Life is beginning to feel normal again

Now that Dominic has reached 7 weeks things are starting to feel a bit more normal. We have fallen into a routine (albeit flexible) and we are getting a reasonable amount of sleep at night. He has been sleeping for close to 6 hours his first stretch of the night, which is amazing at his age and weight. With this normalcy kicking in I have started to shift more focus on to getting myself back into shape.

I have been trying to fit in the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred video (only a 20 minute workout) while he is napping in the mornings and I have signed up for Weight Watchers online. I have used Weight Watchers in the past and have had luck with it, so we will see if it pays off. It has been 2 weeks and I have lost 1 lb. I hope I can pick up some steam in the next few weeks. I am only looking to lose 10 pounds or so, but I was not expecting for my body to look so different - even though I am only 3 lbs. from my pre-pregnancy weight. I feel like I am a totally different shape now and things definitely need to be tightened up :).

I also signed up for Gold's Gym membership and am hoping to get back into running. That has been the only exercise that really makes me feel good and it is a great way to melt off the inches. I am starting to stress a little about finding time to get to the gym though. I am afraid I will feel guilty not rushing home to see the little guy after work. But I know that a happy, healthy mom is a better mom, so I will have to tough it out.

I am feeling very optimistic and I think this is the most committed I have ever been to weight loss and improving my body image. Wish my luck over the next few weeks - both with my weight loss plan and fitting into my work clothes before I go back to work ;)

Another issue on the forefront is post baby contraception. My doctor and I discussed it at my 6 week checkup and she suggested a 5 year IUD. Apparently the hormones are more localized to the uterus and don't run through your blood stream like the pill. It is inserted at the doctor's office and can prevent pregnancy for up to five years without the risk of human error......and I don't have to remember to take a pill. She said there would be some mild crapping at the beginning but that it would be safe and would lighten my period significantly. She said a lot of women don't get a period at all. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!!

Top 10 things I've learned so far

1. No one says bottles have to be warm....room temperature works just fine and saves loads of time

2. We (women) were created to raise children....trust your gut over all else (Even if it goes against every book or article you read during pregnancy)

3. Trust your doctor, but remember that you know your baby best, so refer back to #2

4. Take all the help you can get.  No one is handing out medals for the mom who can do it all on her own.  Let friends and family chip in any way they can.  Remember....it takes a village.

5. Try to take time for yourself everyday.  Even if it is a 10 minute nap.

6. While we are talking about naps.....it is totally unrealistic to "sleep when the baby sleeps".  But remember this - Don't stand when you can sit, don't sit when you can lay down and don't stay awake when you can sleep. 

7. Try to keep your life in order as best as you can.....you will be amazed at how folding a load of laundry can make you feel human again.  But don't feel guilty if a day (or two) goes by without any chores being done.

8. Ask your husband for help!  He wants to help - but likely doesn't know what to do.  Try not to get frustrated when he hasn't completed the long list of chores running through your head....just ask him to do EXACTLY what you want him to do.  Men aren't good at reading between the lines.

9. Spend time every day gazing at the little life you created.  The days go so fast and I have to remind myself that HE is the reason I am not at work.....not the loads and loads of laundry or the pile of dirty dishes.

10. Enjoy the calm moments you share with the little one in your arms.  Soon enough you won't be able to keep him that close for longer than a few seconds.  Relish the fact that you are the center of his universe....even if it is only for a few months :)

1 Month Appointment

Yesterday was a long day.  Dominic was super fussy all morning...I think he some how knew that we had his 1 month check up that afternoon....and that their would be a dreaded SHOT!  He usually naps several times a day, but not yesterday.  He was up the whole day with the exception of a 45 minute nap on my chest.  As soon as I put him down he woke up and started crying again.

Miraculously we made it to the doctor on time and in one piece.  There was good news and there was bad news.  The bad news is that my favorite doctor is moving to a practice in Maryland.  I am so sad to see him go.  The good news is that we have a wonderfully healthy little man.  He is now 8lbs 8oz....almost 2 pounds more than his last appointment 2 weeks ago!!  That is exciting news since he was having such trouble gaining weight before.  I guess the formula is paying off.  He is a little taller too....coming in at 24 inches.

At birth the doctors were a little concerned about the size of his soft spot. They said it was significantly larger than normal - probably caused by a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.  More good news is that his soft spot has started to grow up and is no longer a concern at all.

Overall he is healthy and his growth is right on track.  We go back August 10th for his 2 month check up. 

Since I promised to be honest.....

I promised myself from day one that this blog would be filled with nothing but honesty and a true representation of my experiences.  I made myself this promise to ensure a realistic representation for myself and those dear friends looking to me for what to expect.  That being said, Dominic and I have already faced an emotional struggle that I feel I should share.  We are now exclusively formula feeding.....and VERY happy about it.

The background:
From the day I found out I was pregnant I vowed to make a valiant effort to breastfeed for at least the first 6 months.  I had heard amazing stories from friends about how much they enjoyed breastfeeding....once they got through the hard part (the first few weeks).  I read up on it and even signed up for a breastfeeding class at the hospital.  I bought a pricey breast pump and all the accessories I would need to be successful. 

How it went:
We started off well in the hospital.  Dominic latched right on and the lactation consultants were optimistic that he would be a great feeder.  Once we got home things got a little tougher, but I had expected that to be the case.  We stuck it out...even with chapped, sore nipples and feedings happening every hour or so.

We went to his first couple of doctors appointments and found out that he was not gained weight, so the doctor said that I had to supplement with formula until he started gaining.  I believe this was the beginning of the end.

I will never know why (the supplementing, his 5 hour sleep stretches at night) but my milk never completely came in.  I tried feeding him from the breast and he never seemed satisfied.  On one particular day I let him feed for 20 mins on each breast, then gave him 2 oz. of pumped breast milk and because he was still crying and looking for more to eat, gave him another 2 oz. of formula.  At that point I realized that my milk supply was not meeting his demand.  I tried exclusively pumping and was only getting about 5 oz. total per day.....barely enough to cover a feeding or two. 

I read in multiple places not to quit breastfeeding on a bad day so I stuck it out that day and told myself that I would reevaluate the next morning.  I hardly slept that night thinking about the pros and cons of quitting.  I knew that breast milk was best, but I also knew that he and I were both miserable and I was not meeting his needs with breastfeeding alone. When I woke up the next morning I decided that it would be best for Dominic and me if we made the switch to formula. 

Looking back, I believe that this was the best decision for both of us.  He is so much happier now!  He is much calmer and hardly cries at all.  He sleeps better too...which is a plus for both of us.  My husband can be much more involved now as well, which I know makes him happier.  Letting him take a couple feedings a day not only gives me a break, but also gives them a chance to bond.  And lastly (and selfishly) I can now enjoy a glass of wine here and there with out feeling guilty. 

Choosing to switch to formula was a very emotional decision for me and one that I did not take lightly.  My advice to anyone in this situation is to give the decision a lot of thought, but to make the choice that best meets your needs and the needs of your baby.  It is a personal choice and you should not feel guilty if you choose to formula feed.  There are plenty of successful, smart, thriving children and adults that were formula feed.