Breastfeeding Trouble

Thursday and Friday Cindy and Blanca came over and help out with laundry, grocery shopping, picking up food, watching the baby while we got a bit of sleep and while we got used to our feeding routine -- she seemed to be eating every 3 hours or so, but since I was pumping, the feeding routine would take forever! We would change her diaper, then it would take 30 minutes to pump, then another 20 to feed her, then we had to rock her to sleep, clean the pump and it's parts... it would take forever! By the time she would finally fall asleep, we had to start the whole routine all over again. It seemed like we were on a constant cycle of changing her and feeding her, we never got a chance to get some sleep!











Friday morning we had our first pediatrician appointment. Mila was 4 days old.







Unfortunately, the appointment didn't go as well as we'd hoped. Mila had lost weight. :( Seems like I wasn't getting enough milk for her with the pump. After all the work we were doing to make sure she was eating, she still wasn't getting enough! The doctor smelled her breath and he was able to determine by it's smell that she was burning her own fat to get the extra calories she needed. He was very concerned. My heart just dropped. I explained the trouble I had had with Mila's latch and that I was pumping for now until I healed. He recommended a lactation consultant that could help, but that he still wanted to see Mila again in 3 days to make sure she was gaining weight. If she hadn't gained enough, he would want to start supplementing her with formula -- which I SO did not want to do. Formula is harsher on babies stomachs than breastmilk, you can see it in their poop. It's darker and it's really smelly. And once you start supplementing with formula, that keeps them full longer and that means you feed them less, which then brings your breastmilk supply down and then you end up supplementing more! I wanted to avoid formula as much as possible, but at the same time, I wanted to make sure she was getting the food she needed. I was so sad to hear she was still hungry! I called the Lactation Consultant the doctor recommended and I planned on pumping like crazy! I know if I must supplement, I will, but I'm hoping I won't have to...

Saturday night my mom was feeling much better, so she and my sister Cathy came over to visit and help out. They stayed for the weekend and Sunday my sister went back to Miami to work, but my mom will be staying with us for the week.











With the extra hands around, we were able to get some great pictures with our little girl!

Final Preparations for Baby G

37 weeks, 6 days pregnant

After talking with my boss, he's let me work from home for the rest of this week! What a relief! He says he'll get back to me about working from home for next week, but I think it'll be ok.

I had my weekly appointment yesterday and the midwife is still concerned about my swelling. I've gained 2 pounds since last week. I'm at 144 lbs! That's 33 lbs that I've gained since I got pregnant! And believe me -- I can feel it!! She says she sees my feet to be a bit more swollen than last week and had me do some bloodwork just in case. My blood pressure still looks good, but she just wants to make sure to cover all her bases. We'll get the result in a week or so.

We also had another pediatrician interview today. This is the 6th pediatrician we've interviewed. I haven't been thrilled with any of them really. There is one I'm leaning on who seemed alright, but he's up in Boca so it's a bit far, although that means that he'll be going to the hospital once Baby G is born to see her. All the other pediatricians that are near us aren't affiliated with the hospital we're delivering at, so they wouldn't be able to go and see her. We have 2 more pediatricians we're interviewing next week and then I think we're done for now. If we don't like them then we'll stick to the one in Boca until we find a new one after she's born.

Going through all this as we prepare for Baby G, it really makes us think a lot about our parents. Jorge and I talk about this all the time. Before being pregnant, we couldn't imagine all the things that need to be done to prepare for a baby! Now we can appreciate what our parents must have gone through and how much they must have done when they were expecting us. It makes me a little teary-eyed to think about it... the packing the bags, the picking a doctor, picking a hospital, picking a pediatrician, going to childbirth classes, reading books, eating healthy, getting exercise, going to work, going to doctor's appointments, making sure you have the best crib, the best stroller, the best of everything! anticipating the arrival of the baby, feeling anxious about going through childbirth, imagining what the baby will look like and wondering if you'll be good parents....... knowing that as much as we want to give Baby G the best of everything we know we're not perfect and we're bound to mess something up! All these things really help us appreciate our parents and understand them a bit more.

A great big hug filled with love and appreciation to my mom and dad and to Mr. and Mrs. Granja! We love you more today than ever! Thank you for all you have done for us!!!



Jorge and Blanca with Mr. & Mrs. Granja



Cathy and I with my mom and dad

Bradley Classes

31 weeks, 4 days

These last few weeks have been quite eventful to say the least! When looking into childbirth classes a few weeks ago, I met a girl online on TheBump.com message boards who teaches Bradley Classes, which is a method of childbirth -- kinda like Lamaze. (Lamaze is one method and Bradley is another. Where Lamaze focuses on breathing, Bradley focuses on relaxation.) I read up on the classes and I was interested because they say they are focused on a "husband-coached childbirth" where the husband plays an active role in supporting the mom and where the husband learns a lot about what he can do to help the mom through labor. It sparked my interest. I thought it might help Jorge learn more about labor and birth... I didn't realize how much I'd be learning myself! I asked the girl about the classes and she sent me the curriculum... and I was really impressed! This would be a 12-week course, for 2 hours once a week. The hospital offered a course as well, but it was for only 4 weeks, 2 hours each class. How much could one possibly learn in such a short period of time?? The Bradley Classe seemed more in-depth, covering everything from nutrtion, to labor techniques, to breastfeeding and postpartum. The girl teaching the class even offered that we could just take the first 3 classes and if we liked them and decided to continue, that we could pay then. It was a good incentive. So Jorge and I went... and it totally changed our perspective on birth. We also started reading "The Husband-Coached Childbirth" by Dr. Robert Bradley. We have learned SO much. I feel so educated on my birth experience and what my options are as a patient... I don't just have to blindly follow the doctor's instructions. I know what questions I should ask so that I know what's going on and why, and if it's really the best for me and my baby. I feel so educated and empowered!! It's given me a whole new perspective on childbirth! I HIGHLY recommend this book and the Bradley classes. The only thing I regret is not learning about this earlier!

The class really focuses on natural childbirth and it has really motivated us to have that as our goal. We talked about our goals with our current OB and realized that neither her nor the hospital we were planning on going to were very natural-birth friendly. I did a ton of research and we started touring other hospitals in the area. I had a bunch of questions (you'd be surprised how very few questions people usually ask on these tours!) and the nurses were always impressed by everything I'd ask. We toured about 6 hospitals and one Birth Center, as well as doctors and midwives that delivered at those different places. Finally, we found one place that met all of our criteria. It's a bit further than what we would like (about 35 minutes away), but it's more important to us to have a hospital that we are comfortable with than to have it nearby.

A friend then told me about her friend that just gave birth at this hospital and said she loved her doctor. She sent me the link to their website and I saw they had OBs as well as certified nurse-midwives in their practice. (Now I know that when I first heard the term "midwife" my first thought was someone giving birth in a barn! Haha! But the more I've read up on it, I've learned that these midwives do everything an OB can do except perform C-sections. Since they don't perform surgeries, they are more likely to have more experience with natural births and really encourage them.) So I set up an appointment with one of the midwives, Terry, and I was really impressed with how she explained everything and really took her time to answer all my questions. Jorge really liked her too! She had plenty of experience with natural births and was very accomodating to all of my requests for my birth. She was above and beyond any of the others we interviewed, and even at the nurses at the hospital raved about her! So after careful consideration, Jorge and I decided to go with her. Changing care practicioners at 31 weeks was a huge decision, but Jorge and I are sure this is what is best for us and our baby. We feel much more at ease with Terry, she really listens to what we have to say and communicates our options with us, and that is very important. I really feel like I'm more than a number and that she really cares.

Last week I made it official. I called my old OB and transferred my medical records to the new midwife and tomorrow Jorge and I have our first appointment. So excited!!! Looking forward to telling you how it goes!

There's so much more that I could go into regarding the Bradley Method, but I know I won't do it justice. If you'd like more information on the it, check out this link: www.BradleyBirth.com.

If you're interested in taking the Bradley Class in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the classes are offered here: www.ourbeautifulbirth.com.

As I mentioned, I compiled a bunch of questions to ask at Hospital Tours, Birth Center Tours, OBGYN/Midwife Interviews, as well as Doula Interviews. You can download them by clicking on the links. I also put together my Birth Plan, in case you'd like to take a look. I did a ton of research putting these together. Hope they are useful for you!

4-Month Doctor Appointment

16 weeks, 4 days pregnant

This morning we had our monthly doctor's appointment. To our surprise, the doctor let us hear the heartbeat again! We weren't expecting it and it was so amazing to hear it... it's the most beautiful sound in the world! The beat was strong and loud. She had no problem finding it. As soon as she put the wand on my belly the heartbeat came right up, she didn't even have to look for it! Apparently, we'll be hearing it every appointment from now on so we'll definitely have something to look forward to!

The best part of the appointment though was scheduling our "BIG ultrasound" where we find out the sex of the baby! I originally thought it would be at our next appointment in 4 weeks... luckily, we won't have to wait that long -- the ultrasound will be in 2 WEEKS on August 10th!!!!!!!!!! We are so incredibly excited!!!! We're thrilled to welcome whatever it maybe... a little mini-Jorge would be sooo sweet in his little 49ers themed onsies! And a little girl to play dress-up with would be adorable -- no doubt she'd be wearing the 49ers onsies as well, haha! Oh, we can't wait to find out!!!!

So what do you think it'll be? Team blue or team pink?? Take the poll located on the top right hand corner and let me know what you think! :)
        
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Second Prenatal Appointment

8 weeks, 4 days pregnant

This morning I had my second prenatal appointment. I was so glad Jorge went with me. He really wants to be involved, I love that! It was a very quick and uneventful appointment. They took my blood pressure and wieghed me (still 111 lbs.) and then Dr. A just met with us and talked to us about eating smaller meals and getting a bit of exercise, at least 15 minutes a day. Since I've been sick, I haven't had a lot of energy lately, but 15 minutes sounds like something I could manage. She also told us that according to the ultrasound, the dating has changed slightly. I thought I was 9 weeks 1 day today, and I'm actually 8.5 weeks. My new due date is January 7th.

At our next appointment on June 29th we should hear a heartbeat! I can't wait!! Knowing that we have that coming up makes the nausea more bearable!

First Prenatal Appointment

5 weeks, 6 days pregnant

I had my first prenatal appointment today. Jorge is in NY for work until Saturday, but we had agreed that it was best to have the appointment sooner than later. Besides, there wouldn't be an ultrasound so we thought it was ok he wouldn't be there. I was a bit nervous though, so I asked my mom and Cindy (ok, they volunteered!) to come with me. Cindy brought her camera and took some pictures.

The appointment went well. I really love my doctor. She was very patient with all my questions and is so incredibly nice! I'm really happy with her. I thought there would be some kind of blood test or something to confirm the pregnancy, but there wasn't. It was a routine exam and then I asked my questions. She gave me an estimated due date of January 5th, 2010 (3 days after my birthday!) and she estimated that I'm about 5 and a half weeks along. I should be seeing her every month from now until I'm 28 weeks, when I'll start seeing her every two weeks. Then after 32 weeks, I'll see her once a week.

My next appointment is June 1st, where hopefully we'll have our first ultrasound!!