8 Months Old

Zane is 8 months old now! He also has 6 teeth now! His two top front teeth came in, and then his incisors made their way immediately after. When he was cranky from all the pain, I would give him hylands tablets, tylenol, and I nursed, nursed, nursed! Nursing on demand around the clock helped him so much. I was so worried about him biting me because he would clench his jaw and grind his teeth in discomfort, but somehow, he miraculously knew not to bite me; amazing! He has a gap between his top front teeth, and I think it's just the cutest thing ever!
As I've mentioned plenty of times, I exclusively breastfeed Zane. I didn't really know when to start giving Zane baby food, but a part of me wanted to put it off for a while, selfishly because I still want the strong nursing bond that we share. I read and was told from fellow mothers that the right time to introduce baby food id generally when the baby can sit up on his/her own, unassisted, has mastered their pincer skills, and expresses an interest in watching your food. When Zane exhibited all of these things, I reluctantly knew it was time to try. I started off with rice cereal mixed with my breast milk, but Zane would close his mouth tightly each time I brought the spoon to his mouth. Later, I tried sweet potatoes, and that went better. I will keep trying until he falls in love with food, but I still want to breastfeed through his first birthday.

7 months Old

Zane is 7 months old! Now that he sits up on his own, he feels like such a big kid, and loves it! He plays with his year old cousin everyday and she calls him 'baby'. He started swim lessons this month, and so far, he does not like it. Even though his lessons are only 15 minutes long, it's painful to see him look so unhappy. I just keep reminding myself that he won't remember any of this. Zane's first two bottom teeth are coming in, and he has been such a brave little boy through the teething process. Zane is loving all his chew toys, but especially when I just wet a wash rag and tie it into a knot. I can't lie; I'm terrified of Zane using me as a chew toy when he nurses, but so far so good.
I didn't mention this in my 6 month post, but it is definitely worth mentioning that my hair has completely stopped falling out, and is all growing back. I may have a ton of wild baby hair, but I will take that any day over bald spots. Just before the 6 month mark, I grew incredibly impatient with my hair constantly getting tangled due to the hair fallout, and I told my mother I was going to cut my hair to my shoulder. I had given up on my hair, but my mother ran out and brought me hair detangler and promised my hair would go back to normal, and as soon as Zane turned 6 months old, my hair really was back to normal. I hope this gives hope to my postpartum mamas who are dealing with the awful postpartum hair loss issues. It really does get better and I'm living proof!

6 Months Old

 

Zane is now half a year old! It is amazing that time has flown by, and it's hard to remember life before he entered it. I have already become that mother who obsessively photographs every breath he takes, but how could I not? Babies change so much in their first year of life, and I feel compelled to chronicle every little detail about him. It's truly refreshing to see the world through the eyes of such a young soul; so much joy in every new discovery. As we get older, we tend to get jaded, and sometimes our true talents and gifts can get suppressed. Our little ones, however, are fearless about the world. They will take a leap of faith, even if it's a literal leap off the bed and onto the floor, lol. Point being that they feel that they can achieve anything, and have such an innate joy for life. I will do all that I can to turn that spark into a flame, and encourage Zane to always be fearlessly himself, and to be proud to share his gifts with the world. He has already colored my world.

5 Months

Zane is 5 months old! His hair now stands straight up and he looks like a Teddy bear, which is fitting, because his middle name is Theodore, or as I like to call him, Teddy. He has to be the happiest baby I have ever encountered, because he has a permanent smile on his face, and lets out the cutest uncontrollable giggles. His giggles are so contagious that no one can keep a straight face around him. I am constantly pulling out my camera to record his beautifully blossoming personality. Every time I'm in deep conversation with someone, he starts talking just as seriously as I am, and he's truly as involved in the conversation as I am. It's the cutest thing ever! I can't wait for him to start really talking, and saying, 'Mama'! He is always bouncing on his feet and trying to stand up. He's still teething, but with help from the Hylands teething tablets, it all seems to be tolerable.
I have to say that the 5 month mark is probably my favorite, because he is so aware and happy, yet not mobile enough that I have to chase after him and grab things from his hands. I am definitely going to miss this phase!

4 Months

Each month unfolds new milestone discoveries that amaze me. This month is when Zane really began talking, and by talking, I mean nonstop! I'm convinced he's speaking some ancient language he's fluent in. He babbles so naturally, with such conviction and tons of expression. His babbles are music to my ears; I could listen all day long. He holds his head up perfectly now, so I can wear him in my ergobaby360 carrier easily. I've been taking him on nature walks and he loves to look around and observe the ducks and turtles swimming in the pond.

Three Months

As we entered the third month, something very exciting happened. Zane started giggling, and even laughing uncontrollably! He always giggles when I kiss him and it melts my heart every single time. We also took out first plane trip: from Los Angeles to New York. I nursed Zane during takeoff and landing and gave him Tylenol once we boarded the plane and he was an absolute angel! He sat on my lap the whole time and was so well behaved that people couldn't believe there was a 3 month old on the plane with them. We spent the holidays in NY so Zane could meet my sister and her kids and some of his fathers family. Zane loved spending time with his family, but after two weeks, we were ready to be home and back on our usual schedule. He was such a good trooper through all the traveling and they say the first few months are the best times to travel with your little one. Once they become toddlers, it gets more challenging.
Zane started teething for the first time, right around the 3 month mark, chewing on his hand, drooling and crying in pain. I've been giving him Hylands teething tablets, which seem to help.  I also got a bunch of teething toys for him to chew on, but I don't freeze them, because he hates anything cold. I've heard about the amazing effects of the amber teething necklace; that it reduces pain and eliminates drooling, so I went out and bought one. I placed the cute necklace on Zane and sat back to enjoy the magical effects, only to deem it as ineffective. Zane's drooling had not decreased in the slightest, and maybe even increased.  I kept the necklace on him for a few weeks, before removing it, and not noticing the slightest difference either way.

Postpartum Hair Loss

Right around the 4 month mark, I started to notice my first postpartum side effect: dramatic hair loss. This is very normal and usually occurs between 3 and 6 months postpartum, when your hair hibernates for a prolonged period of time, before making it's debut. I noticed it suddenly, when I brushed my hair and a handful of hair came out in my brush. My hair gets so unruly and knotted that I have to braid my hair or put it up in a bun to prevent my hair from turning into a huge rats nest, yikes! Every single time I brush my hair, hair falls out by the handful, so I don't brush my hair everyday anymore.
Unfortunately, when I wear my hair up in a bun, my hair loss is incredibly noticeable. My hair that frames my face has fallen out and highlights my receding hairline as shown in this photo below. I used a hair thinning powder and applied it to my hairline, and it has made a world of a difference! I feel confident wearing my hair up again, thanks to this amazing powder!
http://www.hsn.com/products/sca-thinning-hair-powder-kit/10063730

I am also taking Biotin vitamins, which I recommend!

In a few months, my hair will grow back, and I'm hearing that I'll have a ton of baby hair that sticks up. I'll gladly take that over having bald spots. Bring on the baby hair!

Zane is two months old

As we entered the second month, Zane was gradually beginning to realize that he was here to stay, and that wasn't a bad prospect. I was still dealing with major nipple pain from feeding my barracuda of a baby, but once I recovered from my mastitis (breast infection) the pain faded away. Zane slept for longer stretches through the night, and I when I was too tired to move him back into his co-sleeper, I'd keep him in bed with me. I noticed that he always slept longer when he was in bed with me, so he gradually skipped the co-sleeper altogether, and we have not looked back. The best part of the second month was getting to see his first smile! He had been smiling in his sleep from day one, but to see him smile on his own because he was actually happy was the best feeling in the world! The 8 week mark also meant I'd completed my c-section recovery (yay!) and could work out and no longer needed to wear a girdle.
Zane had his first job: modeling for Ergo Baby. this was pretty exciting. We brought Zane to the studio and he was placed in a swaddle and photographed, laying over a furry blanket. Zane did an amazing job at his photoshoot, and we are so proud of him! I'm still waiting on the photos and will post as soon as we get them!

One Month Postpartum

The first month was by far, the most challenging. Not only was I recovering from my c-section (ouch!) but also getting accustomed to caring for a newborn and the lack of sleep that accompanies parenthood. Night time was the most difficult, due in part to the fact that Zane had no concept of night time. There is a reason the first few months of life are referred to as the "4th trimester" and that is because Zane still thought he was in my tummy, or at least desperately wanted to be back in my tummy.  When I was pregnant, I ate pretty much all day long, and Zane wanted to maintain that eating schedule, nursing every hour, including night time feedings, and poopy diapers, which meant zero sleep for me. I had him sleeping in the co-sleeper, which is part of the Pack-N-Play (a must have!) right next to my bed. I knew early on that I wanted Zane to sleep in the same room as me, because I knew I would be nursing, and we'd eventually be co-sleeping. Zane was a great napper, sleeping from 2-4 hours during the day. Night time was another story: a big cycle of waking to feed & burp,  then diaper change, then feed and burp and rock to sleep, then poop and wake up, etc. It was a never ending cycle at night, and I became a full on zombie for the first few weeks. Eventually, Zane would sleep for longer periods during the night, which offered much relief. Every time I changed his diapers or clothes, he looked shocked and scared, realizing he was no longer in the comforts of his mama's warm belly. This first month was exhausting, but also amazing, getting to know my little one and fall deeper in love with every passing minute.

Pregnancy Weight Gain/Loss

Before I got pregnant, I had weighed 110 lbs. for years. I've always had a difficult time gaining weight, and 110 lbs. was my body's natural weight. I have always had a huge appetite, and my friends would refer to me as the 'bottomless pit'. During the first trimester of my pregnancy, I craved fruits, salads, and soups. I wanted nothing to do with meat, which was unusual. By month 5, I was up 15 lbs. I never had any specific cravings, except for peaches and nectarines, which I indulged in, daily. During my third trimester, I started craving sweets, which I was never into, pre-pregnancy. I didn't restrict myself, but I naturally like to eat on the healthy side, and by the time I gave birth, I weighed 140 lbs. Once I gave birth, I stayed in the hospital for 4 days, and upon returning home, I was pretty anxious to see how much weight I had lost. I was surprised to have just lost 10 lbs., but it actually made sense, because I had been pumped with fluids for 48 hours. As soon as my milk came in, the weight just melted away, and amazingly enough, my body has snapped back. Breastfeeding actually helps the uterus shrink back to it's original size as well. Since I had a cesarean delivery, I was not allowed to work out or lift anything heavier than my baby for 8 weeks. I will definitely be joining a gym as soon as I can start working out! I am also extremely fortunate to not have stretch marks or have lose, hanging skin, and I really believe that is just up to genetics. During my pregnancy, I applied organic coconut oil and Motherhood Maternity had sent me Mama Bee belly butter, which I loved.
I haven't applied anything since Zane was born though. As soon as I came home from the hospital, I began wearing a girdle, which I highly recommend for every mother's recovery. This was crucial to my recovery, helping my organs go back to their original locations, as well as lessening the pain every time I laughed, coughed or sneezed. I have not yet lost the full 30 lbs that I had gained, but I actually prefer my body now to my pre-pregnancy body. I feel like I finally have curves in all the right places now, and am in no rush to lose any more wait. Ladies, it takes 9 months to grow a baby and put on the weight, and it will take time to recover as well, so take your time!

The obstacle course, aka Breastfeeding

People may be surprised to hear that I was not at all scared of going into labor, however, I was petrified of the pain from breastfeeding. I was equally excited to share the breastfeeding experience with my baby; to provide him with the best nourishment, while bonding with him. When Zane was placed in my arms for the first time, I breastfed him right away. I believe it was the adrenaline from giving birth and finally having my baby in my arms that initially numbed me to the pain of breastfeeding. Zane never had a problem latching; he was a natural. In fact, he had such a strong suck that my poor nipples felt like they were getting destroyed every time he fed. Over the next few days, the pain grew stronger, and every time Zane would wake up for a feeding, I'd get major anxiety just from anticipation of the pain that ensued. I told my nurse, and she gave me nipple shields to use while my cracked & battered nipples healed. The shield was so helpful, maybe even a little too helpful, because I found myself completely dependent on the shield. I did some research online, and read that the nipple shield is meant for short term use, and that prolonged use can hinder the transition from the shield to the bare breast. After a week of nursing with the shield, I decided to brave it and stop using the shield. It has paid off, and I have not gone back to the shield.

My battle with Mastitis
One day, I noticed that I had a headache for the first time this year (I had not had one single headache throughout my entire pregnancy) so I took a long nap while Zane slept. Upon waking up, not only was my headache still in full effect, but my body felt incredibly weak and achy. Then, I felt cold, and then hot and sweaty, and I knew something was wrong. My right breast was red, and felt hard and swollen, and my sister told me my symptoms sounded like mastitis. I went to the hospital right away, and sure enough, it was confirmed that I had mastitis; an AWFUL breast infection, due to engorgement or plugged milk ducts. Since my doctor knew I was breastfeeding, she prescribed an antibiotic that is safe if passed down to Zane. The nurse gave me contradicting information, recommending that I supplement with formula for the 10 days of my medication. This concerned me, so I did my research, and also reached out to my local breastfeeding support group I'm a part of, and confirmed that it is safe to breastfeed on the antibiotics. Had I supplemented with formula for 10 days, I would risk severely disrupting the breastfeeding relationship I had already built with Zane, making it that much harder on us. It was suggested that I take a probiotic during my medication, to prevent Zane from the possibility of getting thrush; a yeast infection in the mouth. Since antibiotics kill the infected bacteria, it can also kill good bacteria, and thus, causing the overgrowth of candida (yeast), so a probiotic would counteract that, by promoting the growth of good bacteria. I started taking Florastor tablets, in addition to eating yogurt everyday. I took ibuprofen to manage the pain, and took steaming hot showers and massaged the affected area. Just before feedings, I applied hot compresses (Booby Tubes from Earth Mama Angel Baby are awesome!) and lanolin, keeping the nipple moist, so it can heal. I continued to nurse on both breasts like normal, and I noticed an improvement. It was recommended by many women who have had mastitis, to start taking lecithin granules daily, to prevent plugged milk ducts and mastitis. I just ordered non-GMO sunflower lecithin through amazon.com and cannot wait to start taking that.
Zane and I have come a long way on our breastfeeding journey, and I'm so thankful to be producing an abundance of milk for my little one who loves to eat around the clock.
Breastfeeding can be full of challenges, but the rewards outweigh the setbacks. I'm glad I never gave up. Breastfeeding has become such a special part of our relationship, not just physically, but emotionally as well. I can't see myself not breastfeeding him, and I would never want it any other way. I encourage anyone experiencing challenges with breastfeeding to educate themselves and to reach out to a lactation consultant or join a support group (La Leche League).

Zane's Birth Story

(Warning: it's very long, just like my labor!)

The week of my due date had arrived, and I had woken up Monday morning, a bit alarmed. When I looked in the mirror, it appeared that my 'dropped' belly had risen. It looked as though my baby was trying to climb back up and never leave. Over the next few days, my baby bump remained high, and with zero labor signs, I prepared myself for a late term birth. Then, Thursday rolled around, and I woke up to my very first contractions, starting at 7:45am. These contractions were about every 10 minutes, lasting for 30 seconds. My mother and I were taking care of my six month old niece, and went about our day. We took an afternoon walk to get lunch and browse a few shops, and it became increasingly difficult to walk through my contractions. When we got home, I lost my mucous plug (bloody show), and I got so excited that my labor was going to take place that day, so I took a shower to get ready to go to the hospital. I wanted to wait as long as possible before heading to the hospital, because I always heard stories of pregnant women being sent home because they were not really in labor. It was 5:15 pm, I wrapped myself in my towel and laid down for five minutes to work through my contractions, when suddenly, it felt as though a huge water balloon popped inside of me. My water had broken, and it gushed! I was so shocked I jumped up, grabbed my things, and my parents and I were off to the hospital within ten minutes. My water kept gushing on the car ride, and through check in at the hospital, as if I had a bunch of mini water balloons popping, one after another. I guess that's why I looked like I was carrying twins, haha. Apparently, everyone was giving birth that day, and the delivery rooms were all filled, so I was placed in another room. I was hooked up to an IV with antibiotics, since I was Strep B positive, and the antibiotics kept the baby from catching it.
Quickly after, my baby's father, Bobby arrived, and I had never seen him more terrified when he saw the pain I was in. I had entertained the idea of foregoing any pain medications, because my mother had 5 all natural labors, and my sister had 4 all natural labors. Once my water had broken, my contractions had intensified, and I was begging for the epidural. That didn't arrive until 10pm, when I was moved into a delivery room, and after an hour and a half of no relief, the anesthesiologist added some more and told me I would now be able to sleep for a few hours until I was fully dilated.  I was dilated to 4 centimeters and fully effaced at this point, and tried to doze off. As hard as I tried, I still could not sleep through my contractions, and the most painful ones caused me to vomit. Bobby was so helpful and helped me puke into a bucket and cleaned up after me each time, which was a lot! He and my mother stayed up all night, watching after me.
By 8am (my due date!), I was fully dilated and started pushing, and pushing, and pushing. I had the most intense back labor, most likely due to the position of my baby who was sunnyside up. This was by far, the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life, and the contractions came one after another with just seconds in between. My nurse, Jackie was awesome! She had me get into every position imaginable, even playing tug of war. The pain was unreal, and the epidural offered no relief. In fact, the only thing the epidural managed to do was to completely numb my left leg. My mom rubbed lotion on my legs and she and Bobby took turns holding my legs up through each push. After hours of constant pushing, I felt delirious, struggling to keep my eyes open. Then, my younger sister walked into the room and I thought I was dreaming. I was so surprised and happy she was there, and was even more amazed at how well she kept her cool through the gory scene of my labor. She and my mother were such great coaches, both holding my legs up and encouraging me with their words.
After 8 hours of straight pushing, my doctor determined that my baby's head could not get past my pelvis, and the only safe way to deliver him was via c-section. This revelation made me feel incredibly emotional. I had always envisioned  getting to experience a natural vaginal birth, and any other way made me feel like a failure. I felt defeated, but everyone kept assuring me that I did all I could. I mean, I pushed my brains out and gave it my all with every single push. I accepted that this is the path in which I was meant to meet my son, and smiled through the tears as I was wheeled into the OR. Bobby joined me and comforted me through the surgery. My doctor was amazing throughout the entire process. He lowered the drape so that I could see my baby as soon as he was out of me. As soon as surgery began, my doctor saw that my baby's head was stuck in my pelvis, so my nurse actually had to go from underneath and push his head out.  Within seconds, my doctor raised my crying son in the air, and I got my first look at my precious baby. My OR nurse was a huge advocate of skin to skin (thank God) and as soon as he was born, she placed him in my arms and I was able to breastfeed him, which was amazing! Holding Zane in my arms felt surreal; I was overwhelmed with love and felt so blessed to be able to have this baby in my life, almost unworthy of such a blessing.  I'm so thankful that my doctor was able to deliver my baby, that my family and Bobby all got to be there with me, and that I was able to give birth to a healthy boy. This tiny human being fills my life with happiness and a love that I never knew existed. It's been a month since I gave birth to Zane, and I could not feel more blessed to be his mother.

 

My small tokens of advice for mamas to be:

Keep towels in your car, in case your water breaks on the way to the hospital.

Set up a playlist so you have your favorite music to listen to during labor. I wanted calm and relaxing music, so I played Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley

Get an enema before you go into delivery!! (lol) There is nothing more embarrassing and humbling than pooping in front of everyone you love, although you truly won't care during labor, and neither will your loved ones!

Be open-minded when it comes to how your baby will be brought into this world. It may not be the route you had envisioned, but the most important thing is safely delivering a healthy baby! When I look in the mirror, my c-section scar reminds me of the best day of my life. I LOVE my badge of honor!

My Baby Shower (34 weeks)

This past weekend, my mom hosted my baby shower, and it was amazing! My sister flew in from New York, and my entire family came together and worked so hard to make this a dream shower for me. I have never felt more loved and blessed, being surrounded by all the people that I love. My cousin was kind enough to offer her gorgeous home as our venue, and my mom cooked all the delicious food.  It was a magical day I will never forget.

My dress cost $15 from TJ Maxx and was stretchy and comfy (not maternity)

8 Months Pregnant

I thought this pregnancy would feel like a lifetime, but to my surprise, it has flown by. I am now 32 weeks, which makes me a whopping 8 months pregnant! I can now finally say, "I'm due next month" and with that, my nesting instincts have definitely kicked in. I wake up at the crack of dawn to empty my smashed bladder, and then can't shut my mind off. All these thoughts of preparing for baby's arrival consume my brain. I need to pack my hospital bag, diaper bag, I need to get a diaper bag, oh, baby has the hiccups, yet again. He gets the hiccups multiple times a day, and though everyone says I will soon get annoyed with them, I just see them as a loving reminder that he is always with me and doing well. Pre-pregnancy, I weighed in at 110 lbs., and now, 20 pounds later, I look like I'm hiding a basketball under my shirt. I still get shocked when I walk past a mirror and catch a glimpse of my big ol' belly. It's amazing! This pregnancy has been so smooth that I actually think I will truly miss being pregnant. I had a good week or two of heartburn that would make sleeping a bit difficult, but I stopped eating hours before bed, and if I felt it coming on, I'd prop myself up on a bunch of pillows and sleep a bit upright. Other than that, the only other symptom I have really experienced is the fatigue from the first trimester, making it's way into this final trimester.

My baby shower is next weekend, and I couldn't be more excited to see all my family, especially my sister from New York, who is flying out for this special occasion. I was with her when she delivered her second baby, and now, she gets to see me pregnant! The only thing missing will be my sister in Hawaii, but with four kids of her own, it's very difficult to get away. I will be sure to post tons of photos of my baby shower for everyone to see!

A pregnant woman's best friend: the Maxi skirt

Maxi skirts have always been a favorite of mine, but even more so, now that I am really showing. These photos were taken before I started to show, but after I hit week 20, my belly has steadily grown quite a bit. It was right around the 21st week that I 'popped' or it became very evident to the general public that I am indeed expecting. Since I've always dressed in form fitting clothes, I'm finding the options of clothes to wear from my closet are quickly shrinking, but one thing that will never let me down is my maxi skirt. Maxi skirts and dresses are a pregnant woman's best friend, especially in the summertime.

Sandals: Forever21
Skirt: Fashion Q
Top: www.FashionNova.com
Necklace & Hat: Charlotte Russe

Week 19: Visual Movement

This week has been so exciting for me for a few reasons. First is that not only have I began feeling frequent movement from my bundle of love, but I also saw my belly move for the very first time! I will just lay on my back and enjoy the show. I also had a doctors appointment and got to see my love moving around via sonogram. Next week will be my 20 week anatomy scan, and this means I will get to sit back and watch my little one again, so I can't wait for that. I will also be revealing my baby's gender and can't wait to share this exciting news with everyone!

Week 18: I am WOMAN, hear me roar

We've all heard this saying, and it wasn't until this point in my life that I truly grasp the veracity of this statement. Preparation for motherhood may have something to do with it. OK, it has a LOT to do with it; think about it. We are baby making machines, pretty much the closest thing to a real life super hero. I have been experiencing a plethora of changes to my body, and I'll spare you the gory details, but really, the changes our bodies go through, from creating a life from scratch, to delivery (gasp!) are nothing short of miraculous. Mothers, give yourself a nice pat on the back. You are amazing!
When I found out that I was expecting, no one could be more surprised than myself, for the simple fact that I never knew I was capable of creating and growing another human being. I had initially planned to keep my pregnancy hidden for as long as possible, but as time passed by, and my baby bump grew, no one could stop me from shouting from the roof tops, "I'm having a baby!". I wear my little belly with pride, and savor every moment, especially the kicks that I'm finally blessed to start feeling. Last night, I was reading a book in bed, and my little one must have thought it was a great time to try out gymnastics, doing somersaults, and letting me know, "I'm with you, Mommy." It truly made my night.  I know this is just the beginning, and it's only getting better.

My Blessing

God has blessed me with the most miraculous gift, my beautiful baby. My bundle of love is due this September. Here is my 12 week ultrasound.