Bittersweet day!

Today marks the end of 18 months of some of the hardest days and by all accounts the best days of my life. I am ending my pumping (nursing) journey. I feel so deeply connected and passionate about breastfeeding, which is why this end is difficult.
So many people don't understand and one person even smirked at me when I sad I’m feeling bittersweet about this end. Well, I NEVER was able to bond with my child the way I wanted by having a traditional relationship (so of course I feel defensive) as I do know how important it is to give your child the best start, so I did pump for 18 months. I am undoubtedly proud of myself as the majority of people I've encountered would not give it a second thought to switch to formula if their nursing relationship was not working out. For me and my family, formula was neither an option nor a choice I was comfortable with. In the 18 month time span there have been at least 4 major recalls on various formulas. How can you trust the companies to feed that to your littlest, most innocent and defenseless family members. With that being said, you must do what is best for your family and for some formula is the solution.

I am excited about being able to wear under wire bras (in a week or two), not having to carry all my ice packs around with my pumping 'stuff;, not having to pump and drive, not constantly having to make sure Jim has not run the dishwasher so I can put my pump stuff in it, ALL.THE.TIME. I will gain back! It is quite liberating.

I am so proud of myself to have made it this far. 18 months is a huge victory (my original goal was 6 months). I pumped while in grad school full time, while interning and having mastitis and countless nipple infections.

I would not have made if for not the amazing support I have found through my wonderful LLL friends. My pumping journey has truly changed my life as I have made some amazing connections to people whom I would never have met otherwise. The families that I donated milk to, my friends that I have made at the LLL groups and the people that friends have referred me to lend help and support to who are going through similar situations. I’m so grateful that this adversity has been such an amazing and positive experience. As almost always the case, the best things in life don’t come easy!

So how much does it cost to have a baby these days?

These are the three birth choices I was interested in:
1. Out of pocket through my OBGYN Complete Women’s Care (which incidentally is what they call their self pay option…)
a. OBGYN Fees-(payments broken into 5 payments= 950, 950, 600, 400, 95) these fees are for the 13 visits. Ultrasounds are 269 each. A fetal stress test is 115 (there are a few other misc. fees involved too…so for inclusive sake Ill add an extra 150. Which Im sure is on the low side)
b. TO Deliver the baby- 3,490
c. Hospital fees- 3,400 (to deliver the baby and immediate assoc expense)
d. Room/Board a day (minimum 2 night stay) 975
TOTAL- 12,520
2. Using Private Health Insurance- Plan in question is Optima Plus 3000 plan (3,000 deductable with 20% coinsurance)
a. 108 monthly premium associated with the maternity rider (you must have it 6 months prior to conception and of course the 10 months after-one additional month for post partum care)= 1,728
b. Deductable of 3,000 must be met. We’ll assume that we’ve all be healthy this year and it HAS NOT for these purposes (furthermore, who’s to say the birth doesn’t happen at the beginning of a new ‘calendar’).
c. 20% coinsurance of 3400 + 975 +975= 5,350$ =1070
d. 350 Global deductable which includes all of the doctors visits, u/s’s , lab work, etc
TOTAL- 6,148
3. Depaul MWC
a. 2,570 includes ALL 13 office visits, U/S’s, lab work
b. 1,400 Hospital fees for one night ($800 for the second night if needed)
Total- 3,970
• The nice thing, aside from the all the wonderful things about the MWC is that is something were to go wrong and they do transfer you to the traditional L&D side, there is no price hike. This is there standard self pay rate for the MW’s or the Dr’s.

You're still pumping?

You’re still pumping?

At almost 17 months, this is a resounding question that is asked of me frequently. My resounding and very PROUD answer, is YES I am still exclusively pumping (due to my anatomy and daughter lack of a latch). Each additional month, I reflect and think how proud I am of myself and the love I have for my daughter that keeps me going.

There is so much guilt associated with motherhood. My Mom was an active member of the LLL while my sister and I were both infants. She nursed my sister until she was 24 months (she was a preemie) and nursed me until I self weaned at 18 months old. With the innate guilt, I felt the drive to give my daughter the same benefit of my milk that I had as a baby- 18 months of my milk-love.

I had a lot of grief in the beginning when she was born as I mourned the loss of a traditional nursing relationship. I felt “Is this weird to mourn the loss of being able to nurse my daughter?” I came to find out there are plenty of other women in my shoes. I belong to several online groups that support each other that are for exclusive pumping women.

Why would I mourn the loss of the relationship?
It’s such a short time. Your baby will get teeth and bite you. Formula is so much easier. You're going to raise a child that is co-dependent on you.

Those are just a few of the answers I have experienced. Well, yes it is just a short time, and by all means I want to make the most of it (this was my mantra when

I would get up to pump at 3:45 am for 4 months to continue establishing my supply even when my DD was SLTN).

The issue of biting is a whole other blog post that, even though I pumped I am qualified to write! Keep nursing even when they get teeth!! Your baby needs you.

Formula- easier?!! Recalls, bottle washing, mixing, making it the right temp. ..nope not a chance.

Boobs- always the right temperature, always there, no sterilizing or mixing.

One of the main principles of the LLL is to mother through nursing. When your infant is small there are 2 things that are as vital to their thriving, as air= their mother and their mother’s milk. When children are hurt and need comfort an the mother picks them up to nurse them- their little body’s are in a full body hug/embrace as they are being nursed. It is the utter (no pun intended) situation of comfort.

I am also proud that I have donated to 9 different families that had trouble making enough milk ranging from the stress of returning to work, several moms had their milk ducts cut when have breast reduction surgery , women with breast cancer whom had mastectomy’s and most common was women who adopted babies who could not fully induce lactation.

So yes, it has been quite the difficult journey riddled with guilt and I even mourn the thought that my pumping time is coming to an end. However, I am so proud of my hard work and dedication to not only help my daughter and give her the best start I could, but also help out many families. Take a moment to support other moms, it can be a hard journey (worth it more than words can express)

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas....

Well.. beacuse it's December 3rd and I JUST ordered our Christmas cards...woo hoo... and in more exciting news...I FINISHED MY MASTERS!!

Photo Card

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some new mom tips

I have a sweet friend who has encouraged me to write a blog to share all the 'reasearch' I have done about baby products, and simply living with a baby to make your life more seemless- 1. when they are little have a portable bassinet to literally roll around the house- they sleep all the time and it's so convienent if you want to do laundry in front of the tv and have your LO right there with you 2. invest in a good pump (that will be a whole other post) 3. Don't be afraid to ask for help 4. I had my wedding dress made into my DD christening gown- what else am I going to do with it? 5. sign up for amazon mom-it's free- you get free prime shipping, and get discounts- it's great- www.amazon.com/go/mom/signup/welcome 6. Here is a great resource for coupons- simpy type in the item you're looking for- http://freesamplefreak.com/coupon-database-listing/ 7. don't be tricked into buying baby applesauce- it is the exact same product as 'regular' applesauce- just a lot more expensive.

increasing milk supply

• I have had several new and expectant moms ask for tips on how to increase and establish milk supply... my journey to this knowledge has not come easy. Here are some basics

This list is primarily geared towards mom's that go the route of exclusive pumping.

• Every time you sit down to pump, drink a glass (at least 8 oz) of water.


• Here is my suggestion for pumping now- I would suggest going every 2-3 hours and pump for 15 maybe 20 minutes.


• To encourage your body to produce milk, after your last drop pump for 5 more minutes... so the time can vary from 15-20 minutes.


• You need to be extremely time fixed to your pump...like within 10-15 minutes on your schedule. Don't slack on your schedule.


• With the previous suggestion being said however, you HAVE to sleep. You need to get at least a 4-5 hour stretch of sleep at night. And you HAVE to pump between 1-5 am. This is when your milk producing hormones (prolactin) levels are highest. It's not fun.... but you get used to it.


• Here is a sample pumping schedule- 7 am, 930, noon, 2:30,5,830, 11..sleep.... 3:30am...sleep.. and start the fun all over again! That is pretty much the schedule I kept for the first 12 weeks.


• The first 12 weeks are crucial as your supply is hormone driven, and after that it is supply/demand and then you can drop pump sessions by extending the time of the sessions.


• You essentially should be pumping every time the baby would eat...so in the beginning you will pump anywhere from 8-11 times a day, and then you gradually consolidate them.


• Take a picture of your baby on your phone and look at it while you are pumping, also take something of his- a piece of clothing that smells like him and smell it while you are pumping- this will release oxcytocin which goes hand in hand with your hormone prolactin.


• Do not look at the bottles while you are pumping. Put a blanket over them... check your email.... just try not to fixate on them.


• Do breast massage and compression, always massage toward your nipple.


• You can try power pumping- which is for one hour pump 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. This will boost your supply.You can do this maybe every other day. Def. dont do it every day.

Supplements:

• You can drink mothers milk tea- walmart sells it. It's great.


• Eat oatmeal...the slow cook kind, not the quick oats.


• The brand motherlove sells an excellent tincutre(liquid vitamins) which is called more milk plus which has fenugreek and blessed thistle- those hand in hand are what helps milk production. Fenugreek without blessed thistle is not proven to have as good of results.

• As for time management- ie- you have no life now ...you are attached to your pump for awhile. If your baby is a preemie...I wash the flanges/horns and membranes only once a day, and after each time I pump, I put them in the fridge...but since J is so little I do believe you have to clean them out after every use...I would, just to rule out any contamination. Use your sterilizer bags.


• Can you rent a hospital grade pump? See if your insurance covers it.The suction may not be high enough with the pump you have.


• get a hands free system going- I just hook up my horns under my nursing bra- after the suction gets going they stay on their own. I can show you how to do this. There are hands free nursing bras- but they are pretty expensive and not that great.


• While in the hospital, ask to borrow there pump. They will give you an Ameda spare parts kit- this is about a a $40 value. (horns/flanges, tubing)


• Use the spare parts kit at work or wherever your occasional use location will be.

christmas card!

Here is our Christmas card for 2010! I think it is by far my favorite. I think because all of my favorite people are here!

Retro Snowflake Ribbon Holiday Card

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