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).