part it's not a bad job. The pay is actually pretty good considering what I'm doing and for the most part the customers haven't been too bad. Oh - it was a little "embarrassing" (not the right word) when I ran into one of my high school teachers the other day. I felt like I needed to explain why I was working as a cashier... when really, I don't need to. It's my business. But what can you do?

Now for the long part:

B. Pumping. When I brought up the issue of pumping at work I was not at all nervous, embarrassed or hesitant. I told them I would be pumping, it was no big deal and I left it at that - people know and we all made jokes about it. However, for some reason it wasn't so easy when I brought it up to Lowe's. It honestly had slipped my mind during my interviews and so I arrived the day of orientation with my pump in hand, not sure how to go about saying "I need somewhere to plug this in". Jude was at home with Meghan. I didn't expect her to bring him up and I wasn't planning on going home.

Lunch time rolled around and I still hadn't brought up pumping. So, I hoped in my car (meghan's car actually), hooked up to the machine (thank goodness for my car adapter) and took care of business in the back of the parking lot with a blanket covering my chest. It was uncomfortable and I think my nerves affected my milk, because I hardly got anything. Really, I didn't need much since I have 200+ ounces in the freezer anyway so it was just to keep my body on schedule.

Shortly after heading back in after lunch I couldn't get time 100% alone with HR, so took my first semi-opportunity and threw it out while in the training room (we were all breaking for a quick tour of the building so I thought I'd grab him while I could (there were people around, but it was semi-private) that I nurse my baby and was wondering if it's something they've dealt with before as I'd need a "pump" room. The HR manager looked at me with a confused look that confirmed they had never had this situation and he wanted to know what a pump room was. I gave it a minute to sink in and once it did he had a very "oh god, how am i going to handle this" look on his face. I quickly added that I really wouldn't mind doing it in my car (my car has tinted windows and is a little higher off the round than meghan's), but once it gets cold out I'll need something indoors. He said he would work on it and get back to me. To this point I haven't heard anything (he probably forgot), but Ryan informed me there's a family style bathroom that would probably suit my needs just fine for my random pumping. I was after all, using the restroom at my previous job which had a chair set up for me and everything.

When getting my schedule for the week following orientation, I was grateful that I only had 4 hour shifts. Ryan and I discussed it and he would drive me to work. By having Ryan take me to work it allowed me to feed Jude RIGHT before going in to work. I had a break in the middle of my shift, so Ryan brought Jude up for my break and I fed him in the car. Then (keeping Jude out JUST past his bed time) Ryan would bring him with him to pick me up. I would get off at 9 and he'd eat one more time before going to sleep for the night. Jude typically eats every 2-3 hours (heading more towards the 3 hour mark) and even though you're not supposed to put a breast fed baby on a schedule, that's kind of what we were doing for the sake of not having to pump.

Friday is my first day working a 5 hour shift. From experience with Ryan's Lowe's time I know that working the closing shift often means you're not done on time and so I am not going to work Jude's eating schedule around work. Ryan and I discussed that I'd still try to feed Jude as close to going to work as possible and if he happens to have not eaten around the time I go on my break then Ryan will bring him up and I'll feed him. If not, I'll have my pump on hand and I'll just pump instead. Also, his last feeding of the night I'll do the same thing - but since I'm getting off at 10, I'll probably be pumping when I get home - he will with out a doubt be asleep by then.

So, the pumping issue will be resolved on an "as needed" basis. I will try to avoid pumping as much as possible as I didn't really enjoy it at all while I was working full time. But I'm more than willing to pump as needed and use the freezer stash while I'm working if our schedules don't jive. Since my schedule will be so irregular, to say "Jude will get a bottle at X time" is unrealistic - so we'll have to make it work based on my fluctuating schedule.

C. No, I have not made any friends at this point. I've talked to a handful of people who seem pretty nice. The biggest downfall is a lot of people are really hardcore about working there and I'm just there for the sake of being home with my son... so I can't seem to relate to their excited-ness about work... I wouldn't say I'm really there to make friends anyway. I'm not trying to be antisocial, just get in and get out.

D. I miss working full time from time to time. I don't miss work, I think I miss being "in the loop". Before, Ryan and I could have work conversations and I knew what was going on, but now I don't. So, as lame as it sounds, I miss it a little. Also, even though I had my moments, I feel like I was pretty good at what I did. I liked having people who kind of relied on me.. but I'm getting over it.

Hired

Today was my first day at Lowes. As Ryan and I have discussed, it will be good for me to get out and have some adult interaction (and have an income), but at the same time I'm going to miss 100% Jude time.

I got the call last week that they wanted to interview me and by the end of the week was told I had the job and would have orientation on Thursday (today). It was pretty boring. We watched a series of videos and filled out a little paperwork - luckily we seemed to finish earlier than expected.

Perhaps the most depressing part about going back to work is pumping. I didn't miss it at all. However, since most of my shifts will be in the evening, I'll need about 1 pump and that's about it (maybe one when I get home), depending on how the times work out. I mentioned today to the HR manager that I would be needing a "lactation room" and he seemed confused at first and then was like "ohh!". This was after lunch/after I had already pumped in my car (it was nice out, what the heck?) so I told him he had time to figure it out. I was informed by Ryan when I got home that there's a family-style bathroom (one large bathroom with a lock, etc) that I could use if I had to - I'm fine with that.

So I'm officially employed again - come ooooonnn income!

The Best Breastfeeding Story Ever (for me anyway)

A little background story: I have been going to the same hair salon for quite some time. Since I was about 10 at least. The guy I go to is on Main Street and is middle eastern/european (armenian? spelling?). He speaks with a little accent and is just all around very sweet.

I enjoy going to this place and have recommended them to a number of people. My dear friend Meghan is one of the people who took my recommendation to heart and has been going to them on and off for a little while now. She had an appointment with them today in fact and asked me to go along with her.

The guy who cuts our hair was married to a woman who still currently works at the salon. At some point she started a discussion about breast feeding. Now, she has an accent so I could only understand a portion of what she was saying, but basically she talked about how her first child didn't latch on well at first but her youngest did and how good breastfeeding is for our children.I'm not sure what started her on this conversation (I think it had to do with Jude thumb sucking??), but in order for her to not go through all the pros of breastfeeding that I'm aware of, I chimed in that I too breastfeed and that it has worked out well for us so far. I then added "as a matter of fact, I think he's hungry right now". Typically I'd take a quick trip out to the car where we have a comfortable seat and our privacy, but not today.

The important thing to remember is that they're european. It's my understanding that america is "behind" in thinking and other countries have been much more open and accepting of breastfeeding for much longer (well, they have always been while americans during the wwII era kinda put breastfeeding on the back burner and we're just now getting it back where it needs to be), so to them a BFing mother is nothing. I think they sensed though that I didn't want to whip it out in public and so they excitedly got me a chair and told me I could use their tanning room to feed Jude in. I accepted and left Meghan to her hair cut - which turned out lovely I might add.

Prior to this conversation about feeding, there was a little boy (one of the salon worker's sons - not the one with the BFing daughters/son of my 'stylist' - long story) who was very interested in Jude and I and was showing us his cars, etc. He was not breastfed - his mother is not of european decent and it much more on the 'american' way of thinking. So, as I went in the room he immediately asked where we were going. His mother gave the response most American women would give "she's going to feed him honey - he doesn't eat out of a bottle like you did". Well, of course as any three year old boy would, he wanted to know WHAT this baby was drinking that wasn't in a bottle and WHY we were going in a room to do it!


At that time the european woman (Irene) walks up and says "oh, he's breastfed. Here, look!". I simultaneously freeze and start pulling down my shirt in any place my breast was not, trying to cover myself as I hear a knock on the door. Irene peaks her head in and says "is it OK for him to see??" Not knowing what else to say, I agree and in walks this little boy staring at me with a confused look. He could not figure out why this baby was sucking on my boob and just stood there uncomfortably for a few minutes with Irene peaking her head in the door looking at us both with such a pleased look on her face that another "all american boy" was being cultured. After an awkward 60 seconds or so she tells him to leave me be. He didn't want to leave though so stood there for a little longer before she ushered him out.

All I could do after they left was sit there silently laughing to myself about what an awkward moment I had just experienced. I wouldn't say that I'm super a prude about breastfeeding, I mean I frequently feed Jude in my living room with select guests that I know are not uncomfortable about it with my wrap on. I also whip it out at my grandparents with family around after tossing out the "I'm feeding" warning. In addition I feed Jude regularly in my car without a cover on and know that some passer-byers can see in, but in my mind, I'm in my car, I'm in my space, if you're looking in. it's your fault. However, being on display to this little boy was just outside of my comfort zone.I obviously survived the situation and can at least be proud that one more child has been introduced to the world of breastfeeding because of me... too bad it wasn't a little girl??

Hilarious

A little background: The Colbert Report is basically Stephan Colbert pretending to be a hard core right wing reporter, when it reality he's the total opposite. When interviewing people, he plays some yuppie who's always right and people basically have to argue their side with Colbert making some of the most annoying/rediculous comments.

I remember seeing this particular interview before I was pregnant/breast feeding and thinking it was funny... but now it's even better. It makes me chuckle (specifically the last 60 seconds or so):

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Better Know a District - New York's 14th - Carolyn Maloney
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

reviews

You hear all the time that all babies like different things. Some parents never use some items that other parents seem to swear by. Likewise child #1 may hate something that child #2 (in the same family) loved. For anyone who’s interested, he’s a little comprehensive list of things I loved/hated and just found to be useful in the last 2+ months with baby #1. I’m sure over time my opinion of certain items may change – next time around I might hate it, but as of right now, here’s where it stands.

Also, some of this I may have posted previously in random posts, but here it is, all together and perhaps with a little detail.


Never Used/Use:

Bottle warmer – Never came out of the box. I just put it in a storage box the other day. His milk comes out at the right temperature and when I use pumped milk, it’s just as easy to run it under warm water.
Swing – I’ve heard this is one of the big “my child loves it/hates it” items. My child disliked it. Recently we used it a couple of time for a few minutes, but it never gets used for long periods of times – it was not worth the price.
Dishwasher baskets – another item that was thrown into storage recently unopened.
Bumpers – When creating the nursery, we didn’t buy one of those large bundles from babies r us that has the whole bedding set. I found a quilt at potterybarn.com on clearance with airplanes and we coordinated the room around it – I was really trying to avoid a cookie-cutter nursery (same wall art as every other nursery, same border as every other nursery, etc) that he’d outgrow too quickly. They had matching bumpers that we bought also, but they came out after 1 or 2 nights of Jude sleeping in his crib. Considering they were pretty cheap I don’t regret buying them too much (as I have recently seen you can make a million things with them!) but in the future I would skip them and just get a quilt again or some other item to have as the inspiration for his room.
Rocking Chair – This I was hesitant to put in this category. Our rocking chair was passed down to me from my grandmother… it apparently was my great, great grandmother’s and so has a little special meaning (not that I knew her, but still). It fits well in Jude’s “reading corner” and I’m sure down the road it may get used more, but currently if I had put money out for it, it would have been a total waste.
Spit Up Sheet Protector – these apparently are made so that you don’t have to wash your sheets as frequently. I had it on before Jude was born, he spit up on it and I never put it back on. It was just as easy in my opinion to change the sheet. These tie onto the crib rails and so if your crib is up against the wall, you have to move the crib out from the wall every time you change them.
Bibs – No matter how practical, I never used them. His outfits are too cute to cover up sometimes. Plus, he has so much clothing I didn’t mind costume changes mid-day if they got messy.


Couldn’t Live without:

Bouncie seat – He loves it. It’s light and small enough that we take it outside when we doing yard work, move it in the kitchen while cooking, sit him in it when he’s awake/looking around, etc.
Bum Genius Diapers – This is really a personal opinion, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE using cloth diapers – specifically the BG 3.0’s. I got so much kick back when I told people I was using them about how it wouldn’t last, etc., but it had to have been one of the BEST decisions we made. They seem like they’d be much more comfortable, much smarter financially, etc. After my experience I don’t think I would EVER use disposables again. To this day I love when people who once thought it wouldn’t last ask me how “using those cloth diapers is going” and I can reply “great!”.
Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump – Another big ticket item that I couldn’t live without. Especially now that I’m back to work, this is obviously one of the most handy and regularly used items. Even before pumping at work though, it was very handy for full breasts in the morning or just to pump some extra to have in the freezer.
Hip Hugger Clothes Basket – A non-baby item that I had pre-baby, that I still couldn’t live without. Mostly in the first few weeks when I hated the idea of having to climb up and down the steps and didn’t feel comfortable leaving Jude on one floor alone – this was super handy. Most others would slip off, but this one hugs the hip so I could have clothes basket in one hand, baby in the other.
Burp Cloths – specifically the cloth diaper burp clothes. They sell them at BRU. They’re basically like white rags, but are highly absorbent. The ones I use are tri-fold with a slightly more absorbent center. Very hard to explain, but super handy! Plus they’re MUCH cheaper than the fancy decorated ones in weird fabric that don’t absorb.
Tummy Time Play Mat – This was super convenient before we had an area rug in the living room. When we put Jude on his back to kick around it kept him off the hard floors. Now that he’s getting a little older, even though we have the rug, he’s able to focus on the objects and likes looking at his little toys that hang.
Home Made Laundry Detergent – With all the wash, it’s nice to not pay high dollar for detergent!


Odds and Ends I might recommend:

Avent Bottles – another one of those to-each-their-own type items.
Pack N’ Play – Specifically Graco, it seems very well made.
Pack N’ Play Sheets and Changing Station Covers – much easier to swap out a sheet or a cover than to clean the whole thing.
Sling – See below on my rant about travel systems. This was a nice alternative when making a quick run into a store, going for walks around the neighborhood, doing stuff around the house, etc. (brand I used: hot slings)
Boppie – This was extremely convenient when I first started breast feeding. Jude, Ryan and I had a system when I would feed, legs crossed, boppy on top of legs, baby on boppy. Ryan would gently hold his hands while I got the latch right. I consider this system of ours the reason why he got the whole process so quickly. It was very routine and consistent. Thanks Boppie!
Medela Nipple Cream – I never got the dreaded sore nipples while beginning, but it was still nice and soothing while adjusting to the whole process.
Bottle Drying Rack – I usually hand wash all of Jude’s bottles – for some reason they would never get 100% clean in the dishwasher, so this was incredibly handy and allowed for easy access to them (instead of shoving them in a cabinet).
Nursing Wrap – Peanut Shell w/ Wire peep hole – perfect for nursing on the go – or just sitting around the house when you’re not sure who might walk in.

Take it or Leave it:

Infant Car Seat/Travel System – there are times when the infant car seat/travel system is the most convenient thing in the world and other times that it’s the biggest pain in the ass. For the cost… I would venture to say if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t get another one. But considering I do and it was a gift, I love it more than anything? I feel like it’s a staple item on any baby registry – which is maybe why I went for it, but might be wise to just get a regular car seat and some sort of front carrier/umbrella stroller in the future… It’s really hard to say.