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10 Must Haves To Make The Newborn Stage Even Better

10 Must Haves To Make The Newborn Stage Even Better

newborn, baby, feet

I’m by no means a baby expert but as a mom of three kids, I felt compelled to share my newborn must-haves. I wanted to take this opportunity to share the products that worked best for us with making the newborn phase a little easier. 

Having had three babies, I’ve had a lot of suggestions thrown at me about what I needed each time. I’ve also done research, read many “newborns must-have” blogs and looked at a lot of vlogs.

I’ve used the same or similar products for all my babies and for each I’ve found something that worked for one that didn’t work for the others. For instance, with my first two, they loved being swaddled with their arms down and used the same type of swaddle. However, my third did not like it one bit and I found the most ingenious swaddle.

10 Newborn Products New Moms Must-Have

10 newborn essentials every new mom must have to make the newborn stage easier and more enjoyable

This isn’t a necessities list – so you won’t see things like pampers, wipes or vaseline. It’s a list of my essential recommendations to make the newborn stage of life more enjoyable for baby and parents. Let’s dive in!

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets

Hands down, these are the absolute best blankets ever! These are made from muslin material and are so soft and breathable. The super adorable prints are a cute added bonus.

One of the best things about these swaddles is that they are multipurpose and can be used as a blanket (from newborn to toddler), swaddle, nursing cover and stroller cover – just to mention a few.

These swaddle blankets are incredibly durable. I got these for each baby and they use it daily – my eldest is six years old and these blankets are still incredibly soft and have held up really well. 

Aden & Anais Washcloths

These washcloths have similar features for the Aden & Anais blankets. They are so absorbent, soft and versatile.

These were my go-to for breastfeeding and bath time. They’re sized just right – not too big and not too small.

Just as with the swaddle blankets, six years later and we’re still using them – a testament to its quality, durability, and washability.

Munchkin Clean Cradle Tub

This bathtub was a super exciting find for me. With my sons, I used the more traditional bath tubs and I found it incredibly difficult to handle them as newborns, in the bath on my own. Bath time was filled with anxiety and I dreaded it. I usually preferred to wait for my husband to get home to bathe them.

When I was pregnant with my daughter (third baby) I was searching for an easier product and came across this Munchkin Tub. There was another brand that was similar and actually more popular but what sold me on this one was the water outlet at the front.

I placed it on my countertop and baby bath time was so easy compared with my boys. I no longer dreaded bath time and had no anxiety!

The bathtub is made with soft, non slip material which keeps baby safe and comfortable for bath time. My daughter never fussed and really enjoyed bath time. She actually used to cry when it was over!

Clean up and storage was also a breeze with this tub. It’s easy to clean and dries really quickly.

Leachco Cuddle-U Basic Nursing Pillow

A good nursing pillow that is durable and comfortable for mom, dads, baby, and siblings! I used the same nursing pillow for all three kids and it was still in such good condition that I was able to donate it to a friend who just had her first baby.

I’ve tried other brands but this was the perfect size and thickness for me. 

This nursing pillow doubles as a baby lounger and to start baby with tummy time. As your baby grows you can also use the pillow as sit up support.

The one downfall is that it doesn’t come with a slipcover and must be spot cleaned. I was VERY fortunate not to have had an accident while using the pillow but with babies the probability of a messy accident is pretty high. I also mainly used the pillow as a nursing pillow and so I purchased a slip cover that fit really well.

Minky Nursing Pillow Cover 

Nurse in style and comfort with this Minky nursing pillow slip cover. It is made of the softest, most comfortable fabric that won’t irritate your baby’s sensitive newborn skin.

It’s also super easy to remove, wash and slip back on making maintenance quick and simple!

HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper

This bassinet is a c section mama’s dream! I didn’t have it with my first and it was the best purchase I made when I had my second. 

The features are amazing!

  • Easy height adjustment
  • 360 rotation 
  • Swivels – to bring baby closer to you or to gently move it away for you to get out of the bed.
  • Mesh material makes it easy to see baby and great ventilation
  • Front of the bassinet lowers for easier pick ups and put downs
  • Two very convenient storage pockets for baby necessities
  • Nightlight, vibrations, soothing sounds 

The downfall is the price considering the length of time the baby can use it – it’s recommended up to 5 months. However, if you expect to have more kids or can pass it on to your siblings for when they’re having kids, it’s a great investment. 

MyBaby Sound Spa| 6 soothing lullabies for newborns

We owned a few sound machines until we finally found “the one”. We tried a few projector and sound machine in one products and they were pretty bad buys. 

This machine was smaller than the ones we previously purchasesd, it was affordable, simple, robust and effective. It comes with 6 different sounds:

  • Heartbeat
  • White noise
  • Ocean
  • Summer night
  • Cradle
  • brook

There’s also a built-in auto timer that can be set for 15, 30 or 60 minutes. 

It can be used with a wall charger or 4 AA batteries, making it an easy choice on the go.

Love To Dream Swaddle UP

I found this swaddle when I was pregnant with my third baby but having used another swaddle successfully with my first two babies, I decided to hold off on buying it.

Within two months I realized it was the perfect choice for my daughter. Unlike her brothers who preferred their hands down when they were swaddled, she wanted her hands up and she was able to self soothe.

She went from waking up every hour to sleeping for four to five hours straight! She eventually slept for 8-10 hours straight at night in the swaddle. 

When she started rolling over from belly to back, I was pretty sad that we had to stop using it. We had a bit of an adjustment period – she reverted to five hours being her longest stretch of sleep but it honestly didn’t take too long for her to get back to sleeping eight hours plus at night. 

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘n Swing

This was a lifesaver when hubby went back to work and I was home alone and healing post c section.

The movement, sound, and incredibly soft material made for an ideal cozy environment for baby to nap or play.

The 16 soothing songs, hanging toys and the domed mirror entertained my newborn while I got a much-needed rest or grabbed a meal.

Baby Daybook Tracking app 

This was my best friend! Between recovering from giving birth, the lack of sleep and exhaustion from being a new mom, we forget! This app or any phone app is a must!

It helped me with sleep and eating patterns.

It also helped me when I wanted to start potty training my 7-month-old. 

There’s also a growth tracker to easily see your baby’s growth pattern & percentile.

10 newborn essentials every new mom must have to make the newborn stage easier and more enjoyable

Final Suggestions on Newborn Must Haves

Not every item will benefit every mom, family or baby in the same way. It’s a great idea to do as much research as you can before making your decisions. A great rule of thumb when buying a wishlist item is to ensure that you can either pass it down to future siblings or cousins or that you can sell it later on. 

Let me know what products you have used to get through the newborn phase easier. 

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How To Beat Breastfeeding Exhaustion

How To Beat Breastfeeding Exhaustion

How To Beat Breastfeeding Exhaustion

breastfeeding exhaustion

Breastfeeding exhaustion is brutal and sadly, overlooked!

Last night I had a dream that I was pregnant for the fourth time and I panicked! Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE babies – I’m always joking that I’d have a soccer team of kids if I could.

But, in my dream, seeing the positive pregnancy test, made me feel exhausted. I still vividly remember my exhaustion after my daughter was born.

I remember how tiring it was recovering post c section and not getting enough sleep. How tiring it was when I was awake and breastfeeding while everybody else got to sleep. 

Even when I started to get more sleep, I still felt tired primarily because of exhaustion caused by breastfeeding and pumping. There were days when my babies were going through growth spurts and it felt like all I did was nurse them. It felt like my existence was purely to feed my baby.

I read of other moms’ breastfeeding experiences and even my friends’ experiences who described breastfeeding to be magical, emotional, and special.

Yes, I felt all those too eventually (read my story here) but at first, I didn’t feel the bond and I was just.so.exhausted!

I really dislike feeling so lethargic so I set out to beat the breastfeeding exhaustion and regain some semblance of my normally energetic self. I made some much needed changes with my diet and self care routines and was able to feel pretty amazing.

In the end, I ended up loving and enjoying my breastfeeding experience with my daughter.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Why does breastfeeding make you so tired

If you just think of what breastfeeding is, it’s understandable that breastfeeding moms would feel tired. It’s hard work!

Of course, it’s invisible work and so you and your partner may not immediately think that it could have such a draining effect on your body.

Your body works overtime to make nutrients for your baby and so, breastfeeding requires more energy from you.

Breastfeeding also means that for the first few weeks at least, you’re on demand, around the clock. That alone is cause for extreme exhaustion.

And, as if breastfeeding one baby is not exhausting enough, when you have other kids, a job and a house to look after, it’s almost miraculous that moms are functioning at all. 

How much energy do you need while breastfeeding to Fight Exhaustion

According to Kellymom.com “Per Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (Riordan, 2004, p. 438), “The amount of energy needed by lactating mothers continues to be debated. The lactating mother need not maintain a markedly higher caloric intake than that maintained prior to pregnancy: in most cases, 400-500 calories in excess of that which is needed to maintain the mother’s body weight is sufficient.”

Why does breastfeeding make You sleepy

The hormones prolactin and oxytocin play important roles during and after pregnancy. 

NCIB (National Center for Biotechnology Information) breaks down their roles. For breastfeeding, “Prolactin and oxytocin are released in response to stimulation by the baby’s sucking at the breast. Prolactin is responsible for milk production, and oxytocin for milk letdown. However, these hormones are beneficial in other ways. Prolactin is sometimes called “the love hormone.” In animals, it is responsible for mothering behaviors. Oxytocin is responsible for the relaxed, sometimes sleepy, calm feelings that accompany milk letdown. Together, these two hormones keep mothers relaxed, calm, and ready to care for their babies (Uvnas-Moberg, 2003). In a very real sense, the birth of a baby is also the birth of a mother—the birth of a breastfeeding baby and mother.

This is gold for night time nursing. It definitely helps mom to drift off to sleep easier.

4 easy tips to Beat breastfeeding Exhaustion

Now on to the good stuff! How do we beat breastfeeding exhaustion and get back some MUCH NEEDED energy? And perhaps, more importantly, can this be done in a simple way? The very last thing a new mom needs at this point is more work or something extra to remember.

With this in mind, I listened to my body and did some light research. Thankfully, I was able to simplify things so that I didn’t add too much to my plate and I was able to fully benefit from following these 4 tips.

1. Exercise

Ahhhh, of course, this had to be a critical aspect of overcoming my breastfeeding fatigue! I have such an epic love-hate relationship with exercise. I know it’s so good for me but ahh man! sometimes I just want to curl up on the couch. But of course, when I pump myself up and get it done – I feel AH-MAZING.

You might be like me, and this is the very last thing you want to do right now. But, I promise you, it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself and by extension, for your family. Even in it’s simplest form, exercise will do your body and mind wonders.

Once you get clearance from your doctor, start with light exercises such as walking then work your way up. You will find that your energy levels improve and your body transformation will be an added benefit.

2. Drink more water

I cannot stress this enough (in fact, I think I will dedicate a post to the incredible benefits of water). Water is one of the most important requirements for all of us because of it’s hydrating and other health benefits. For breastfeeding moms, in particular, though, it’s super important as we need it for healthy milk production. 

Each time I started nursing, I remember feeling extremely hot and thirsty. All I wanted was ice cold water.

It honestly almost felt like my body was exaggerating and I was making up how I was feeling lol. That is, until it continued happening. Of course, there was a logical and scientific reason I got those feelings and I wasn’t making it up or crazy lol

Very Well Family explained it quite simply – “The release of oxytocin while you’re breastfeeding can raise your body temperature so you may feel hot while you’re nursing. It might also make you feel thirsty.” 

3. Maintain a well balanced diet

When you’re breastfeeding, it’s arguably even more important to prioritize eating a balanced well diet because there’s so much going on that it’s easy to prioritize a lot of other things.

You have to take in enough nutrients for two people – you and your baby. A diet that excludes all processed foods and one that is low in processed sugar, will ensure that you get a much-needed energy boost.

There are still food restrictions for breastfeeding moms and your health care provider can provide the necessary resources and guidelines for you.

4. Prioritize and practice Self Care

This was the hardest part for me. I tend to push myself past my limits and I always pay the price. I push so far that I eventually end up sick or just so tired that my body aches. Don’t do this.

Listen to your body, take breaks, and know that this isn’t selfish. Needing time off and asking for help also does not make you weak. This had become (and still is) my daily mantra.

Practicing self care has limitless benefits and even the busiest moms can find time to ensure they pamper and rejuvenate themselves.

In our case, we didn’t have much of a support system other than each other and so I kept pushing myself because I knew if I didn’t do it then it would all fall on my husband.

It was counterproductive though, because if I ended up getting sick then it would still have fallen on him! So in essence, my approach made no sense.

Instead, we started checking in with one another more and trying to find ways of supporting one another.

My best advice is to be gentle with yourself. 

Take away 

Being aware and realistic with your personal circumstances and the level of your exhaustion is key to overcoming or reducing it.

I made the mistake of going down the rabbit hole of comparing my circumstances and experiences with other moms and all it got me was frustrated and depressed.

It was easier for me to feel like there was something wrong with me and I was a bad mom for not loving it and bonding with my kids in the exact same way I had read. I felt like a slave to breastfeeding and still, I pushed myself more when I should have slowed down. But, I did what I felt was best for my babies and I truly have no regrets because that was my main intention.

So, for moms who are new to breastfeeding – I want you to know that it can be very EXHAUSTING. But! It’s for a time and it really is one of the best experiences. Using the tips in this post will definitely help you regain some energy so that you feel less lethargic. 

One day your baby will stop breastfeeding and maybe you’ll miss it, maybe you won’t. I didn’t miss it with my first two babies, but I think I’ll miss it with my daughter. I was able to form a bond with her while breastfeeding that I wasn’t able to with my other kids because, with her, I prioritized reducing my oversupply of breastmilk and overcoming breastfeeding exhaustion. 

At the end of it all, once you do what is best for you and your baby, that’s all that matters.

I’d love to hear your breastfeeding experience in the comments below.

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Breastfeeding & Pumping Essentials To Make Newborn Life Easier

9 Breastfeeding and Pumping Essentials To Make Mom Life Easier

9 Breastfeeding and pumping Essentials To Make Mom life Easier

breastfeeding, newborn, baby

As a first time mom, I found myself completely unprepared for breastfeeding and to a larger extent for pumping.

I had spent so much time and energy on trying to conceive that once I was pregnant, I focused on every moment of my pregnancy that I never bothered to educate myself on breastfeeding or pumping. BIG mistake! The only knowledge I had was that “breast is best” for both baby and mama.

At the hospital, when I breastfed my first born, it felt very natural and I had no issues. I don’t know if it was the adrenaline or the pain meds, or maybe a combination, but it felt like a walk in the park.

Unfortunately, things were different when I got home. All I felt was pain in both breasts. It was unreal, excruciating, and uncomfortable.

From the painful latch, to engorgement, to oversupply, plugged ducts and mastitis, I felt so overwhelmed with pain.

The only thing that kept me going was seeing how content my baby boy was when he was nursing. I held on to that and persisted.

Essentials to Make Breastfeeding & Pumping Easier 

9 essential breastfeeding and pumping must haves

Thankfully, as time went by, I researched and found the best products to make nursing and pumping so much easier!  

There’s little in this world that can compare with bonding with your baby while nursing.

My advice to any nursing or pumping mom is to ensure that you give yourself the best chance to bond easily with your newborn and baby by having the right products.

These 9 breastfeeding and pumping esssentials made nursing and pumping so much easier and more enjoyable for my babies and for me .

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Medela breast pump

I used a few breast pumps with my first son and nothing was better than the Medela breast pump. I never looked back and never felt like I needed to look for another pump. It was the most efficient and most comfortable. The flange options are amazing as most of the other pumps weren’t able to fit me as well and it made pumping more painful and less efficient (I actually got less milk – which meant that my breasts weren’t being drained which it needed to be as I had an issue with mastitis.)

The Medela pump was hands down! I used it to pump for all three kids, including when I went back to work. Because it’s so quiet and efficient, pumping at work was not a hassale at all. I was able to pump enough milk to last them throughout their first year.

It’s on the pricer side but it’s 100% worth it.

Included:

  • Built-in breast pump (1)
  • Portable battery pack (1)
  • Removable cooler bag (1)
  • Contoured ice pack (1)
  • Four 5-oz. 150 mL breast milk bottles with lids
  • 1 Double pumping breast pump kit includes: 1 set of PersonalFit Breast Shields 24mm, 2 breast shield connectors, 2 valves and membranes, 1 set of tubing
  • 1 Power Adaptor dual-voltage 110/240V

Lansinoh Nipple Cream

This nipple cream is gold for me. Initially, I used it only when my nipples were dry. Someone mentioned to me that they used it at each pump session! This was such a game-changer! It was perfect for pumping because the cream is thick and protects the delicate skin. Admittedly, clean up was a little greasier but that’s such a small price to pay for the pumping experience once I started using it.

The best thing about this cream is that it is super safe for both mom and baby. It’s 100% natural, pure lanolin and hypoallergenic. It is also free from preservatives, parabens, fragrance or taste.

Another fantastic use is for eczema. Nothing else seemed to work for my daughter and because of the thick, creamy consistency I decided to try it on her and it worked SO WELL! I’ve been recommending it to others and they have found it to be helpful as well.

Lansinoh breastmilk bag

I’ve used quite a few breastmilk bags in my pumping life and there is absolutely no better bag.

These are easy to handle and lay the best for storage which is especially important if you’re building up a freezer stash.

They are also very easy to write on (the date and volume) – you’d think this isn’t an issue, but when you have a large stash, it can get confusing. Some other bags that I have used weren’t easy to write on and it just made things a little difficult.

Perhaps most importantly, these are the most durable bags I’ve ever used. Some of the other bags I have used tore during the freezing process and the last thing you want to do is to waste your baby’s breastmilk when thawing.

OXO bottle brush

I wouldn’t have thought that bottle brushes varied much but this bottle brush is far superior to others that I’ve used.

I especially love it because it cleans really well. The shape and size of the brush allows it to clean the bottom and at the top so easily.

It’s also durable and has it’s own convenient storage stand that is super easy to wash and maintain.

Lansinoh TheraPearl Breast Therapy Pack

Not all moms seem to need this but especially in the early days when the engorgement is out of this world, having these feels like a spa day for your breasts.

TheraPearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy gel packs provide therapeutic relief for common breastfeeding challenges. Cold therapy helps relieve engorgement while hot therapy encourages milk let-down and helps relieve plugged ducts & mastitis.

TheraPearl Therapy Packs can also be used warm right before pumping to encourage milk let-down and reduce time spent pumping.

Leachco Cuddle-U Basic Nursing Pillow

I know there are moms who like to and perhaps even prefer using a regular pillow. But this nursing pillow has held up really well through 4 babies! It’s soft yet sturdy, multipurpose for baby and most of all it’s extremely comfortable for baby, mom AND dad.  

This nursing pillow doubles as a baby lounger with a seat wrap to keep baby safe. It’s also ideal to use for tummy time and support when sitting up.

Water bottle

Of course, any water bottle would choose would be great. I personally didn’t use this bottle but I found it while browsing and fell in love with it. Not only is the message on the bottle so inspiring, but it also features hourly markings to keep you going. It’s made of durable, eco-friendly Tritan and is 100% BPA-Free. As an added bonus, this bottle is stain and odor resistant.

Rainbow Light® Prenatal One Non-GMO Project Verified Multivitamin Plus Superfoods & Probiotics 

Definitely consult your doctor for recommendations before using a pre or post natal vitamin.

I try my best to eat well when I’m pregnant and breastfeeding but I’m pretty sure I have many off days. To ensure that baby and I have the best chance of getting all the nutrients we need, I have taken prenatal and breastfeeding vitamins.

The Rainbow Light is my favorite as I found it was the gentlest on my system. These prenatal multivitamins contain a digestive support blend and plant-sourced enzymes and are gentle enough to be taken on an empty stomach.

Back hot/cold gel pad

Sitting to breastfeed as much as a baby needs can be brutal on your back. Similar to the breast pads, these gel pads can be applied both hot and cold and helps to ease your tired back.

The TheraPAC Pad as an adjustable strap that makes it super easy to use while breastfeeding and pumping.

It can also conveniently be used on other parts of your body – knee, arms, hips, legs – to name a few!

Wrapping It Up 

These breastfeeding and pumping essentials have proven to be invaluable must haves for all my babies. They’ve all played an instrumental part in my journey to loving breastfeeding and pumping. What are your must-haves to have a better breastfeeding and pumping experience?

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early potty training tips

How We Started Early Potty Training at 7 Months Old

How We Started Early Potty Training At 7 Months Old!

how to start early potty training

Early potty training can be a difficult process, but with the right techniques, it can be done early.

As parents, we are always looking for ways to make our children happy and successful. One way to do this is through early potty training.

At 7 months old, we started potty training our daughter. We were really pleased with the progress she was making and how easily she was able to learn.

In this post, I’m sharing some of the tips we used to help her succeed with using the potty from 7 months old.

So, if you are looking to potty train your bay quickly and easily, start by following the early potty training tips outlined in this post.

But, before we begin, it’s important to remember that every child develops at their own pace and there is no one right way to start potty training.

Affiliate disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Why We Decided To Try Early Potty Training

I knew I didn’t want to have to change poopy diapers all the way until my daughter was two or three years old.

That’s how long it took with our sons – they both wee’d in the potty consistently by two years but both took a while before being comfortable to poop in the toilet.

We followed their daycare’s lead and were pretty relaxed with potty training both.

My husband was prime on changing them and so I didn’t have to always deal with poop at that age.

However, because I became a stay at home mom with my daughter, I would have to change each poopie pamper. Breastmilk poop I can deal with. But once she started solids? Ugh! This didn’t entice me one bit. 

So I set out to research how I could train her to poop in the toilet and how I could learn her poop signs to know when to carry her to the toilet from a young age.

I thought that if I could get her accustomed to the toilet and into a routine then it may at least make pooping in the toilet easier for her and by extension, me!

Through my research, I came across infant potty training a.k.a elimination communication a.k.a. Not for me.

Basically, you leave your baby diaper free to learn her cues and train her. The approach has a lot of merit but it’s time-consuming and messy, at least in the beginning. I didn’t think that it would fit into our super busy life.

Instead, because I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to achieve, I tried it on my own and thankfully, it has been pretty successful so far – especially with the poops.

how we started potty training at 7 months old

When my daughter was 6 ½ months old, I bought a potty seat and started putting her on the toilet first thing in the morning and before last pamper change at night.

I decided to go with this potty seat because I wanted her to get accustomed to the toilet vs a potty chair.

During this period, she still wore pampers during the day and at night.

We got into a good morning and before bath routine very quickly (I really thought it would have taken longer) and by 7 months she pooped and weed in the toilet!

I was able to learn her cues (poop more than wee) pretty easily while she was breastfeeding, she was very comfortable on the toilet and she eliminated in the toilet most of the time.

Victories all round 🙂

Benefits of early potty training

By starting potty training early, we were able to see these amazing benefits:

  • she got accustomed to the toilet – both boys would wee but were afraid to poop in the toilet 
  • she gained confidence with eliminating in the toilet
  • we learned her elimination signals and cues  
  • she eventually wanted to poop in the potty (as opposed to her diaper)
  • she was accustomed to not wanting to feel poop in pamper 
  • less poop pampers for you to change 

The tricky aspects of potty training at this age

Embarking on potty training at any age proves to have its own set of challenges. These were ours in a nutshell:

  • Learning elimination signals could be tricky 
  • Patterns are less established (all of my babies went days between pooping, which is normal)
  • Time-consuming 
  • Longer time frame from now till she can undress etc 

Elimination signs from baby

A baby’s elimination signs can provide clues about when the child is ready to use the potty.

These were the elimination signs our daughter consistently used when breastfeeding and when she started solids:

  • Squirm
  • Make noises
  • Make faces
  • Change in breathing pattern 
  • Pause while breastfeeding / current activity

Our Successful Early Potty Training Approach

how to potty train at 7 months

At 6 ½ months to 8 months, our daughter was successfully pooping 90% of the time in the toilet.

She typically wanted to go while breastfeeding and I learned her cues pretty quickly.

The 10% that she did in her pamper was due to the fact that I had not yet learned her elimination cues once she wasn’t breastfeeding. 

Early Potty routine we followed:

  • Potty first thing in the morning. We took off the diaper and sat for just a few minutes on the potty with a book. The purpose here was to get her accustomed to the toilet. 
  • I tried to learn her elimination signs. While the elimination communication methods weren’t for me in its entirety, learning her signals were extremely important and beneficial.
  • Being consistent with putting her on the potty. If she started pooping in the pamper, I still took her to the toilet and let her finish or if she was already done, I cleaned her up there first.
  • We let her see us on the toilet. She was especially interested when she saw the boys on the toilet. We even included her by letting her give toilet paper to them or to us. 
  • Potty before bath / last night time change
  • Celebrate every time she used the potty

 Early Potty Training – What didn’t work

At 7 months, when she wanted to poop when not breastfeeding, it was challenging to read her cues.

Apart from stinky poops (which didn’t always prelude a bowel movement), I honestly didn’t notice any other cues – for instance, there was no fussing prior to bowel movement. 

Once she started solids, we put her on the potty after each meal and so we didn’t give ourselves a chance to fully understand her cues at this stage.

Things That Made Early Potty Training Successful

By consistently putting her on the potty, she got accustomed and comfortable with the toilet.

There was never a time (and still isn’t a time) when she didn’t enjoy potty time and she successfully pooped every time she needed to.

Though a bit difficult, continuously learning her elimination cues make the process much easier.

Also, letting her see us use the toilet, books and videos help her feel more comfortable.

Because we’ve chosen to start potty training her at an early age, it’s an ongoing and evolving process but teaching her a good routine has proved to be really successful so far.

Even though we’ve chosen a longer road with this (as opposed to the 3-day potty training approach later on), we’ve really found it to be very manageable.

I’d love to hear from you guys. Have you tried early potty training? If so, what tips do you have?

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PCOS Infertility Success – The Best tips To Get Pregnant

How I Got Pregnant With PCOS 3 Times

PCOS Fertility Success Stories from Curly Bun Mom

Affiliate disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

PCOS affects fertility in many women today but it’s treatable and conception is definitely a possibility. I’ve had three PCOS miracles to prove this.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems that may affect their overall health and appearance. PCOS is also a common and treatable cause of infertility.

womenshealth.gov

When I was diagnosed with PCOS at 18 years old, the doctors I visited didn’t seem to be too informed and lacked experience with it. Every doctor prescribed birth control pills and said I had a mild case of PCOS as I didn’t have any of the other symptoms apart from the irregular cycle and polycystic ovaries. 

I took birth control for a short time as I hated the side effects and the PCOS symptoms I experienced really didn’t bother me that much. 

Trying to conceive

When my husband and I decided to expand our family, we expected that it would happen pretty quickly (I had “mild” PCOS, after all). However, what we expected to be a fun and exciting experience turned into an incredibly difficult emotional rollercoaster. 

In retrospect, I had no idea the impact that PCOS had on fertility. It made trying to conceive very difficult as tracking an irregular period is almost impossible. 

Clomid & Metformin

After a year of opks (ovulation predictor kits) and timing intercourse, it was time to get help from my ob-gyn. My scans showed that both ovaries were polycystic but again, it was mild. Our obgyn prescribed Clomid and Metformin. I experienced less than desirable side effects with both – I was nauseous and had diarrhea with metformin and experienced dryness with Clomid. But I stuck with them and we continued trying to conceive. 

For the first time, my opks were positive which helped in pinpointing my peak fertile window. This gave us so much hope but, still, months went by with no positive pregnancy test.

We went back to our ob-gyn and he prescribed an increased dosage in both medications. Additional tests (which included an HSG test), revealed that the issue was that my eggs were not maturing. 

Infertility took over my life

We were deflated, depressed and fed up. 

Personally, what I once gave very little thought to seemed to take over my life. It was now all I could think about…obsess about. I found myself researching tirelessly, trying to seek comfort in others’ success stories and trying to see what miraculously worked for them. I cried, worried and unfairly beat myself up so much.

Being unable to conceive left me feeling like the biggest failure. It didn’t help that everyone around me seemed to be getting pregnant without even trying. 

I felt so alone because nobody I knew personally was going through these difficulties and even though my husband was supportive, I know he didn’t fully understand what I was feeling. 

I couldn’t bear to hear another piece of useless advice like “don’t worry, it will happen when you stop thinking about it”, “don’t worry, it will happen when you least expect it”, I could go on but chances are if you’re reading this you know exactly what I’m referring to here. And guess what, NONE of that advice helped me feel better or helped me to conceive. 

Honestly, there is nothing else you should tell someone or a couple going through fertility struggles other than, “I’m here for you” and then actually be there for them. If you can’t do that, just say nothing! 

We persisted and prayed – that’s what worked

PCOS fertility issues and our relationship

Infertility struggles are emotionally draining and it wreaked havoc on our relationship. We were both trying to be as understanding and sensitive as possible to one another. But despite our best efforts, the journey still negatively affected our marriage. 

At times, I didn’t think of him and how he was feeling. I was so wrapped up in my inability to get pregnant and my feelings about it. I felt like less of a woman and a huge disappointment to him. 

Neither of us wanted to talk about these things with one another at the risk of sounding insensitive and that caused quite a bit of friction. It’s incredibly important to support one another through infertility and seek help when it’s too much for you to handle.

Thankfully, through open and constant communication, we have been able to repair the damage and thankfully, we’re stronger now, having gone through those struggles. 

Curly Bun Mom | Overcoming PCOS infertility and getting pregnant

First Miracle

When it was evident that the Clomid and Metformin weren’t working, we were referred to a fertility specialist. More scans and tests showed that I was Clomid resistant and I was prescribed Femara.

It felt like such a relief to learn the reason we weren’t conceiving and with this new prescription, feelings of hope revisited us. 

Femara was gentler on my body and most importantly, we conceived on our first month! 

Second Miracle

I read of so many instances where women with PCOS were “healed” after their first child. I was certain that I would be one of those women, for three reasons. 

Firstly, my diagnosis was “mild” PCOS so I believed I had it easier than what my doctors considered to be full-blown PCOS. 

Secondly, my postpartum scan showed that my ovaries were relatively clear. 

And thirdly, my cycle was now regular. 

However, my husband and I struggled yet again to conceive our second baby. We sought help earlier this time and again prescribed Femara. Thankfully, after the first month on Femara, we were pregnant with our second bundle of joy!

Third Surprise Miracle

While pregnant with our second baby, I came across some research that showed a link between PCOS and Diabetes type 2 and other health issues associated with PCOS. At first, this didn’t bother me as I knew my PCOS was “mild”. But I kept researching as it was intriguing. 

Through my research, I found out about lean (thin) PCOS. I realized that my ob-gyn and fertility specialist treated me generally – but! what works for one PCOS-er doesn’t work for all. 

I learned that snacking and simple carbohydrates were my downfall and tried to reduce and replace them with much healthier choices. When you’ve struggled most of your life to try to gain weight, you really don’t think of the benefits a healthy diet and exercise routine can have on you. I thought gaining weight was so important that it didn’t matter what I ate to put on the weight. 

I didn’t put much effort into maintaining an exercise routine as I felt I didn’t need it because I was slim. After my first baby, I had a huge diastasis recti which motivated me to exercise. Unfortunately, I slacked off when I became despondent about my tummy (more on that in a future post). 

Research, however, helped me to understand the important benefits derived from exercise even as a thin cyster.

Sure enough, by adopting just five essential lifestyle habits, for the first time in my life, I had regular, ovulatory cycles on my own. 

Within a few months, baby number 3 was conceived naturally.

Tips to Conceive Naturally with PCOS

Now that I’ve been blessed with my three munchkins, I feel like I can look back with different eyes on our struggle and my situation and still, I don’t know what I would have done differently. Instead, I strive to use my PCOS fertility successes to be supportive of others and help them in any way that I can.

Infertility is one of the hardest things a woman can go through. While no two experiences are the same, we are able to use our experiences to help someone. If you would like to share your experience below or if you’d like to reach out for support, please leave us a comment below.

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Reduce breastmilk oversupply and stop pumping

Reduce Breastmilk Oversupply and Stop Pumping

tips to reduce breastmilk oversupply

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I struggled with breastfeeding with my first baby– not with being unable to nurse but with breastmilk oversupply. I felt guilty for struggling because I knew so many moms who have struggled on the other side of breastfeeding – those with low supply or who have been unable to breastfeed for some reason. I felt as though it was my duty to breastfeed on demand (tirelessly) in addition to pumping twice, sometimes three times a day in order to keep plugged ducts and mastitis away. It seemed like I was taking care of my breasts more than being able to enjoy feeding my baby. 

By the time I had my third baby, I thought that I’d be a pro at breastfeeding and pumping but it was honestly more overwhelming for me as I had two other kids. The job of pumping and trying to prevent mastitis was not something I wanted to concentrate on. I needed to find a way to not only enjoy breastfeeding but to enjoying my kids and being a mom.

Through research, I found some information on how to reduce supply and initially I was afraid that I would completely mess up and reduce too much. However, I had a healthy reserve of pumped milk and that gave me the confidence to give it a try. Armed with my intuition and my plan, I embarked on a journey that I was skeptical about, to say the least. 

It was painful and difficult, but after a few plugged ducts I was very successful and have absolutely no regrets – everyone is happier for it. 

First of all, What Is Breastmilk Oversupply?

A mother’s milk supply usually adjusts to her baby’s needs after about 6 weeks of breastfeeding. Some mothers continue to make more milk than the baby requires, and this is known as ‘oversupply’.

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/oversupply

 

How To Tell If You Have An Oversupply Of Breastmilk

If you suspect you have an oversupply but you are not sure, please consult your doctor or lactation consultant. Do not self diagnose – this can lead to the wrong outcome for you.

In my case – all my babies were satisfied and produced sufficient wet nappies yet I was still able to (and needed to) consistently pump more than a few ounces at a pumping session (typically about 5-6 ounces). Baby and I also experienced almost all the signs outlined below:

Signs for mom

  • VERY painful, forceful letdown
  • VERY painful latching
  • May leak a lot and often (I was not a leaker)
  • Frequent engorgement 
  • Frequent plugged ducts
  • Higher risk of mastitis 
  • Uncomfortable or painful to sleep and do daily activities
  • Requires more pumping sessions to provide relief

Signs for baby

  • Baby chokes due to increased force of let down
  • May fuss during feed out of frustration due to high flow
  • Poop may be green and frothy (due to getting a high amount of foremilk) – foremilk is less fatty while hindmilk contains more fat and is more satisfying – block feeding can help with this issue
  • Spits up often
  • Quick weight gain

How I Reduced My Breastmilk Oversupply 

My approach to reducing supply and eliminating the need to pump was, therefore, a gradual one. I was mindful that I did not want to wean or “dry up” my milk. 

Ensure you have all that you need

  • Support from hubby, friend, and/or family
  • Water
  • Lansinoh nipple cream – used only at pumping sessions 
  • Lansinoh TheraPearl 3 in 1 Breast Therapy Pack
  • Good quality breast pump – I used the Medela pump
  • Pain medication (consult your doctor)
Reduce breastmilk oversupply and stop pumping

Oversupply is tricky – you need to relieve your breasts more often to provide relief and comfort. But by doing so, you’re signaling to your body to continue producing the amount of milk that it currently is (which in our case, is too much). Of course, that would suggest that you should simply stop pumping and your oversupply of milk will settle, but then the dangers of plugged ducts and mastitis come into play. 

These are the steps I took over the course of a month to reduce my oversupply:

Reduce pumping time gradually

My breasts were so uncomfortable overnight and painful the next morning that I wanted to ensure my breasts were as empty as possible after my nighttime pumping session. But by pumping longer, I actually conditioned my body to keep producing too much milk. To rectify this, every week I reduced the length of my pumping sessions. I started off with 10 mins, reduced to 6 mins then to just long enough to relieve my breasts.

Reduce pumping sessions

Once I successfully reduced the pumping time to just enough to relieve my breasts, I eliminated my morning pump session. I’ll be honest – this was incredibly painful and uncomfortable. Just to raise my arms hurt and to lift my baby hurt. It didn’t last too long, though, and soon my body realized it didn’t need to keep producing so much.

Sleeping positions

This was probably one of the most valuable things I learned through this process. The way we sleep can cause a duct to become blocked. I LOVE to sleep on my tummy and I missed it so much when I was pregnant that once my breasts were “empty” after my night pump session, I took the opportunity to fall asleep in this less than optimal position. I no longer sleep on my tummy and when I sleep on my side, I support my breast with a blanket.

Use heat and cold compresses

I used heat pads or warm rags and massaged my breasts for a couple of minutes just before I nursed and before my pump session. Heat ensured that the milk flowed. Taking a warm shower is another option to provide much-needed relief.

Applying cold compresses to my breasts between breastfeeding and pumping sessions was extremely helpful in reducing swelling and providing relief from engorgement.

Pain medication

I dislike medications, but when the pain was unbearable I took pain medication (approved by my doctor). This eased my pain and the process tremendously. 

Stay hydrated

Sufficient water intake typically helps with hydration and overall health. Throughout the day, I ensured that I had my water bottle prepped and ready for me. I typically have water when breastfeeding, around meal times and whenever I feel thirsty. 

Support system & Rest

During the process, holding my baby proved to be extremely painful and difficult for me so once my husband was home, he held our daughter. During the day, I used my stroller and car seat combo in the house to move around with her. 

It’s best if you can enlist help and support from family and friends so that you are able to concentrate almost solely on this process. It wasn’t an option for me so I decided to cut out any chores for the period. This ensured that I rested more, especially when I was in pain and hubby was on standby in case I needed some extra support. Yes, the house was a disaster lol, but it totally paid off in the end.  

Wear loose clothing

When my breasts were engorged, I wanted nothing at all to touch them. Braless, loose tops/dresses and even going topless provided relief. During the time, it’s best to avoid tight clothes or bras.

Take Away 

Since reducing my breastmilk oversupply both baby and I benefitted: 

Me:

  • I’ve had no engorgement or painful breasts
  • I’ve enjoyed breastfeeding SO much more
  • I honestly feel a bigger bond with my baby

Baby:

  • Enjoys breastfeeding more (she used to choke quite a bit)
  • Her poop is no longer like diarrhea (and green) – it’s always yellow now 
  • She still produces sufficient wet diapers
  • She’s gaining weight according to her percentile

If this has helped you please share with other moms who may be going through it and with soon to be moms! 

I’d also love to hear about your experiences and how you dealt with your oversupply? Leave a comment or any questions you may have below.

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