Babushka Is Here!

Today was a happy day for us. The immigration trials & tribulations came to an end & all of our hard work has paid off. After almost 9 months of waiting & 30-plus-hour long trip, my Mom officially immigrated to the US! Gerritt & I drove to the airport & picked her up. I can't believe she didn't just come for a 2-week or 1-month visit, but can live here legally for as long as she likes.


I am thrilled beyond belief for myself & my children as they now have a real Russian grandmother so close to grow up with. I feel happy & also have a newfound sense of responsibility for making sure my Mom's life in the US is everything she hopes it would be. Many call the US the land of dreams, & I truly hope my Mom will realize hers.


Jacob's home birth & my Mom's immigration to the US are definitely my biggest accomplishments in 2011. I really couldn't have asked for a better start to the new year.

Foods Beneficial to Increasing Breastmilk Supply

Since deciding to pump exclusively, I've been fascinated with everything related to breastmilk maintenance & production. Although the single most important way to increase milk supply is frequent breast emptying (either through effective breastfeeding or pumping), I wondered if there were beneficial foods to promote breastmilk production. The Google search engine didn't disappoint & provided me with a wealth of information to create a list of such foods besides the usual recommended oatmeal.


Some of my favorite vegetables - Trader Joe's Southern Greens Blend cooked with bits of nitrite-free bacon or coconut oil

- Almonds (raw cashews & macadamia nuts are also helpful)
- Apricots
- Asparagus
- Beer (with or without alcohol)
- Beets (good source of iron) & beet greens
- Carrots (lots of beta-carotene)
- Coconut (I like to eat my oatmeal with unsweetened Trader Joe's Coconut Milk Beverage)
- Chickpeas (hummus)
- Chicken (bone-in) (a homemade chicken soup is a good example)
- Dandelion greens
- Dark Leafy Greens (arugula, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, chicory, collard greens & others)
- Dates (as well as figs)
- Fennel (cooked or raw)
- Green beans
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Parsley
- Peas
- Pecans
- Pumpkin & pumpkin seeds
- Rice & rice cakes
- Sesame seeds
- Sweet potatoes & yams (lots of beta-carotene)
- Watercress

Lactogenic spices include garlic, ginger (avoid if you lost a lot of blood during birth), sea salt, gomasio, dill, caraway, basil, marjoram & turmeric (also prevents breast inflammation).


The herbal tea blend I drank throughout my pregnancy is also beneficial for breastmilk production (a combination of 1 part nettle leaf, 1 part red raspberry leaf, 1/2 part alfalfa leaf & 1/2 part oatstraw)

The following grains & legumes increase breastmilk supply: oats (I love Bob's Red Mill Organic Whole Grain Steel Cut Oats which I found at Costco), millet, barley, rice, chickpeas, mung beans & lentils.

It's important to include healthy fats such as fish oil, butter, coconut oil, cold-pressed virgin oil, cold-pressed sesame oil or flaxseed oil in one's daily diet.

Breastmilk is rich in probiotics so it's helpful to eat a probiotic yogurt or take a probiotic supplement daily to support one's intestinal flora & decrease the incidence of colic & allergy in baby.

Additional Resources:

1) Foods to Increase Breastmilk Supply by MomEinstein.com

2) Lactogenic Foods and Herbs by Hilary Jacobson based on her book Mother Food for Breastfeeding Mothers

3) Which Foods Can Boost Your Milk Supply? by Motherwear's Breastfeeding Blog

My Postpartum Diary - The Fourth Week

Day 22 (December 21st, Wednesday)


Mommy & Jacob

All ready to travel

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders since I've decided to pump exclusively. I don't feel depressed about not being able to breastfeed. Plus pumping allows other family members & friends to help with baby care & takes only about half the time breastfeeding does. I am in the process of learning how to pump most effectively & without loosing my milk supply. For example, today I've learned that in order to increase one's milk supply it's really important to pump at night. It's best to pump at least twice between the hours of 12 am & 4 am since production of prolactin hormone is the highest during that time & will stimulate more milk production.


Jacob & my midwife Charlene

Gerritt & Jacob snuggling on the couch while waiting to see Charlene

Jacob & I had another appointment with Charlene & Kat today for our 3-week check up. Jacob is growing well. He weighed 9 lbs 10 oz! Charlene kept complimenting me on what a beautiful baby he was. Jacob didn't make a single peep during the whole visit, even when we undressed him to be weighed. He promptly fell asleep in Kat's arms while I was getting examined. Charlene checked my blood pressure, temperature & did blood work. Gerritt came along again & thoroughly enjoyed himself. After picking out & eating all of the M&Ms out of the granola mix, he announced he wanted to live at Charlene's house. :-)

Jacob asleep in the arms that caught him (Charlene's apprentice Kat)

Time for another weigh-in!

Day 23 (December 22nd, Thursday)

Today was my busiest day yet. In the morning I had my hair appointment for highlighting & cut. Although it took me forever to find the new salon & parking, the celebrity hair stylist turned out to be great. I immediately felt like myself again having the blond hair back! It's almost like I've left my old self behind & re-emerged as a newly baked mother of 3 children.
After hair appointment it was time for pumping & quick lunch. Then I was off for a chiropractor & my once-a-week massage appointment. Both felt great. I am convinced it would have taken me much longer to recover from birth without them. My shoulders & neck are achy due to frequent pumping & having to hold the pump flanges with both hands in an ackward position. I am thinking of buying a special bra to be able to pump hands-free, but I want to make sure I am going to stick with pumping for the long hall first.
I received my lecithin supplement in the mail today & immediately took the 1st dose. Hopefully, I will not experience any more plugged ducts.
There were more pumping & snacking in the afternoon. While the kids took their naps, I picked out Christmas outfits for them & myself. When they woke up we all took our nanny to the bus stop & then headed to the Redmond Town Center for our annual Christmas photo. It was our first outing with all 3 kids at once, & I can proudly say we managed it well.
There were some happy news from my Mom when we got back home. She passed her immigration interview today, which means she'll be arriving to Seattle sometime next week. I can't wait to show off Jacob to her. I am counting the days until her arrival!

Day 24 (December 23rd, Friday)


Jacob is snuggling with grandma Chris

It was a quiet night. Jacob went to sleep at 11:30 pm & woke up twice - at 1:30 am & 3:30 am. He then slept until 7:30 am. I've learned to get up while hearing Jacob's squirming & hand sucking & to feed him before he has a chance to fully wake up. After feeding I change his diaper. He's usually so sleepy, he rarely cries. After Jacob's diaper change I put him in a swing to keep him quiet while I pump. In the past I used to put Jacob next to me & give him my pinky to suck on if he cried, but that was challenging since I also had to hold the pump flanges on my breasts.
Today was our nanny's last day working for us. It was a bitter sweet day since she's been with us for almost 2 years & took care of Sophia since she was about 8 months old. We tried not to cry & not to say our final goodbyes. After all, she's only moving to Portland. My husband & I will probably visit it in a few months. We are already dreaming about taking an out-of-town trip with Gerritt while having Russian grandma take care of Sophia & Jacob at home.
Irina & I have decided to celebrate her last day by taking all of the kids to the Teddy Bear Suite at the Olympic Paramount Hotel. While it was fun, it also turned out to be an exhausting trip. We had a late start in the morning & arrived to the hotel at kids' nap time. It took me some time to find the hotel (I am directionally challenged, especially in busy downtown). Then it took forever to find parking. Once inside the hotel we had to stand in a long waiting line. It was also stuffy & hot. By the time we got inside the Suite Sophia was crying & asking for her "milky," Gerritt refused to pose for photos & Jacob was fussy & hungry. We managed to snap a few shots & then got out of there all sweaty & exhausted. It was more than 5 hours since I last pumped, so my breasts were hurting. It looks like I am developing another plugged duct in my right breast. I definitely need to limit the number of social outings to preserve my milk supply.
There was no rest once we got home. Both Sophia & Gerritt were grouchy since they missed their naps. Sophia fell asleep at once after receiving her milk bottle. Gerritt was too excited to nap so my husband put him to bed around 8 pm with lots of screaming, crying & threats to send his Christmas presents back to Santa.
I am looking forward to my Mom helping me to re-establish a consistent bedtime for the kids. Gerritt has been "hit" especially hard. Since we've started co-sleeping again, he doesn't go to bed until I do, which is around 11:30 pm or midnight. Jacob tends to be especially fussy in the evenings, refusing to be put down. It's pretty difficult to get ready for bed, pump, mix formula for the night feedings, straighten up the house, wash & put the dishes away, brush & floss kids' teeth, wash their hands & faces, read books, etc. & still be in bed by 10 pm. We'll get back to a healthy sleep schedule eventually, but it has only been 3 weeks since Jacob's birth.

Day 25 (December 24th, Saturday)


Today I made pancakes for the kids for the 1st time in a while. My nanny usually prepared breakfast for them every morning & then chased them around the house to make sure they finished it. I already miss her!

Jacob with his Korean halmeoni (grandma)

It's amazing how much quieter the house is with Sophia being gone. My hubby took her to grandma's house for the day while Gerritt stayed with me. Since Sophia is the loudest member of our family, the difference in our house's noise level is significant. Gerritt took a nap & then watched cartoons for the rest of the afternoon while I caught up on blogging & organized & edited a million photos I had stored. It's amazing how fast you can forget all of the little day-to-day details. I can hardly remember what happened 2 days ago, forget about remembering last week!
I also spent the day trying to catch up on my pumping sessions. The goal is 8-10 per day. I woke up in panic mode this morning after realizing I slept from 2 am until 8 am. It's definitely too long of a stretch to go without pumping. My husband watched Jacob last night & I had no incentive to wake up. Of course, I set my alarm, but continued to sleep after silencing it. Cumulative fatigue can do that to you. I think I will insist on having Jacob sleep with me from now on so I do have a reason to wake up at night. Mu hubby can still feed him while I pump to save some time & to decrease the amount of time spent out of bed.
I talked on the phone with my Mom today & searched for her airplane ticket on the internet. We are hoping for her to leave Russia at the end of December since my husband is going back to work on January 2nd. I can't imagine taking care of 3 kids by myself. I probably could, but not while getting up multiple times at night to feed the baby & pump. It's definitely too much for one person.


Sophia is becoming a chocolate lover like Gerritt!

We are trying to get Jacob used to a pacifier. He just learned to eat from the bottle a couple of days ago (without choking & gulping the milk), so a pacifier is the next step. He loves to suck on my pinky. While I don't mind, it restricts my freedom of movement (your arm can get numb from being held in a strange position) & is not very hygenic when we are out & about.
I just love staring at Jacob! He looks so healthy & content. He looks more like a "real" baby now, with fat rolls & all, instead of a skinny little guy he was right after his birth. He even has a double chin! He is like a little baby bird. I love how he "roots" & sucks on his fingers when hungry.

Day 26 (December 25th, Sunday)


Grandma Chris sent Jacob's Christmas stocking

My husband watched Jacob all night so I am well rested today. Too much sleeping is not such a good thing for my milk production. I last pumped at 1 am & then didn't pump again until 8 am! Without a baby to wake me up, I can easily dismiss the alarm. Ideally, I should be pumping every 3-4 hours at night.


Gerritt & Sophia playing with the tea set - the 1st Christmas present opened today

My husband went to Tacoma & picked up his Mom yesterday since it's been a couple of weeks since she's seen Jacob. Plus we wanted her to be here for Christmas. She spent last night at our house & was here for the Christmas present opening this morning. I've been able to enjoy today's morning as well. It's amazing how much help another pair of hands can be! I mostly took photos of the kids, cleaned up the wrapping paper, recycled paper gift boxes & kept toy parts from being scattered all over the living room.


One of Jacob's 1st smiles for Korean grandma

After last year's gift extravaganza we've limited this year's gift giving to 1-2 presents per child. The Xbox 360 & the Kinnect game were the gifts to ourselves. My hubby's Mom had a blast holding & admiring baby Jacob. He is definitely the most precious gift this Christmas! She also liked watching the kids open their presents & then dance. They always put on a dancing show for her, usually to Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber's music.


In the evening I searched & bought my Mom's airplane ticket. The best ticket I could find on such a short notice was the one with an overnight wait in Paris, France. My Mom will be flying from Russia on December 30th. I can't believe she's really going to join our family so soon!

Day 27 (December 26th, Monday)


Gerritt thought it was a great idea to dress his bear into Jacob's jumpsuit

It was another day filled with changing diapers, feeding the kids, pumping & trying to take care of myself in between (mostly to eat enough calories, take supplements & drink my special tea to produce enough breast milk). Since I watched Jacob last night & he didn't sleep for most of it, Gerritt & I didn't wake up until 11:30 am. Everyone's schedules are so off! With our nanny gone, the kids didn't eat breakfast until noon & they didn't have another meal until evening time (there were lots of snacks in between). Oh well... There is only so much we can do.
The kids didn't take their naps today. My husband had to run a few errands so I was at home with 3 kids by myself in the afternoon. He put Sophia down for her nap prior to leaving, but she didn't truly fall asleep & I found her playing with her toys shortly after. She pooped in her diaper & couldn't sleep, of course. Gerritt wasn't tired enough for a nap after waking up so late in the morning & without his daily trip to the park. Since he sleeps with me, he's now on my schedule of going to bed around 11:30 pm & waking up after 10 am.


Sophia took the stuffed animal dress-up to the next level!

Somehow I managed to pump with 3 kids requiring my attention & even took a shower (with Jacob protesting a little while in his swing). It's amazing how fast the time comes to pump again, even though it seems I just did it. I wonder how long I can keep it up? It can get quite boring at times, so lately I've been watching Russian pop & Justin Bieber videos on YouTube to entertain myself while pumping. With my husband being gone today, I had to hold the pump flanges with my left hand while Jacob sucked on my right hand's pinky. He's still not used to a pacifier & having something to suck on is the only thing that will keep him quiet (unless he's hungry or has a dirty diaper).
On a good note, my diligent pumping efforts are paying off. The amount of breast milk I pump has increased over the last few days. The biggest amount I've been able to pump was 22.75 oz/day in the 2nd week after Jacob's birth. Then it decreased to 14 oz/day for a couple of days the week after. I started to pump more frequently trying to increase my supply again (sometimes even hourly). As a result I pumped 19.75 oz for the past 24 hours!
Once my hubby was back I vacuumed the carpets & floors, cleaned the bathroom & gave Gerritt & Sophia a bath (I can't even remember the last time they had it). Sophia was fussy by then so it took a lot of effort to get her into the bath tub (a bottle of milk given once she was inside actually did it). I also made trips to Trader Joe's for groceries, Western Union to pick up some money my Dad sent me for Jacob's birth & then went to the bank. Then it was more of washing dishes, toy pick up & organizing the house. It seems all I do is change diapers, pump, clean & feed someone. One good thing that's coming out of this is that Gerritt is becoming a lot less dependent on me & can entertain himself.

Day 28 (December 27th, Tuesday)

A sleeping angel

Jacob is 1 month old today! I am glad the hardest month is behind us. The whole family had to make adjustments & it wasn't easy. I am grateful to have had a lot of help along the way. Now that I am fully recovered from birth I feel like I can handle anything. I am proud of not giving up breastfeeding completely & finding the pumping solution to give Jacob the best start in life. The gift of breastmilk is something only I can give him. Pumping takes real committment & I make it a priority. Sometimes everything else has to wait because it's my time to pump
If I thought I was a good organizer & multitasker before, adding a third child to our family tested my multitasking abilities to the max. Today was the longest time I was alone with the kids. My husband had to take care of a few things at our rental property & was gone from 1 - 5 pm. I managed to put Sophia & Gerritt to bed, make chicken soup, clean the house, pump & take care of Jacob in between.
Jacob is slowly growing on us. The fact that he started smiling a little over a week ago makes all the hard work worth it. My husband watched Jacob last night allowing me to sleep from 1-6 am. When I picked up Jacob at 6 am he gave me the biggest grin & my heart just melted. So I find myself cooing in a high pitched voice at all hours of the day & night. Jacob never cries for more than a couple of minutes because one of us always picks him up right away. When he cries he sounds more like a kitty cat than a baby. Sophia has the best hearing, & when Jacob makes the slightest peep, she yells loudly, "Baby is sad!" Gerritt is not concerned about crying Jacob any less & usually says, "Mommy, you need to pick up the baby NOW!"
I have to say that I am probably enjoying Jacob the most & absorbing as much of the baby phase as possible. I was too inexperienced & stressed to enjoy Gerritt & Sophia the same way. I am not too tired & overwhelmed this time to treasure every moment with Jacob & appreciate him for the little miracle he is.


Jacob & Daddy

I haven't taken off my fleece jacket since the day Jacob was born. I wear it during the day & sleep in it at night. It keeps me warm during the times I have to pump at night & during the day when I am at home or have to run errands. Who knew dressing could be so simple?
I am so happy I stuck to my committment of writing something every day for the whole month after Jacob's birth. I wanted to document all the little details of my post-partum recovery & my metamorphosis into a mother of 3. It wasn't easy to always find time to write, especially with so many other new responsibilities I acquired. But... somehow I did it!

Additional Resources:

1) The Hazy Transition to Motherhood by Bring Birth Home

The Teddy Bear Suite

Entrance to the Teddy Bear Suite

After our Santa photos, I felt brave enough to attempt another outing with 3 kids. I've decided not to drag my husband to an event he is not likely to enjoy, so it fell to my nanny Irina to accompany me to the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. I took Gerritt & Sophia there last year & couldn't bear to miss it this Christmas season.


Mommy & Jacob


A bear hug


Jacob & the bears

It was a stressful afternoon. We got a late morning start. It took us a while to find parking (it's downtown after all). Then we had to wait in a long line to get inside the Suite. It was way past kids' nap time & they were feeling grouchy. Gerritt became a social butterfly & chatted up with an older gentleman who was also waiting in line. Sophia went into hiding behind my legs & then the stroller.


Sophia is getting tired...


...and really needs a nap here!

When it was almost our turn to go into the Suite both of the kids decided to take off their shoes so Irina & I had to put them back on & convince the kids not to take them off for the rest of the visit. Jacob got hungry & I fed him his bottle while holding him midway in the air.


The kids and I


I couldn't make the kids both smile at me, no matter now hard I tried

Somehow we managed to snap a few decent photos with Sophia & Jacob crying & Gerritt refusing to sit still. I was sure glad to have my nanny there, but even with her helping I came home exhausted. At least I look happy in the photos. I doubt I'll remember how tired I was when I review them in a few years. :-)


A few last photos before leaving...


Sophia in a slightly happier mood after receiving a candy cane

Even though it was a lot of work, my nanny & I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Teddy Bear Suite. What a way to get into the Christmas spirit! I was pleasantly surprised to find the Suite's decor to be different from the one last year.



Sophia & her nanny Irina

Since we made it to the Suite with a newborn this year, I am pretty sure we'll be again next year. Only Jacob will be 1 year old!

Santa Photos

We took the kids for their annual Santa photos today. It was a lot of rushing around, picking out the right outfits, getting the kids dressed, making sure they were fed & used the potty prior to leaving & then loading everyone into the car. It was our first outing with all 3 of the kids. Although it was a lot of work (I am still not fully recovered from Jacob's birth), it felt like an adventure.


The attempt #1

The Santa tent was outside & we had to wait in line for over half-an-hour. Even though the evening was chilly, thankfully, there were warming lamps everywhere. Of course, it couldn't be a ride without any bumps. Jacob pooped & there was a mad rush for us to find a restroom. Thankfully, we were able to find one nearby & change his diaper quickly. Many people standing with us in line seemed to understand how young Jacob was & gave us many compliments & sympathetic smiles. :-)


The attempt #2

All enjoyed meeting Santa except Sophia. No amount of preparation could convince her that Santa was a good guy. She used the full volume of her voice to let everyone know how unhappy she was. Santa appeared pretty nervous about sitting all of the 3 children on his lap, so my husband & I had to step into the photo. While Daddy didn't have much luck keeping Sophia on his lap, I did a better job by promising her - what else? - a lollipop!


Our final attempt & probably the best photo we are going to get this year

We went home exhausted, but satisfied. Our first outing with 3 kids was not perfect, but we pulled it off. We would be able to tell Jacob that he met Santa for the first time when he was just 3 weeks & 2 days old. Way to go!

My Postpartum Diary - The Third Week

Jacob absolutely refuses the pacifier, but loves to suck on my pinky

Day 15 (December 14th, Wednesday)

Last night was my most difficult night. Jacob absolutely refused to be put down. It was never ending cycle of feeding him, watching him fall asleep, then have him wake up the minute I laid him down in the bassinet or on my bed. My breasts were hurting due to bilateral plugged ducts & I knew I needed to pump more frequently to resolve them faster. Pretty challenging to do with a baby who doesn't want to leave my arms! Plus my husband got a really bad cold so he went to bed early & couldn't help much. Jacob cried even louder in a swing (this contraption is turning out to be useless). So I found the solution by putting Jacob next to me while pumping & giving him my pinky to suck on (he absolutely refused a pacifier when I tried) while holding the breast pump attachments with one hand. There were several more rounds of feeding Jacob & him pooping twice in between. I planned to go to bed at 10 pm, however, didn't hit the pillow until 3 am. :-( Needless to say I am cranky & exhausted today.
I stayed in bed for most of the day since rest is required in order for the plugged ducts to resolve & not progress to mastitis. I also followed the rigorous breast engorgement protocol I did on my 2nd post-partum day with the exception of 5" heat application to both breasts prior to pumping. Then I used cold raw cabbage leaves & ice for 20" in between pumping sessions. I also increased my fluid intake. Plugged ducts occur when milk gets "stuck" in one or more parts of a breast. I was in so much pain, I started to think about giving up breastfeeding all together. Especially after my husband asked me if it was worth it. I have a history of recurrent plugged ducts probably due to my inability to succeed at breastfeeding (I've always only pumped, & the pump is not as efficient at removing milk from the breasts compared to a baby). It's pretty frustrating to pump only to have very little milk come out.
I called the lactation specialist & made another house visit appointment for next Monday. Jacob will almost be 3 weeks old by then & I feel like the consultation session would be a lot more useful this time.
Thankfully, the plugged duct in my left breast resolved by the evening time. The milk all of a sudden started to pour out allowing me to drain 3 oz of milk at once (I usually only pump 2-3 oz from both breasts every 3 hours). My right breast is still red, hard & swollen. More icing tonight!

Day 16 (December 15th, Thursday)

I let Jacob cry for about 15" last evening. He started doing the same thing he did the evening prior, refusing to be put down. I didn't want to stay up until 3 am again, so I let him cry while I brushed & flossed my teeth, changed into my pajamas, washed the breast pump parts & otherwise got ready for bed. It was heartbreaking to hear him cry, but I had physical needs that needed to be taken care of. He promptly calmed down & fell asleep when I put him into bed next to me & gave him my pinky to suck on.
My last syringe I usually use for finger feeding Jacob broke today. I called the lactation hotline in panic asking where I could buy some more. Thankfully, I was able to find a breastfeeding supply store not too far from me. I got "lucky" because my husband was at home sick today so he went to the store & bought a couple of infant feeding kits (each kit includes a cup, a syringe & a feeding tube). The lactation specialist also advised I buy Medela Starter SNS (supplemental nursing system) which allows attachment of the tube at the breast while having a bottle of milk hang on your shoulder with milk slowly dripping down rather than pushing a syringe plunger with your finger. So Shon got this kit too. I should be all ready for my lactation specialist visit on Monday.
The plugged ducts in my right breast resolved today. My milk output on that side has decreased by about 40%. Hopefully, I can get it back up soon. I haven't drank my Prolactation tea for the past 2 days waiting for the plugged ducts to resolve. I probably need to restart the tea again, but I am nervous about having a recurrence. I did some research on trusted KellyMom & found out that dietary supplement lecitin can prevent plugged duct recurrence by acting as emulsifier & thinning out the fat making it easier to pass through the ducts. I ordered lecitin online right away. I've also decided to pump for 15-20" instead of 10" per session. I probably wasn't emptying my breasts enough. What a pain! All this could be solved if Jacob breastfed exclusively.


Our Christmas tree

My husband surprised us today be getting a Christmas tree. Always the deal scout, he found a beautiful tall Noble Fur tree for only $7! With all the stress we've had lately, it's so fun to have something festive in the house. The kids & I are looking forward to decorating the tree tomorrow.
I received a letter from my clinic about being laid off, just as I expected, since I passed on a full-time position last week. I am slightly relieved since I now have an excuse to take a job break for 6-12 months (with the exception of my once a week per diem hospital nursing job) to spend more time with Jacob & my other 2 children prior to looking for a new Nurse Practitioner job. Plus it's easier to focus on breastfeeding when I don't have to work 4 days a week.
I had another massage & chiropractic treatment today. What a night & day difference compared to 2 weeks ago! I remember being in so much discomfort then, I moved very slowly & almost cried during the adjustments.

Day 17 (December 16th, Friday)


A small miracle happened last night. Jacob slept from 12:30 am until 6:30 am! He didn't even wake me up in the morning. I woke up feeling unusually well rested. When I looked at the clock, I couldn't believe it was 6:30 am. The first thing I thought was, "He must be starving!" Jacob continued sleeping through my 30" pumping session. My breasts were overflowing with milk & felt very uncomfortable. I pumped a record 5 oz at once! I then woke Jacob up by changing his diaper. He continued sleeping for the rest of the day (with the exception of waking up briefly to eat every 3 hours). He was awake for about 30" in the afternoon & that was it. This is so refreshing after 2 days of barely having any time to myself because Jacob refused to be put down.


Sophia's 1st haircut


The little girl had to be bribed not with one, but two lollipops!

I had a good productive day today. Besides keeping up with my pumping sessions every 2 hours, I took our dog Sammy to the grooming salon in the morning. I also took Sophia for her 1st haircut at noon. She did pretty well after I bribed her with 2 lollipops I brought along with me. She only cried when the hairdresser blow dried her hair (I would too if I've never used a blow dryer before). Sophia got a necklace & My First Haircut card with a few locks of her hair. She was very proud of herself after all was finished.
I took a walk outside today. It was a beautiful warm day, so my toy poodle Maxie & I walked for about 20" (my first walk outside for the past 2 months). I did ok with the exception of my achy pubic area.


My two adorable assistants


Our Christmas tree all decorated

The biggest accomplishment was decorating our Christmas tree. The kids helped in the beginning & then I asked my husband to play with them so I could finish decorating the tree all by myself. I am very protective of the fragile Christmas ornaments so the fewer hands are handling them the better. Decorating took the last ounce of energy I had for the day, but it made me & the kids happy to have a beautiful fragrant Christmas tree in the house.


Gerritt giving Sophia a piggyback ride

I didn't make any attempts to latch Jacob on the breast today probably because I enjoyed having him sleep for most of the day. It was nice to get out of the house & do "normal" things. Exlusive breastfeeding would be a full-time job. Sometimes I am very tempted to try a bottle so someone else can take over the feedings. Perhaps in a few weeks...

Days 18 & 19 (December 17th & 18th, Saturday & Sunday)


Our toy poodle Maxie can be easily mistaken for one of the stuffed toys

With our nanny being off this weekend, all hell broke loose. Both Sophia & Gerritt refused to eat what was served at breakfast & lunch & then took over 2 hours to fall asleep for naps & at bedtime. Lots of crying, screaming, temper tantrums & frustration. With me pumping & finger feeding Jacob around the clock, most of the previously done by me childcare tasks were transferred to my husband. He doesn't tend to negotiate & doesn't have the same degree of patience that I do, so the kids rebelled. The whole family is going through a major adjustment phase. It seems that all we do is yell & reprimand the kids. :-(


Our cutie pie in one of his rare awake moments

Bedtime is the most difficult. Both Gerritt & Sophia have to sleep with Daddy. Gerritt tends to fall asleep quickly whereas Sophia tends to sing, count & talk loudly for up to 2 hours. She keeps Gerritt awake, so he's been more irritable from the lack of sleep since Jacob's birth. Several times I walked into my husband's bedroom only to find him fast asleep & snoring while the kids were still up laughing & playing.
I really miss taking care of Sophia & Gerritt. Jacob requires most of my attention & energy now & I catch myself going for days without hugging or kissing Gerritt & Sophia. I can't remember the last time Gerritt & I read books. We snuggled on the rocking chair one evening & dreamt about my husband watching Jacob at night so Gerritt & I could read books at bedtime like we used to. Bottlefeeding sounds very tempting.
I spent most of Sunday in pain due to plugged ducts in both of my breasts again. More Ibuprofen, breast massage, cold cabbage leaves, warm packs & pumping. I was feeling really irritated at not being able to remove much milk from my breasts & relieve the pain with all of my interventions. Also I couldn't hug anyone or even sleep on my side. Gerritt simply brushing against my chest would almost cause me to be in tears. Burping Jacob by laying him on my shoulder was very uncomfortable too.
On Sunday Jacob smiled for the first time! He didn't do it in his sleep or while daydreaming, but intentionally, while looking at me. I have to see if he does it again tomorrow, just to make sure I am not mistaken. My old midwife told me that babies would smile a lot sooner than the expected 6 weeks if more people smiled at them right from the beginning.

Day 20 (December 19th, Monday)

Gerritt slept with Jacob & me last night. He just decided he wanted to sleep next to me even with baby waking up & crying several times at night (he said he "didn't care"). Jacob was reasonably quiet & I took him out to the hallway for his diaper changes in the bassinet since he sometimes cries during those. Then he usually cries while waiting for his milk to warm up. I did the feeding & burping in bed. Thankfully, Jacob promptly fell asleep after each feeding & never woke up Gerritt. We didn't fall asleep until 11:30 pm, so all of us slept in until 10:30 am today. Everyone's regular schedules are definitely off.
I was so exhausted last evening, I fed Jacob with a bottle during the night time. I just didn't have the energy to do the finger feeding routine anymore. Every time Jacob wakes up, it takes me 1 hour to finish everything before I can fall asleep again. I have to change Jacob's diaper, finger feed him, then pump, record the pumped milk amount on a log, then wash all of the pump parts, hydrate myself & use the restroom. I also often check on Sophia prior to returning to my bed to make sure she is covered with her blanket & is not getting cold. Sometimes I also refill the humidifier with water so we don't wake up with dry stuffy noses. The list of things to do can get surprisingly long for the middle of the night.


The starter kit SNS

We had another home visit with a lactation specialist today (a different one this time). She taught me how to breastfeed Jacob using the nipple shield & the starter kit supplemental nursing system (SNS). The goals are to breastfeed Jacob with a nipple shield & SNS, then with a nipple shield alone, then directly at the breast. With two of us helping, Jacob latched using the nipple shield & suckled for the longest time ever thanks to the SNS squirting some milk into his mouth to keep him interested.


Best buddies

After the lactation specialist left, I tried to breastfeed Jacob using the nipple shield & SNS twice. It was a disaster! I couldn't get comfortable with the pillows; the nipple shield kept sliding off with baby's arms constantly trying to grab my breast; the SNS bottle was the wrong size & kept leaking all over me & the baby, & the milk flow from the SNS was too fast. Since the SNS bottle was too big, it couldn't be clipped to my clothes & I had to hold it with my neck causing it to cramp. I really needed another person to help me with the equipment, but my husband was gone to run a few much needed errands. So I ended up feeling frustrated & in tears again.


Sophia insisted on using the potty with all of her stuffed animals

On a good note, Sophia went pee on a potty twice today. I checked her diaper twice & since it was dry I encouraged her to sit on a potty while watching TV. Success! I showed her the pee, but it didn't seem to impress her much. I praised her regardless. Hopefully, this is the start of her potty training.

Day 21 (December 20th, Tuesday)

Jacob is 3 weeks old today! I feel I am just starting to get out of the post-partum "fog." It is not even hormonal or physical, but due to chronic sleep deprivation. I find myself slurring speech, having trouble making decisions & focusing. Since I am not practicing breastfeeding at night, my husband was able to take over at 4 am today & feed Jacob via bottle allowing me some uninterrupted sleep. I barely woke up in time for my dental appointment at 9 am today. Here I was at my dentist's office apologizing for stains on my clothes & somewhat unkept appearance. I almost fell asleep during my tooth cleaning. I have post-partum gingivitis again so there was some gum bleeding. Unfortunately, I also need to have a crown & a filling replaced. This has less to do with pregnancy & breastfeeding & more with poor dental habits in childhood. Thankfully, even with me being laid off from my clinic job, I have dental insurance coverage through January 31st. I also have another dental insurance through my husband's work, so our out-of-pocket expenses will be minimal.


I had to photograph Shon's swaddling attempt :-)

Gerritt slept with Jacob & me again last night. I held sleeping Jacob in my arms while I read books to Gerritt. It looks like we found a way to get back to our old routine! Gerritt's favorite books now are Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems, Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker & One Is a Feast For Mouse - A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox. He's also in love with Justin Bieber! I've rented his DVD Never Say Never, & Gerritt now wants to watch it every night.
I took my 2nd since birth walk today with Maxie & Sammy. I still have mild ache in my pelvis (mostly pubis). I've developed constipation for the past 3 days despite drinking lots of water & maintaining a reasonably good diet. It's probably due to not getting any exercise & Ibuprofen I've been taking to relieve pain from the plugged ducts. Another hurdle to overcome.
This is our nanny's last week working for us. She's been with us for more than 1.5 years & helped to raise Gerritt & Sophia. Part of me is excited for my Mom moving to the US to live with us, but another part of me is sad for Irina leaving. This week I had Irina work from 8 am until 1 pm (kids' nap time), only because my husband is on his paternity leave for the next 2 weeks (or until my Mom arrives). I don't feel ready yet in any shape or form to take care of 3 kids by myself.
I am feeling more optimistic today. Rather than giving up breastfeeding completely, I am thinking of exclusive pumping to provide Jacob with benefits of breastmilk. Besides KellyMom, I found another good resource for women who pump exclusively - Got Breast Pump! Just when you think you've mastered all of the baby-related stuff, there is a new area to explore!