There's a secret underground competition among breastfeeding moms for number of ounces they can pump at one time. I was pumping 3-4 times a day when I went back to work and was getting 10-12 ounces each time, which was on the high end. I constantly compared with coworkers, other moms and read online to find out what was normal (one coworker was consistently scoring 15 ounces...the cow!).
Now that I'm no longer pumping I feel relief from the pressure. That is, until last week when I went to Denver for an overnight trip and had to pump a few times. I was able to get over 10 ounces each time. I was elated and had so much pride. But really, it had nothing to do with anything I had control over. But I'll take full credit for it. Considering how little I work out these days pumping 10 ounces was like completing a half-marathon for my pride. I've still got it!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Miranda GRRRR.
Maybe I'm just a jaded (and tired) new mom, but have you seen Miranda Kerr's statement about giving birth to her son with Orlando Bloom this month? Here's a snipit:
"He weighed 9lb 12 ounces (a very healthy and big baby boy). I gave birth to him naturally; without drugs or painkillers and it was a long, arduous and difficult labour..." And then she attaches a picture of her angelic little boy blissfully nursing and she's got red lipstick on, is pin thin and not a hair out of place. She had him 12 days ago.
Why do statements like this from celebrities annoy me so? At 12 days post-partum I was ragged. I mean RAGGED. Tired, grumpy, elated, then sad, tired again, rinse, repeat. I certainly wasn't glamming up with red lipstick while breastfeeding in a kimono.
"He weighed 9lb 12 ounces (a very healthy and big baby boy). I gave birth to him naturally; without drugs or painkillers and it was a long, arduous and difficult labour..." And then she attaches a picture of her angelic little boy blissfully nursing and she's got red lipstick on, is pin thin and not a hair out of place. She had him 12 days ago.
Why do statements like this from celebrities annoy me so? At 12 days post-partum I was ragged. I mean RAGGED. Tired, grumpy, elated, then sad, tired again, rinse, repeat. I certainly wasn't glamming up with red lipstick while breastfeeding in a kimono.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Holy Molar
One of Mia's molars finally came in. This is her 9th tooth so you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but something about this one was more painful than the others. And it took two months to surface. I don't like the thought of over-medicating her with ibuprofen but I don't want her in pain either. Such a struggle for a new mom! Might need to over-medicate myself just so I can chill out about it.
From what I've read she'll start eating better once the molars are in. I'm looking forward to that as her diet consists of 70% breastmilk and 30% solids right now (not my fault, I swear!). One of my co-workers was asking how to get her toddler to drink more milk because he was only drinking 10 ounces or so a day. Um, the dietitian's kid is only drinking 4-6 ounces of cow's milk a day. Alas, I do have some tips though that are slowly helping Mia get better with cow's milk:
*Put it in EVERYTHING. Homemade mac n' cheese, oatmeal, smoothies. You name it, cow's milk is in it.
*Go sweeter. Some moms swear by acidophilus milk, which has been fermented with bacteria to create a sweeter flavor kids love. It can also help restore healthy bacteria to the digestive tract. You can also try soymilk as its sweeter than cow's milk. I love the Silk Omega-3 & Calcium variety (client, yes, but still love it).
*Make it fun. Give your toddler a special milk cup that's just for him. Or start each meal off with a big "cheers" where you clink glasses and you drink some milk too. Kids love to imitate.
*Be weary of flavored milks like chocolate or strawberry milk, as toddlers don't need the added sugar and you don't want to predispose them to syrupy flavored milk. Definitely keep it as a treat only.
Here's hoping the 3 remaining "first" molars pop through quickly. And then there's the canines and second molars. So much to look forward to!
From what I've read she'll start eating better once the molars are in. I'm looking forward to that as her diet consists of 70% breastmilk and 30% solids right now (not my fault, I swear!). One of my co-workers was asking how to get her toddler to drink more milk because he was only drinking 10 ounces or so a day. Um, the dietitian's kid is only drinking 4-6 ounces of cow's milk a day. Alas, I do have some tips though that are slowly helping Mia get better with cow's milk:
*Put it in EVERYTHING. Homemade mac n' cheese, oatmeal, smoothies. You name it, cow's milk is in it.
*Go sweeter. Some moms swear by acidophilus milk, which has been fermented with bacteria to create a sweeter flavor kids love. It can also help restore healthy bacteria to the digestive tract. You can also try soymilk as its sweeter than cow's milk. I love the Silk Omega-3 & Calcium variety (client, yes, but still love it).
*Make it fun. Give your toddler a special milk cup that's just for him. Or start each meal off with a big "cheers" where you clink glasses and you drink some milk too. Kids love to imitate.
*Be weary of flavored milks like chocolate or strawberry milk, as toddlers don't need the added sugar and you don't want to predispose them to syrupy flavored milk. Definitely keep it as a treat only.
Here's hoping the 3 remaining "first" molars pop through quickly. And then there's the canines and second molars. So much to look forward to!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Harvard Shmarvard
What is with the guilt when you become a mom?
This morning I was reading a study where Harvard researchers noted a 73% increase since 1980 in overweight infants under 6 months old. This was attributed to what the baby was fed before being born. Moms who eat like crap during their pregnancy end up with higher blood sugar and pass the glucose on to the baby -- the more glucose the baby gets, the more insulin cells the baby develops. If the baby develops more and more insulin cells they'll be predisposed to being overweight and may become insulin resistant as they age.
I'll admit I wasn't the most nutritious eater while pregnant. I had been a vegetarian for years, but all of a sudden turkey sandwiches and burgers called to me. I felt nauseous most of the time and the only thing that took the edge off was a good burger. Did I eat unhealthy "enough" to predispose Mia to weight gain?
Guess only time will tell, but for now I'm feeding Mia as healthy as I can and trying to stave off the guilt of any pregnancy over indulgences. She loves broccoli and hates sweets. I'm taking that as a sign that everything is going to be OK.
This morning I was reading a study where Harvard researchers noted a 73% increase since 1980 in overweight infants under 6 months old. This was attributed to what the baby was fed before being born. Moms who eat like crap during their pregnancy end up with higher blood sugar and pass the glucose on to the baby -- the more glucose the baby gets, the more insulin cells the baby develops. If the baby develops more and more insulin cells they'll be predisposed to being overweight and may become insulin resistant as they age.
I'll admit I wasn't the most nutritious eater while pregnant. I had been a vegetarian for years, but all of a sudden turkey sandwiches and burgers called to me. I felt nauseous most of the time and the only thing that took the edge off was a good burger. Did I eat unhealthy "enough" to predispose Mia to weight gain?
Guess only time will tell, but for now I'm feeding Mia as healthy as I can and trying to stave off the guilt of any pregnancy over indulgences. She loves broccoli and hates sweets. I'm taking that as a sign that everything is going to be OK.
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