About Sara

My first child is due Feb. 8th 2012. As I wait with anticipation for my breastfeeding adventure to begin, I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of the breastfeeding blog world. For more about me read the About Us section of the blog! This blog is intended to be a place of inspiration and information. It is a place to share stories and ideas. I love hearing from you!

Momzelle Nursing News

Archive for the ‘pregnancy’ Category

My Breastfeeding Journey: Cracked nipples and an LC

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

As I approached 41 weeks in my first pregnancy, I was feeling the pressure from the medical community.  Setting an induction date was brought up at my 40 week appointment and it set my emotions on a roller coaster.  My desire for an unmedicated, minimal intervention birth was feeling under attack.

Lots of walking, squatting and two membrane sweeps later and I went into labour at exactly 41 weeks.  I appreciated the amazing, supportive feedback that I received from the Momzelle facebook page and comments on this blog.  Women who could empathize with the pressure to set an induction date and encouragement to stand my ground.

My labour was intense and graciously speedy!  We welcomed our little girl, Adèle on Feb. 16th at 4:25am.  She weighed 8lbs 1oz.  My birth plan was respected and we had the most wonderful labour and delivery nurse.  Sue kept me focused and kept the atmosphere in the room calm.

We were especially pleased with our experience at Montreal’s only Baby Friendly hospital.  Adèle was placed on my chest immediately and we had constant skin to skin contact for the 36 hour hospital stay.  She latched on within an hour.  We were on our way…

 

I have read and researched so much about breastfeeding!  I am lucky enough that my job introduced me to so many resources.  I scoured Kellymom.com, joined the Leaky Boob facebook page, read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding and yet…

Within the first twelve hours of feeding my sweet little girl, my nipples were cracked and bleeding!  Two days later I was home and crying.  Adèle was losing weight (totally normal, I know, but still stressful!) and I was dreading each feeding.  I knew the latch must be wrong but I didn’t know how to fix it.  My mother, who nursed my sister and I into toddlerhood, didn’t know how to fix it.  The public health nurse had a few tips, but didn’t know how to fix it.

So three days after giving birth, we called a lactation consultant.  It was the best call I’ve ever made.  This wonderful woman came to our house, oozed with expertise and experience and spent two hours observing and talking with us.  She introduced us to the reclining/self-attaching position, in which I recline and place Adèle on my chest and let her initiate the latch.  I can’t say exactly what it was that this LC did that fixed our problem, but I think the confidence she gave me was definitely a big factor.  Now, at three weeks old, my daughter has a double chin and I am so proud:)

Did you get help from a lactation consultant?  How did it impact your breastfeeding journey?

Find a certified lactation consultant near you!

 

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Posted in Breastfeeding Resources/Ressources pour l'allaitement, Nursing anywhere, naturally., pregnancy, What's new at Momzelle | 6 Comments »

40 weeks pregnant! Due date distraction.

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

The waiting game. This is my first pregnancy and I am officially “due”.  This kicking, squirming little being inside is ready to come out, or so they say.

This due date thing has my emotions on a roller coaster.  Suddenly, I’m “post-term”, I’m “overdue”.  Not only does my aching body tell me I’m ready to meet this baby, but my doctor uses phrases that imply I should have already!

I receive weekly pregnancy updates from BabyCenter usually with subject lines like your pregnancy – 40 weeks and this week the subject line was Your baby this week – your newborn.  After three paragraphs of how squishy and adorable my new baby must be it said “Still Pregnant?  If you are like many moms-to-be, your due date may have come and gone without your baby making an appearance yet”.  Exactly!  On average, first time moms go about a week “overdue”. So why am I stressed out?  I’ll tell you…

Yesterday was my 40 weeks doctor’s appointment.  I have discussed thoroughly with my doctor my desire to have a natural birth.  She has been very receptive.  I use words like “accommodating and flexible”, as if I’m surprised that she isn’t trying to force her overly medically trained ideas on me!  Anyway, I really like her and feel comfortable with her.  The appointment wasn’t really surprising.  We had briefly discussed policies on going “overdue”.  At our prenatal classes run by a local doula company, we were told that Montreal had a general policy of inducing at 41 weeks plus 3 days.  They implied that there was little flexibility on this.  My doctor has agreed, compromised really, and given me until 41+5.  Induction booked!

Talk about pressure!  This baby and I now have a deadline.  I’m trying to get a grasp on my hormones and emotions.  This does not have to be bad news.  Obviously the baby may just decide that’s plenty of time to get engaged in the pelvis and kick start this labour.  Artificial labour induction doesn’t have to lead to the cascade of interventions I so often read about.  There are always options and decisions to make.  As long as I am involved in what is going, I can achieve the birth experience I want.  It’s all about perspective!

Meanwhile, I am going to walk, squat, eat spicy food, scrub the kitchen floor, bounce on an exercise ball, have sex, practice relaxation, visualize, eat pineapple and go for a bumpy car ride:)

Did you have an induction booked?  What kind of things did you do to get labour going?

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Posted in pregnancy | 28 Comments »

38 weeks pregnant! What will we be having?

Friday, January 27th, 2012

I attended a wedding last weekend in all my 37 and a half weeks glory! Although I couldn’t partake in the wine and my dancing was very much limited to a little swaying and jazz hands, I had a lovely time.

Not knowing many of the guests, it was great to have an icebreaker in the form of my giant belly:) I came away from the many conversations with an informal vote of gender prediction. My husband and I decided to not find out what we were having and it has been lots of fun hearing theories and guesses along the way.

We’re having a boy! Or so the majority of wedding guests believe, based mainly on the way I carry (high and straight out the front). My faith in this theory is waivering, as my sister carried much like I am and had two lovely little girls:)

 

Just for fun, I have been testing out a variety of gender predictors. According to the Chinese gender predictor, I am having a girl! According to the Old Wives tales predictor, it’s a boy!  The “wedding ring on a string” theory gave no results, as it didn’t move at all (pendulum means boy, circular means girl).

I thought by now I would have a strong feeling, instinct even, about what was growing inside me, but I don’t have a clue!  Of course, it doesn’t matter.  I am just so excited to meet this little person!

So what will we have?  The poll is still open:)

Did you leave the gender a surprise until baby’s birthday?

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Posted in pregnancy | 5 Comments »

Turn, baby, turn!

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

I am thirty seven weeks pregnant now and have spent the last month rather obsessed with getting this baby into a head down position.  I found out at my 32 week ultrasound that the baby was lying transverse.   I immediately came up with a plan of action.  I hear that most babies turn on their own, but I wasn’t taking any chances.  So began Operation Flip This Baby.

I spent most of Christmas finding things to do on my hands and knees at my in-laws place; doing puzzles with my niece, reading, cuddling the cat, etc.  I listened to my hypnosis tape nearly every day.  I just couldn’t stop running the image of a c-section through my mind.  It really freaked me out that I might not even get a chance to attempt labour.  I felt the baby kicking a lot but I couldn’t tell if anything had changed.  At my 34 weeks appointment, my doctor confirmed that I was still transverse.  I was definitely feeling nervous now.  I still heard from helpful and hopeful friends and family that there was plenty of time (and room) for the baby to turn.  I just had a hard time believing it.

At a family New Year’s eve dinner, I discussed my predicament with my husband’s cousin.  She is also pregnant and due two weeks before me.  She highly recommended her chiropractor to help get the baby in the right position.  I have never been to a chiropractor before and even though I had read that it is one of the many theories to turn a baby, I hadn’t really considered it.  But now I had a phone number and a recommendation, so off I went!

This chiropractor specializes in prenatal and pediatric care.  During her initial assessment, the doctor palpated my belly (feeling my abdomen to determine how the baby is lying).  She said with about 70% confidence, that the baby was head down!  I may also have been breech.  Because she wasn’t entirely sure and there was obvious imbalance in my pelvic bone, she performed the Webster technique. I came out of the office with new hope.  I wouldn’t let myself get too excited though.  I left that up to my husband who was down right giddy.

The next day I had a doctor’s appointment and he also felt that the baby had turned!  To be sure, he took me over to the ER and we did a quick ultrasound.  It’s official, this baby has gone south in preparation for his big trip.

So was it the inversion, hypnosis, the cold pack of peas I put on the top of my belly a few times?  I will never know exactly when this baby turned, but I am very relieved!

Did you have a breech or transverse lying baby?  What did you do to encourage them to turn?

 

 

 

 

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Posted in pregnancy | 4 Comments »

Operation Flip This Baby

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

We had an ultrasound last week.  We were thrilled to hear that the baby is growing and developing just as it should be.  The technician said “looks great” and “we like to see that” enough times to get me giddy.  The baby weighs approx. 2.2kg (4.5 lbs or so).  It was so exciting to squint at that screen and make out a beating heart and little feet.  I never knew the vertebral column could be so beautiful!

In all my efforts to be prepared for this journey of pregnancy, childbirth and delivery, one thing the ultrasound technician did say was something that had never crossed my mind.  The baby is lying in a transverse position. Uh, that’s not a good thing is it? I hesitantly inquire.  In his incredibly jaded, my-job-is-boring tone he says “we like to see them head down by now, talk to you doctor”.

Leaving the office, all I could think was that if this baby doesn’t do an olympic-worthy flip in the next seven weeks I will be looking at a c-section.  And so begins Operation Flip This Baby!

A few google searches later and I have a plan.

  • Step Two – Hands and Knees position.  Although I’m not motivated enough to scrub the floor, that is what I have read kept our mothers from having transverse and breech babies.  Our habits of reclining on the couch and working at computers may be a reason that it is more common to see non-optimal fetal positioning nowadays.  So I now try to lean forward more often!  I haven’t yet figured out how to watch tv on all fours, but I’m working on it:)

  • Step Three – Hypnosis.  I believe in the mind-body connection.  I have been thinking happy thoughts and encouraging this baby to head south, but I’ve enlisted the help of an audio track from Hypnobabies.com.  Boy, is it powerful!  I have listened to it three times and have yet to stay awake through the whole thing.  I don’t know if it will work to flip this baby but I am getting the best sleep in weeks!

 

It is difficult to find any concrete evidence that these tricks work.  There are many more things like bouncing on a birthing ball, headstands in a pool, acupuncture and chiropractic work that are suggested, as well.  It also seems that some babies just wait until they are in the mood and then turn all by themselves.  I am 33 weeks pregnant.  There is lots of time for turning, right??!

Did you try any techniques to help turn your baby head down?  What worked and what didn’t?

Here are some resources:

Birthing Naturally

Spinning Babies

Hypnobabies

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Posted in pregnancy | 6 Comments »

32 weeks pregnant!

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

How I feel this week:


*This is not me (or quite possibly even real for that matter)!  This is a picture that has been around for years, but it perfectly describes how I feel these days.  This pregnancy has been so surreal for me.  Even though I have watched my belly grow, felt movement for months now, attended prenatal classes and have been reading everything I can get my hands on about birth and newborn care, it still hasn’t felt “real”.  I still couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a baby being inside of me!

But a few nights ago, I was having a 4am bowl of cereal (you’d think that in itself would be enough to make me believe I am carrying another actual being!) , watching an infomercial and it happened.  My belly shifted and jutted out to the right in this funny shape.  It stayed for only a minute like that, but it was enough for me to fully acknowledge body parts.  Of course, I don’t know exactly what I was looking at, but I believe it was a bum!  A few minutes later, two distinct kicks to my rib cage!  This thing has legs!

So, with about eight weeks to go, it is no longer surreal.  I have a baby inside of me.

When did it hit that you were actually growing a baby?  What made it feel “real” for you?

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A letter to my pregnant body

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

This lovely article is the inspiration for this post.  Five women from various walks of life write letters to their bodies to show a little appreciation.

This is what I would tell my body today:

Dear Body,

I am most appreciative of you these days.  I feel as though you are not even really mine right now, but you belong to the growing baby inside me.  I trust that you will adapt and give all that you can to protect and nurture this new being.

In the meantime, Legs I will try to not resent you for the discomfort you are causing me at night.  It took me until I was 29 years old and had hiked the Inca Trail before I truly appreciated you and your strength, so I can handle a little charlie horse!

Stomach, it may take me some time but I will not let these new stretch marks tear down my self-esteem.  I love how my belly has expanded to nurture and grow my child.  Although, I admit that you and I might have to have a few conversations once this baby is out!

Boobs, you are new to me and I love you!  I have always appreciated you, but lately I see you in a whole new light.  I anticipate how you will be responsible for feeding and comforting my child.  I eagerly await to put you to good use!

Feet, you are fat and hard to reach right now.  I admit that I have never really been fond of you, but I certainly appreciate the places you have taken me and the fact that you are so wide that I have the best balance in my yoga class!

You are not perfect Body, but neither am I!  Thank you for carrying me through this life.

Love Sara
(below is a photo of me a few weeks ago at 29 weeks pregnant)

What would you say to your body today?  How has your attitude and appreciation changed since having children?

 

 

 

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Finding the right crowd…

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

As I prepare for the birth of my first child, I am realizing how important it is to be surrounded by like-minded, supportive people (which seems obvious, but it really just occurred to me on a profound level!). I have read lots of books, scoured the internet for information, and joined pregnancy newsletters. I have developed ideas and beliefs about birth that I didn’t have pre-pregnancy.

I want to be so involved and pro-active in the delivery and birth process, so I am seeking out as much information as I can. This weekend, my husband and I went to childbirth preparation class at a yoga studio that I found online. Here is where the obvious statement of my first sentence hit me profoundly. This class was perfect for me! I practice yoga (not quite as regularly as I’d like…) and am a big believer in the mind-body connection it encourages. The instructor spoke about relaxation, breathing, movement and touch. Connecting these ideas to giving birth makes so much sense to me. I loved every minute it of it. To top off the experience, at the end of the workshop our instructor promptly tandem breastfed her 15 month old twins. Amazing!

I have just arrived in a new city. I am lucky to know quite a few people already, but I don’t know any pregnant or new moms. I don’t know anyone who desires the same kind of birth I do and I don’t know anyone currently breastfeeding.  To achieve my birth and breastfeeding goals, I see many a mom’s groups and la leche league meetings in my future! I need some mom friends…

Where did you find a group of supportive, like-minded women?  Did they help shape your perspective of parenting?

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Posted in Inspiration, pregnancy, Resources for moms-to-be | 4 Comments »

Sugar, sugar!

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

At least five people have asked me if I’m craving pickles and ice cream now that I am pregnant.  Until now I have said “nope, no cravings”.  While I have definitely noticed a heightened sense of smell and taste, nothing has really turned me off or on.  I have always had a sweet tooth.  Long before pregnancy and long after the age of seven, a candy store has been a favourite place of mine.  I’ll take almost anything, chocolate, cake, etc, but my favourite things are often brightly colored and of the gummy persuasion.

So when I got pregnant, I didn’t think much of my sweet tooth craving.  But in the last few weeks, (in the middle of my second trimester, when they say things normalize…) this hankering for refined sugar has hit a new level.  Every time I go to a convenience store, drug store, or grocery store I have a battle with my will power.  Most of the time my will power wins (I swear!)!  I think of how absolutely useless it is to eat the junk and try to list all the bad things about it (tooth decay, etc).  I’m pretty impressed with myself.  About once a week though, I grab those gummy bears (or sour kids or skittles or fruit slices or swedish fish, you get the idea) and eat them one at a time as if each is the finest morsel on earth.  The ironic thing is that I usually get a headache or general feeling of awfulness after I’ve eaten them and still the next time I pass them on the way to the cashier I feel the pull!

I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving into cravings.  Pregnancy throws hormones, aches, emotions, and sensations at us that require a little extra comfort sometimes.  I do, however, think making an effort to keep a balanced diet is worth a little bit of a battle with our will power.  I have something sweet everyday, but it’s only once a week that it’s truly junk food.  Yogurt and frozen blueberries, honey nut cheerios, chocolate granola bar, I don’t consider them bad!

Did you have pregnancy cravings?  Did junk food play mind games on you, too?!

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