The Teddy Bear Suite

Entrance to the Teddy Bear Suite

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


Mommy & Jacob


A bear hug


Jacob & the bears

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


Sophia is getting tired...


...and really needs a nap here!

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


The kids and I


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

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


A few last photos before leaving...


Sophia in a slightly happier mood after receiving a candy cane

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



Sophia & her nanny Irina

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

Santa Photos

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


The attempt #1

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


The attempt #2

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


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

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

My Postpartum Diary - The Third Week

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

Day 15 (December 14th, Wednesday)

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

Day 16 (December 15th, Thursday)

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


Our Christmas tree

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

Day 17 (December 16th, Friday)


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


Sophia's 1st haircut


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

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


My two adorable assistants


Our Christmas tree all decorated

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


Gerritt giving Sophia a piggyback ride

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

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


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

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


Our cutie pie in one of his rare awake moments

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

Day 20 (December 19th, Monday)

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


The starter kit SNS

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


Best buddies

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


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

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

Day 21 (December 20th, Tuesday)

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


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

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

My Postpartum Diary - The Second Week

Day 8 (Wednesday, December 7th)


Jacob's first ride in a car seat

Today was a day of firsts. Jacob had his first real bath. He cried at first, but then quieted down, so I am assuming he enjoyed it. Jacob & I also left the house together for the 1st time to see my midwife for our 1-week check up. The outing was so refreshing! Gerritt told me yesterday he was sad I "didn't take him anywhere anymore." Poor thing! He doesn't have the life experience to understand that the newborn stage is temporary & started to get some of my "cabin fever." I took pity on him & allowed him to skip his nap in order to join me & Jacob at our appointment.


Jacob's 1 week check-up at my midwife's office

He truly enjoyed it since Charlene gave him chocolates, praised him for being a big brother & showed him a couple of interesting games. Jacob got weighed (he was 8 lbs 2 oz) while I got my blood pressure & temperature checked. We also practiced latching Jacob on my breast using the supplemental nursing system (a tube & a syringe) to help make him more interested in breastfeeding.


More flowers for Jacob & I

Today was the first day I felt more like my normal self in a physical sense. Although I miss all of Jacob's little kicks & punches, I am glad to be getting my body back. I am really looking forward to exercising again. I've been missing the walks with our dogs Sammie & Maxi since I haven't exercised much during the last month of pregnancy.
Being cooped up in our house for so many days in a row with the furnace on I developed dry skin, chapped lips & dry bloody nose. I started boiling water on the stove & then after almost ruining my pots when water evaporated completely, I remembered I had a humidifier. Now I run it all day long. My skin is thanking me already.
I got so tired of getting cold when getting up in the middle of the night, I've decided to just sleep in my fleece pants & jacket. This way I don't freeze while waiting for my pumping session to finish. Plus I will be able to touch Jacob with warm hands which is a good thing.

Day 10 (Friday, December 9th)


My Prolactation tea

I got a nice routine going. When Jacob wakes me up in the morning, I change his diaper, then finger feed him & pump. Then I go to the kitchen & make my Prolactation tea as well as raspberry leaf/nettle leaf/oatstraw/alfalfa tea. I then have breakfast & take my supplements (making sure not to forget the most important one - my placenta capsules). I try to fit in a shower sometime in the morning. Taking care of Jacob & myself are priorities now since I need to get good nutrition & continue with the supplements to produce enough milk.
It was a sunny beautiful day today. I wanted to take the dogs walking, but then I layed down on the bed to rest for a few minutes after pumping & dozed off. I woke up about 30" later realizing I was still too tired & weak to tolerate our usual 25-30-minute walk outside. It's something to look forward to though!
I had another chiropractor appointment this morning. I am finally able to lay on my abdomen. My full of milk breasts were a bit uncomfortable to lay on, but the adjustment on my back felt so good!
Things are slowly getting back to normal. While Gerritt was gone to a movie (Cars-2) with our neighbor Rinku, I gave Sophia a bath. It's been a week since her last one (she absolutely refuses for our nanny to bathe her). I then decided to take a bath with Jacob. It seemed like a good idea to have him lay on my lap & on my chest for a nice skin-to-skin contact, but he screamed the whole time. He was so scared, he was shaking & turned all red from crying. Poor baby! He kept making a sad face & whimpering in the fretful sleep that followed the bath.
The HR person called me from my clinic. No part-time jobs were available, so they offered me a full-time spot in Bellevue. Of course, I turned it down. There is no way I can work full-time with 3 kids under the age of 5. I am expecting to be laid off soon, which is OK with me.


Rented Medela Symphony breast pump - my constant companion

After more than a week of pumping in the living room, I've made a smart decision to move my pumping station to my bedroom for the night time. This way, when Jacob wakes up I'll change his diaper, finger feed him, then pump while sitting on my bed. After washing the pump parts in the bathroom, I can go back to sleep.
We've also decided to get the baby bassinet out. It's the same one we used for Gerritt & Sophia. We always used to put Jacob on the couch or a rocking chair but it's nice to have a safe & comfortable place especially for him. The bassinet has wheels so I am able to move it next to my bed for the night time.
Shon bought a swing today off the Craig's list ad. We didn't think we needed one, but decided it was necessary after all. Sometimes Jacob cries in the middle of my pumping session. I can't really pick him up since I have to pump for at least 10" straight, so I am hoping to put him in a swing to keep him quiet while I pump.

Day 11 (Saturday, December 10th)


Finger feeding breastmilk using the SNS system

Good news! I pumped 5 oz of breastmilk (the most ever at one time) after sleeping from 3:30 am to 8 am (4.5 hours). It is good to know my breasts are capable of holding that much milk at once. I am keeping track of my pumping schedule & the amount of milk I produce to see whether I can increase my milk production while drinking the Prolactation Tea 3 times a day.
I am proud of myself for keeping up the pumping schedule this far, but it's getting tiring to do the double amount of work (pumping, then feeding Jacob, plus all the pump part washing/sterilizing). I definitely don't put Jacob on my breast enough. I am supposed to do it at every feeding, but it's easier in a way to just finger feed him so he can continue sleeping rather than unwrap his blankets, wake him up & then have him fuss at the breast.


Jacob with his big brother Gerritt

I tried the tube at the breast a couple of days ago & even with me squirting milk into his mouth, Jacob didn't get into a good sucking pattern. He usually sucks once or twice, then lets go & cries. Sometimes I pump right before Jacob wakes up so I feel I shouldn't put him to my breast if it's empty.
With almost 2 weeks of around-the-clock pumping my usually flat nipples have become softer & easier to grasp. The plan now is to help Jacob associate breast with positive emotions, so I need to snuggle him at my breast even if no sucking occurs. Of course, I myself need to work on staying calm & relaxed. I am trying to visualize Jacob breastfeeding peacefully. I remind myself that latching is the last step in initiating our breastfeeding relationship. I have everything else already in place - an almost recovered after birth mother, breasts full of milk, softer/more pliable nipples & my commitment to breastfeeding. I almost wish I had a lactation consultant at my house for 24 hours, with her encouraging me at each feeding ("You can do it!") & making sure I give it a good try. I am debating whether I want to spend another $150 for an additional home visit. If my latching attempts don't work - probably. I've always regretted not trying harder when attempting to breastfeed my other children.

Day 12 (December 11th, Sunday)


Shon took the kids to grandma's house for the whole day. What a relief! Jacob & I watched a few movies on Netflix. I've also read a few articles on breastfeeding from KellyMom.
I am still concerned about not producing enough milk for Jacob. Good news! According to one of the articles, I need to aim for pumping 25-27 oz per day by 7-10 days postpartum. 11-17 oz/day is considered borderline & less than 11 oz/day is considered low. So far I've been able to pump 19 oz on day 9, 19.5 oz on day 10, 22.75 oz on day 11 & 22 oz on day 12. I pump 8-9 times per day & don't go longer than 5 hours without pumping at night. Tips for increasing breastmilk output include resting & relaxing as much as possible & having skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo care) for at least 1 hour daily. It's a big commitment, but Jacob is worth it. I just hope I won't become someone who has to pump exclusively.


I found the following helpful suggestions for baby who won't nurse:

- Work on latching for up to 10" at a time & if baby is getting upset, make the sessions shorter
- If baby is really frustrated, it's a good idea to take a break (let baby suck on a finger, snuggle baby on mother's chest or hand baby to Dad)
- Take the edge off baby's hunger by offering him a little supplement (0.5 oz) at the beginning of a feeding
- Have lots of skin-to-skin contact & offer the breast often
- "Seduce" your baby to the breast, do not force breastfeeding


Jacob & I did some skin-to-skin snuggling today. It's harder to stay warm (it's December after all!) so I have to cover us up quickly. I've read most babies would be able nurse by 4-6 weeks after birth. I am keeping my fingers crossed!


Day 13 (December 12th, Monday)

This early morning I woke up in a wet bed (!). I get so cold getting up in the middle of the night that I made myself a hot water bottle. I must have not put the cap on tightly enough because the bottle leaked all over my pants & bed. Not fun! Together with my hot water bottle I also use an electric heating pad to put over my back when I am pumping at night. If we have a baby again, I will make sure he/she is born in summer time. I am tired of getting cold!


Not much happened today. My days & nights are starting to blend together. The highlight of my day was getting out of the house for a few minutes to take our nanny to the bus stop. I am still too weak to go anywhere for a longer outing, plus I am pumping every 2-3 hours. I am a bit nervous about going for a haircut & highlighting appointment next week. Usually that takes around 3 hours, plus the driving time. However, I need this appointment badly. I've underestimated the speed of my hair growth & with Jacob being 1 week "overdue," my hair is in desperate need of some highlighting & styling.


I can't stop marveling at the perfection of Jacob's toes

Jacob still sleeps for most of the day allowing me ample time to pursue one of my favorite hobbies - blogging. He is starting to "fill out" more & is getting less jaundiced. He loves to stretch & is getting better control of his arms. I've tried to latch him on this morning & he had a few good sucks. I just can't bring myself to do it at every feeding. I would spend the whole day doing just that. Plus, I am afraid to get behind in my pumping schedule & loose my milk supply. I am probably a little obsessed about preserving it.
I've ordered a few books & CDs from the library. I need something entertaining to look forward to. Most of all, I am counting the days until my Mom arrives to live with us from Russia (sometime after Christmas). I will probably return to my per diem hospital nursing job in about 4 weeks (only once a week, however), so she needs to learn as much as possible about the care of her grandchildren.

Day 14 (December 13th, Tuesday) - Jacob is 2 weeks old!


More pumping & finger feeding today. Tried to latch Jacob on only once - too much work. I think the whole house is covered in my breastmilk including bed sheets, recliner chair & my clothes. I stopped wearing the nursing bra. It's more convenient to just wear a cotton shirt & my fleece jacket that opens in the front for easy access.


I gave Jacob his 2nd bath today & he didn't cry this time. My nanny took some photos of Jacob & me. I also experimented with my camera to take a few photos of Jacob with Gerritt & Sophia.


I am starting to feel pretty bored. The same daily routine is getting to me. Thank goodness, Shon watched Sophia & Jacob in the evening while Gerritt & I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's & then made a trip to the library to pick up a few books & CDs. It's amazing how Christmas singing by Mariah Carey can cheer one up!


I got the dreaded plugged ducts in both breasts today. :( So more cold Booby Tubes, cabbage leaves & frequent pumping. I definitely need to get more rest. Jacob sleeps a lot even though it's in short stretches. I probably do too much internet surfing to get enough sleep. It's just that sleeping feels like a waste of time when there are so many fun things I could be doing.


Shon is insisting I choose a "push present" at Tiffany's even though I told him I didn't need anything. So I am going to check out Tiffany's website tomorrow for some pretty earrings or a necklace. :-)

Placenta Encapsulation

In addition to having a home birth, I have decided early on if I ever got pregnant again I would encapsulate my placenta. I don't exactly remember how I came upon this idea, but most likely from reading one of my favorite natural birth/parenting blogs. All I knew was that it made sense & I wanted to discover the amazing powers of the placenta for myself.
The post-partum emotional roller coaster is the hardest part of birth recovery for me. I can cry at the "drop of a hat." I can go from feeling deliriously happy to feeling absolutely miserable in a matter of a few hours. My negative attitude can really drive my husband up the wall & make the newborn adjustment period even more difficult for the whole family. Although the post-partum hormonal shifts have been well documented in scientific literature & the resulting mood fluctuations are expected, I sure would not miss an opportunity to prevent or at least lessen them. Of course, after everything I've been through the least my husband can do is to put up with a few miserable weeks & be as patient as he can, but why suffer needlessly when nature's pefect cure is so readily available?


My placenta encapsulated & photographed by Kat Barron (Fagerlie) - my midwife apprentice extraordinaire

What exactly is placenta encapsulation & why would anyone do this? Placenta encapsulation is the process of preparing your baby's placenta (in a capsule form) in order to preserve your own natural hormones & reintroduce them to your system to ease pospartum hormonal fluctuations. Placenta is believed to balance system via a perfect for you hormone combination, replenish depleted iron, give you more energy, lessen postpartum bleeding, increase milk production & help to have a happier postpartum period.


The known ingredients that give the placenta its healing properties include:

- gonadotropin (the precursor to estrogen, progesterone & testosterone)
- prolactin (promotes lactation)
- oxytocin (facilitates bonding of a mother & infant)
- thyroid stimulating hormone (increases energy & helps to recover from stress)
- cortisone (helps to adapt to stress & increase energy)
- interferon (stimulates the immune system)
- prostaglandins (decrease inflammation)
- hemoglobin (reduces anemia)
- urokinase inhibiting factor & factor XIII (stop bleeding & enhance wound healing)
- gammaglobulin (boosts the immune system)


If a woman wants to use the placenta for her postpartum recovery, special consideration must be given to placenta after the birth. Once it's born, the placenta should be handled as though it were food. It should not be left sitting out on the floor or on chux pad, but go into a food-grade container & be refrigerated immediately. The preparation of the placenta should begin within the first 24 hours after birth.


Although the placenta is consumed raw by some women, the placenta encapsulation process (where the placenta is completely dried, ground & placed into capsules) has an advantage of a woman being able to benefit from it for weeks instead of just a few postpartum days. Also, the capsules can be frozen & taken beyond postpartum period in times of stressful transition (e.g., going back to work).
Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since Jacob was born & I am happy to report I haven't experienced a single day of the "baby blues." I feel like myself & was able to adjust to the demanding newborn period with ease. I haven't cried, lost my temper, been overwhelmed or felt depressed. I am so grateful & only wish I've known about placenta encapsulation sooner!

Additional Resources:

1) Placenta Benefits

2) The Amazing Placenta by Sarah Buckley, MD

3) Placentophagy by Mary Field, RGN, SCM from Birthrites (a personal account)

4) IPEN (Independent Placenta Encapsulation Network)

5) Placenta Bakery (the placenta encapsulation specialists)

6) Google Maps List of Independent Placenta Service Providers

7) Birth Wise Holistic Doula Services International Directory

8) Placenta: The Gift of Life book by Cornelia Enning

9) MoonDragon's Parenting Page (placenta use suggestions, rituals & recipes)

10) Home video of the placenta encapsulation process

11) Placenta encapsulation instructions with pictures

12) CTV's Live at 5 Power of Placenta news video presentation

13) Why Placenta Encapsulation? YouTube video by Spirited Doula Birth Services