Cloth Diapering Update

We're still at it with the cloth diapers! I really prefer them to disposables and they are not harder, have less leaks and the laundry is easy to keep up with. I'm glad we decided to go with cloth. However, it's an addiction and I have to stop myself from buying cloth diapers when I see a good deal! But who doesn't love a fluffy butt?!

My stash includes:
- 12 fuzzibunz one size elite (pocket diapers)
- 4 grovia AIO
- 1 thirsties (pocket diaper)
- 4 AlvaBaby (pocket diapers)
- 1 MG Baby (pocket diaper)
- 1 lolli doo (pocket diaper)
- 12 orange edge GMD pre-folds
- 12 yellow edge GMD pre-folds
- 3 Thirsties duo (covers)
- 2 grovia AI2 (covers)
- 1 happy heiny (cover)
- 2 snappis
- flannel wipes (made from cut material)
- wetbags (2 planetwise large, 1 planetwise small, 2 AlvaBaby medium, smitten baby mini and large)

I wash with oxy clean baby and Rock n Green, doing a cold wash first then a hot wash then dry. I used to throw them all in the dryer but I'm going to try to start line drying my pockets and only putting the liners in the dryer to protect the PUL.

We cloth diaper at our house not only for the environmental issues (I know it's controversial because of the water and energy use but our bills haven't changed much), but for the cost savings and most importantly because Dave does not agree with the chemicals used in disposable diapers and the eventual harm it could cause (all those chemistry classes over the years!). When we do use disposables (1 overnight, will be at daycare and during traveling), we use Whole Foods' brand 365 diapers.

4 months!

Luke is 4 months old now! He has changed a lot in the last month and his personality is really starting to shine through. I am so lucky to have such a happy baby who loves life and just loves his mommy and daddy.

This month Luke decided to like his toys which has been fun. He also likes to look at books and the tv! Basically he just loves to take everything in around him. He smiles more, plays with toys and puts everything in his mouth. He enjoys tummy time now and has rolled a few times- 3 times for mommy and 1 time for daddy. He can sit up assisted (in his exersaucer, bumbo, on your lap, etc) and likes to be held so he can stand/jump on your legs. He has had a zebra lovey since he was born but now he needs it to sleep. I'm glad I realized this was going to be a constant in his life so I picked up a 2nd one- and then a friend bought him one as a gift not knowing it's his favorite! He insists on putting zebra over his head to sleep so I have to keep checking that his nostrils have some air. It's a super soft material with satin on the inside so I'm sure it feels great on his bald head!

Right after he turned 3 months, he started getting a tooth but it still hasn't broke through. It's caused him a lot of drool and frustration nursing. He is constantly soaked in drool so he has to wear a bib most days and sticks his whole fist in his mouth to rub it on his gums. He hasn't quite figured out teething toys yet- he still just licks them.

We are still nursing about 2-3 times a day (somedays only once) but for the most part I'm exclusively pumping. Between the tooth coming in and the mastitis, he wasn't nursing well and even if he does nurse, I still have to pump after to prevent more mastitis. So, I'm pumping 6-8 times a day and getting the hang of this new routine. It's definitely double the work to pump, clean pump parts, feed, and wash bottles (and triple the work if I nurse him first) but it's worth it to me for him to get breastmilk. So far we've been able to keep up, he's only had to have formula 2 or 3 times and that was more to get some milk frozen then a supply issue. We are taking breastfeeding/pumping one day at a time here but for now my goal is 6 months for sure but ultimately a year. I'd be happy with him getting 1 bottle of breastmilk a day from 6 months to a year but we will see how things go. I'm in the process of building up my freezer stash to hopefully be able to provide that one bottle a day longer. There is research that shows as little as 2 oz a day can give babies the benefits of breastmilk.

We are still cloth diapering and I still prefer it to disposables but we have been using a 'sposie at night since he sleeps through the night most nights. Cloth diapers are definitely addicting and I have to remember not to buy too many when I see a good deal! I will write a separate post about cloth diapering so far!

I am working one day this week, 3 next week, 1 the next and then I start my 2 day a week schedule. Luke will start daycare in September- Dave will watch him this week (the one day), then my mom is coming for next week. I'm looking forward to getting back to work since it's super part time and I think daycare will be good for him. For now, I'm trying to figure out the logistics of daycare- mostly the bottles (how many, how am I going to get 3 bottles ahead, etc). They were the only daycare I looked at that wouldn't do cloth diapers (blah) but we picked them anyways.

I'm hoping to get back to the gym next week, on days I work, I'm planning on Dave doing daycare pickup and I will go workout on my way home. When Luke is 6 months, he can go to the daycare room at the gym.

We are really enjoying our mom's group ladies and staying busy. We try to walk with them a few days a week, go to mom's group on Thursdays, have a playgroup once a week, and take baby sign language class with them.


We are starting to try to plan our winter activities. I will be off 3 days a week and would like to do swimming (mommy and me lessons), continue baby sign language (we just did 4 sessions), and maybe Book Babies at the library. A couple stores downtown also do music and activities for kids for free so we will look into those as well once the rain starts.

Travels this month: Seattle to see Aunt Jules (and went to first baseball game) and Bend, OR with mommy and daddy (including a hike to Tumalo falls)

Some more pics from the month:

Seattle with Aunt Jules

First Hike- Forest Park (Portland, OR)

playing!

sleeping with zebra

this little boy loves playing!

Tumalo Falls (near Bend, OR)

playing with daddy in our yard

hanging out and smilin' at mommy

4 month stats:
Weight: 13lbs 12oz (13th percentile- WHO chart)
Height: 25 inches (36th percentile- WHO chart)

Mastitis, round 2

About 3 weeks ago I had mastitis. It came on quickly while Dave was at work and before I knew it I had a burning nipple, 101* fever, chills and a migraine. Try taking care of a 3 month old and it was the worst day we've had since he was born. I took the 7 days of antibiotics and then found a clogged duct about 2 weeks later. It felt like a rope in my breast. The lactation clinic sent me for ultrasound therapy to break it up. I had 5 treatments over 3 days and it didn't go away. I was td to pump after nursing to make sure it drains all the way... Did that
1 week later I woke up really tired and my nipple burned but I thought it was because Luke nursed more than he has been last night. I had plans so i went out. Before I knew it by 11am I was nauseous and dizzy. Threw up then got the chills. My boob started burning and my armpit hurt. Welcome back mastitis :(
I'm on 10 days of antibiotics this time and going in tomorrow to check for an abscess. In the meantime, I'll be in bed. Good thing Dave is off today and tomorrow to take care of Luke.

Breastfeeding- it's not easy!

I didn't expect breastfeeding to be easy... probably because I had breast reduction surgeries and was warned by doctors that I probably wouldn't be able to at all. I also read a lot about breastfeeding because I wanted to overcome the challenges I was told I would face.

After reading about BFAR (breastfeeding after reduction) I told myself that I would be happy if I could give Luke any breastmilk. It was important to me to at least try. I met with a lactation consultant (Doris) when I was 37 weeks pregnant and we discussed the options to give him the most breastmilk as possible. Once Luke was born I continued to meet with Doris who I know has a huge part in making my breastfeeding experience successful. She has been really amazing and a wonderful resource and now friend.  Doris told me you can treat breastmilk as either a vitamin or food. If you treat it as a vitamin, as little as one ounce per day can be beneficial for your baby- providing the antibodies and vitamins they need. Obviously if you treat it as food, you need to make 25-30 ounces per day.

So, I've been able to exclusively breastfeed for 3.5 months (give or take 3 formula bottles) so I'm considering that success. However, it has not been easy. It has been the most stressful experience of my life. I constantly worry about whether he is getting enough food, he is extremely distracted, he won't nurse in public (or out of the glider for that matter). For the first two months I had nipple trauma that wouldn't heal and he was gaining slow. Babies are supposed to gain 1/2 ounce to an ounce a day and he was right at the 1/2 oz average. So not a concern by the doctors but a concern to me. Because I chose to get the surgery and still breastfeed him, I blamed myself about his low percentile constantly. I started pumping more and giving him three 5 oz bottles a day to make sure he was getting enough. When I started this, he started gaining the 1oz per day. Then around 3 months I ended up with mastitis and a clogged duct- mastitis might've been the worst day of my life- fever, migraine and an infant to care for. Not fun.

Now, we're at 3.5 months and little mister decides to go on a nursing strike. He will successfully nurse for 2-3 feedings in the morning (until about 10am) then refuses the breast- screaming, crying (with real tears), scratching, grabbing my neck- the works. I get an appointment with Doris (at 3:15 so she gets to witness his behavior), he latches on and off for about 3 minutes while cooing and giggling at me. He took in 1.5 oz- obviously not enough for a meal. Doris feels around in his mouth and announces that he's starting to get teeth! WTF he's only 3 months!?!? Supposedly it's normal when starting to get teeth to go on a nursing strike for a little bit. So now we're pumping again- now 6-8 times a day. The rejection is really tough, it breaks my heart when he turns me down and then guzzles a bottle. I've been struggling with the rejection.

So as rewarding as breastfeeding has been for me- I am truly so proud of my body for working so hard, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions and the cause of a lot of worry and tears.

Honestly, I have spoke to very few people who said breastfeeding was easy for them- it's been stressful for everyone. I am so thankful that Oregon has such amazing resources (along with the highest breastfeeding rates in the nation), it's been a great experience for me and worth the tears. For now, we're aiming for 6 months but ultimately a year of breastmilk for my baby.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! Tomorrow, we're going to participate in The Big Latch On!