Monday, March 8, 2010

Update From Mommyland

Still here. Been reading, but haven’t found the time/energy to post or comment much.

Squeaker is an awesome girl! 14 weeks old yesterday! She’s cooing and smiling like crazy. I simply can’t describe how it feels when she smiles at me. She’s not squeaking so much anymore, so might need a new nickname.

Back at work for a little over a week now. Started back on Thursday, February 25th, but then got snowed in the next day. Last week was my first full week back. It’s hard leaving her, but I’m very comfortable with her care. She is at a beautiful new day care center in my neighborhood. It’s bright and cheerful. The staff is well trained (infant and child cpr, and the woman in charge of the infant room has a degree in early child development), and very caring. They’re always happy to see Squeaker (even though one day last week she managed to spit up on EVERYONE), and she is just at the age where she is becoming interested in all the people around her, so she is enjoying the other babies. And the big plus, all the activity is wearing her out! She is sleeping like a dream. Sometimes 6-7 hours the first stretch. After the first long stretch of sleep she doesn’t nurse for long because she falls back to sleep, so then she generally does 2 hours at a time. Usually I can get up and get myself and her stuff ready before I wake her to nurse and get her dressed. Sometimes she falls back to sleep on the walk to day care.

Oh, and right on schedule, the nighttime fussiness and clusterfeeding has abated!

Pumping at work is not so bad, but it’s time consuming. I can’t really double pump. I’m just too big to maintain proper suction easily on both sides. The one time I tried I wound up with milk dripping all over on one side. I can’t risk that at work, so I do 10-15 minutes on each side. I take my iTouch with me and watch videos (I download whatever is free on iTunes, and will occasionally purchase something).

I still have a lot of swelling in my foot from the surgery, so the commute is tough. I think the surgery worked, because I don’t have the tightness in my heel that I had before, but it’s just very tender. Started back at physical therapy last week (thank goodness it’s literally around the corner from my office, so I can go during my lunch hour), and he said the fascia feels better, but the area (particularly around the incision) is swollen.

I am loving the mommy thing! On the subway on my way to pick her up, I get excited about seeing her. Kind of like the butterflies before a hot date. Although I do wish she wouldn’t save the poopie blowouts for mommy. I keep telling her, “Poop at day care. I’m paying them a lot of money to change your diapers!”

One thing I’m finding interesting is when I explain about donor embryo and when I don’t. I am generally very open, as I really would like to see this “normalized.” Sometimes it’s a matter of time. Like when I was in a café and putting a fussy Squeaker in her snowsuit and someone said she saw the resemblance between us. We really don’t look alike, but I just smiled. Or the other morning when I dropped her off at day care and another parent commented about how blue her eyes were and asked if there were blue eyes in my family. I said that there were, which is true. On the other hand, this morning at day care another mom was telling me that she and her husband were talking about how cute Squeaker was and that they thought she looked like a cabbage patch doll. I said she was my little miracle. “Oh, you had trouble?” she asked. I told her my age, which shocked her (guess I’m not too sleep deprived!), and told her that Squeaker was the result of embryo donation, that she has a brother and sister in Canada, and had been frozen for over 4 years. The other mom smiled and said she got chills. My little family was built with so much love, there’s nothing to be secretive or ashamed of.

Here’s some recent cuteness for you all!



A big shout out the to my fellow SMCs who’ve given birth recently! It’s hard not having an extra pair of hands sometimes, but it’s sooooooo worth it. Congrats, Genkicat, Meg, Heather and Jo!

19 comments:

Magpie said...

What a sweet post.

Have you tried one of those bra-like contraptions that lets you hands free the pump cones? I never needed it (I got good at holding them both in place with one arm).

Also, for video content while pumping, check out the Ted Talks. There's a lot of good stuff, all 15-20 minutes long.

Dora said...

Thanks, Maggie. I think I'm too big for the contraptions. Just finding a reasonably comfortable nursing bra has been a problem. I have ONE, and it's only comfortable with an extender. Have one nursing bra that I wore once for a few hours. Ouch, $40+ down the drain. Felt like a straightjacket. Bought some online that I just tried on and returned. I think the problem is gigantic boobs, and fairly small ribcage.

Michelle said...

She is so so cute. I am happy to hear from and that things are going well!

Billy said...

She is so cute!
Thanks for the update :-).

Geohde said...

I am utterly amazed at how coherent you are with a new baby and full time work. I am much more pathetic when I am tired,

g

Geohde said...

Blogger ate my comment I think. I was remarking how in awe I am of your coherence with a new baby and working full time. You can't be getting much sleep,

xx

g

AnotherDreamer said...

I agree, such a sweet post. She is so darling. I still think it's amazing- I mean, technology, that she was a frozen embryo for 4 years, and now here she is- a true miracle for you both. Just amazing.

battynurse said...

Oh my, look at that gorgeous red hair. She's so cute.
Good to hear that you're doing well and hope things continue to go well.

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

You aren't too big for the contraptions, because I have one and works okay. What works the best for me is a combo of the hands-free tube top bra and my sleep bra fastened only on one hook at the bottom to hoist everything up -- but my sleep bra isn't as comfy as my nursing bras (which have no hooks) so I usually just put up with sagging and slouching.

Also, have you tried a bigger flange? If you can't maintain suction your flange might be too small.

FYI, since you're close to my size, I use Bra.vado Double Plus bras.

I totally see the Cabbage Patch thing, but S is way cuter!

Kristin said...

Your little angel is beautiful! I'm so happy to hear you've found such a great child care situation.

Your best bet for getting great nursing bras ASAP is The Suzanne Collection. All there bras are custom made and you will have to get their fitting system sent to you. The prices are a bit expensive but the service is FABULOUS! You can get a bra custom made and in your hands in 2 to 3 weeks. You could probably get away with 2 of these.

Angelwingsbaby said...

I can't believe how fast time has passed my little guy is already 12 weeks they are both getting so big. She is just beautiful hun!You thinking about another in the future?Sorry I haven't commented in a hile things have been a bit bumpy for me but they are better now.((hugs))

Orodemniades said...

She is one cutie patootie!

decemberbaby said...

She is gorgeous! I'm so glad you're enjoying. And I totally get the hot date analogy. I had an aunt who used to say, "it's a love affair!" and in so many ways, it really is.

Genkicat said...

She is gorgeous! Love reading your updates.

Beautiful Mess said...

Can she be any cuter?!

I'm glad things are going well for you! I got the chills, too!
*HUGS*

Calliope said...

so so so perfect & beautiful!!
you sound beyond happy and I LOVE it.

Cold Spaghetti said...

That is one beautiful girl!

It took monumental effort for me to pump... full on concentration, water, and serious focus. You are amazing for falling into it at work so easily! Go you!!!!

I wore wire-free nursing bras by Bravado -- I tried EVERYTHING and these were the only ones that were even remotely comfortable. I still wear my "night-time" nursing bras to bed for support... and I haven't nursed in 2 years! The Bravado bras are pricey, but they are WORTH IT. I don't think I went back to underwire for more support until I had been nursing for a good year each time, because everytime I wore one prior, I'd get a blocked duct. GOOD LUCK!!!! And congratulations and Go Mom!

Ang said...

She is so lovely Can not wait to see her and you too of course.
It is official, I am leaving for the USA in June and will be in the states for 3 Months. So hope you two still want to see me cuz we are coming!

V said...

I can't believe how together you are working with baby. I've been on mat leave for one year and just got back to work. Needless to say I've been a basket case. As for being open, I'm pretty much the same way, I pick and choose who I'm really open with vs, who I just nod and smile.