pregnancy Archives - Page 2 of 4

What I Think of My Pregnant Body

What I think of my pregnant body. Whew, what a loaded title, huh?!

With that, I’m not going to hold back with this post. I’ve been formulating it in my head for a while now, and I figure it’s time to get my honest thoughts out there. Get ready for some realness, and please note that the following is 100% my story (because every pregnant woman and her pregnancy are different).

First and foremost, I want to start off by saying that I’m beyond grateful for my body and what it’s accomplished over the past 8.5 months. On the flip side, the changes that come with this territory haven’t always been easy to swallow. Oh, and we can’t forget about the hormones!

Let me explain…

The Past

Long time readers know I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs when it comes to body image issues. Let’s just say I haven’t always been so body positive with myself. Like a lot of women, I tend to scrutinize and criticize more than love. For the sake of this post, let’s say this mindset is my set-point.

The First Few Months

When I first learned I was pregnant, I was obviously over-the-moon. But pretty soon, the reality that my body was going to change (A LOT) set in. I’m not proud to admit it, but given my ever-evolving relationship with my body, I thought about the changes more than I should have. In fact, I had a few emotional breakdowns (my poor husband!) where I cried about my clothes not fitting, my thighs/arms/you name it getting bigger, etc. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t naive. I knew how lucky I was to even be pregnant, and I also knew that pregnancy equaled change. It was just a tough pill to swallow at first.

My dissatisfaction lasted through the first few weeks of my second trimester…until my belly really started to ‘pop.’ For some reason, seeing my stomach go from this roundish shape to an actual round pregnant belly turned on a switch in my head. It sounds so bizarre, but most every negative thought disappeared over time. Instead, I was filled with extreme gratitude for what my body, the one I’ve had a love/hate relationship with for so long, could do and was doing. Growing a freaking human! I finally realized what a miracle all of this was and haven’t looked back since.

I should also mention that I thought it would take Vishnu and I a lot longer to get pregnant than it did (for many reasons I won’t go into right now). I was prepared to have to wait and potentially use medical interventions to get us to the finish line. But God/the Universe had different plans for us…and here we are. Because of this, part of me feels very selfish for my preliminary focus and thoughts. But at the end of the day, I’m just glad I got to a positive space where I smile bigger than I ever have when I glance in the mirror.

Present Day

So yes, while my thoughts have evolved with time, I can truly say that I’ve never been prouder of my body and happier with the way it looks.

In fact, when I now think about all the changes it’s gone through, I’m that much more excited about bringing our little guy into this world because it’s this very body that’s going to do so much of the necessary work it takes to raise a healthy baby. This body is going to feed (hopefully!), carry, play with, embrace, snuggle with, and most importantly, love [with every fiber of its being] our little guy.

Regardless of my past, I’ll always be thankful for the changes I’ve experienced and will likely continue experiencing because they serve as a reminder of this crazy miraculous nine month journey that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Let’s consider this my new (and improved!) set-point.

For anyone experiencing similar emotions and thoughts, please know you’re not alone. Pregnancy is an absolutely beautiful thing, but it’s also hard in so many ways. At the end of the day, you and your body are are miracle workers, and all of these changes will soon be worth their weight in gold (and so much more)!

A Week’s Worth of Happenings

written by Parita 3 Comments

Well hello there! While I can’t say that my blogging break was unintentional, I missed this space and am glad to be back!

It’s been quite a week for sure. We moved (!), we went to a Cubs game, and we attended a newborn CPR class. That’s just the stuff we did. Then there’s all the stuff that happened.

Let me tell you allll about it!

The biggest thing…WE MOVED! And it’s done and over with <– the BEST part! I will say that it was the easiest move we’ve experienced (and we’ve experienced four in the last five years), as all we had to do was take our stuff about 30-40 feet across the hall. Thank goodness for awesome friends who willingly gave up their Saturday morning/afternoon to help us out!

While the move was logistically easy, it was not so easy on this almost 33 week preggo body. My body ached like its never ached before! In fact, I took two 2.5 hour naps on both Saturday and Sunday. Like I said, thankfully it’s done and over with! Now, it’s time to nest and really prepare for our baby boy!

The next biggest thing…we went to a Cubs game with my sister and BIL and had a blast! The weather, while warm, definitely left all of us with itchy eyes and noses. The pollen count combined with the wind made for an interesting outing. My poor sister must’ve sneezed a thousand times! Regardless, it was fun cheering the team on, high-fiving everyone around us, and singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

This particular game was also special because our nickname for the baby is Kubs/Kubbie (with a K because of our last name). We found out we were pregnant when the Cubs were in the World Series, so it only felt fitting! Essentially, this was Kubs’ first Cubs game! 🙂

Vishnu and I also attended a newborn/child CPR class last week. While Vishnu’s already certified in all of this stuff, I definitely learned a lot of useful information. I just pray we never have to use it.

So that’s the stuff that we did. In terms of stuff that happened to me/us…

My feet/ankles were super swollen on Friday. Like the biggest I’ve seen them! Naturally, I grabbed a pair of compression socks to help with the issue. I thought I grabbed a black pair, as I was wearing black leggings. But nope. I definitely grabbed and wore a navy pair that totally clashed with my OOTD (outfit of the day). I wouldn’t have minded at all except for the fact that I had a doctor’s appointment, and of course, that’s where I realized my mistake. My excuse (for everything) –> #impregnant.

I inadvertently ended up scaring the AT&T technician that came by on Wednesday to set everything up for us. I made my way over to the new apartment a little before when he was expected to arrive. When I walked into the unit, I saw that our bedroom door was closed and literally shaking. I freaked out, grabbed my keys, and ran out, ultimately running into technician as I opened the door. Of course, I screamed…which made him scream. HOT MESS EXPRESS I tell you! I apologized for my crazy, told him I thought someone/thing was in my bedroom, and asked if he would take a look. Bless this man because he did exactly what I asked and even checked our closets and bathroom for me…you know, just in case! #impregnant…? No, I’m just Par!

I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting a pretty funny [to me] Vishnu story! We had quite a few moments this past week that ranged from “aww I love you” to “aww I can’t help but roll my eyes.” Moving stress, and in general the third trimester (for both the mom and dad-to-be), will do that to you!

Anyways, have a great Tuesday!

My Perfectly Parita Chicago Baby Shower

written by Parita 6 Comments

Talk about a super special weekend! I celebrated our little guy’s upcoming arrival with my Chicago girlfriends, and I must say, it was one of the most beautiful and perfect baby showers ever (not that I’m biased or anything!).

My sister Aekta and best friend Roshni planned everything, and you guys, they did an AMAZING job. Everything from the venue, to the decor, to the food, to the games was all so thoughtfully put together. These two sure know how to make a mama-to-be feel special and loved.

Vishnu asked what my favorite moment from this shower was, and I couldn’t give him an answer. It was all my favorite!

Overall, I’m just overwhelmed by all the love showered upon us over the past few months. Sometimes when I feel anxious/nervous about being a mom, I think about all the loving, caring, and supportive people we have by our side, and I immediately feel better.

With that being said, I am so thankful for my sister and Rosh. They really went above and beyond to make my shower perfectly Parita. I love them both so much!

Ok I’ll stop rambling now, and let the pictures do the talking!

Our Babymoon in Scottsdale, Arizona

written by Parita 10 Comments

We’re back from our babymoon in Scottsdale, Arizona, and to be honest, I wish we could do it all over again! Our 5ish day/4 night stay went far too quickly for my liking. But we accomplished what we set out to do and that was to relax and spend uninterrupted time together.

In true MIS travel post fashion, I’m going to break down our trip by where we stayed, what we did, and where we ate. If you’re in the process of planning a babymoon/trip to Scottsdale, please don’t hesitate to contact me. More than happy to answer any questions you may have!

Before we delve into the details of our trip, I want to clarify what a babymoon is (to us anyways) and why we chose Scottsdale.

Vishnu and I are really enjoy travelling together, and I must say we’re pretty good at it because we never want to come home! However, a babymoon is classified as a whole different kind of trip altogether. Our last vacation before baby (even though the baby was very much with us as Vishnu reminded me). And to us, the whole point of our babymoon was to relax and spend time together in a way that we really can’t at home.

We chose Scottsdale because Spain was not an option at this point. Just kidding…kind of! When we first started discussing a babymoon (right after our trip to Hawaii), I mentioned I would love to go to Spain. I figured we should go big or go home. Vishnu disagreed, especially after seeing how tired I could get while travelling. He wanted us to go on a trip where relaxation was the centerpiece and not being on our feet all day running around from city to city. After a bit of back and forth, I agreed and threw out the idea of Scottsdale. The weather would be great, we both love Arizona, and the resorts are made for relaxing and treating yourself. Vishnu agreed and started planning our trip. And that is how we ended up in Scottsdale, Arizona!

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia in Paradise Valley. Our friends Erin and Shahan stayed here a few years ago and raved about their experience. After pricing out a few different options, Vishnu ultimately decided on the Omni. We even got a buy three nights get one free deal with a $150 resort credit. While it definitely wasn’t cheap by any means, I don’t feel like we broke the bank on this one either.

The Omni has everything you would want/need – beautiful guest rooms, a family-friendly pool + an adults only pool, an absolutely gorgeous spa with all the services you could imagine, a few onsite restaurants serving truly delicious food, a fully equipped gym, and stunning views of Camelback. Plus, it’s a quick Lyft ride from Phoenix International Airport.

We would highly recommend the Omni resort to anyone visiting Scottsdale. In fact, after posting a picture on Instagram, I learned that a few of my friends have in fact stayed here (and loved their experienced!).

What we did

We napped! Vishnu and I aren’t big nappers, but there was something about being on vacation with virtually zero plans that made the afternoon nap that much more fun and desirable. And again, what would a relaxing vacation be without a nap or two or three?!

We spent the afternoon at the pool. I wish we could have done more of this, but the weather turned on us a little. People said it was super hot (in the 100s) the week before we arrived, and we saw that it’s supposed to be in the upper 80s and 90s after we left. But the few days we spent in Scottsdale were a little cooler than usual and not necessarily pool friendly. Oh well, at least it didn’t rain! I did very much enjoy the one afternoon we got to lounge poolside!

We got a couples’ massage at the spa, and it was glorious! I obviously went with the expectant mother option while Vishnu got a regular massage. You should’ve seen us afterwards. We were the most relaxed we’ve been in months! I can totally see why this particular spa receives such high accolades – the facilities were clean and beautiful and the massage therapists truly knew what they were doing. If money and time weren’t issues, I would totally make massages a weekly thing!

We walked around Old Town Scottsdale after lunch one afternoon. It reminded me of an old western movie. So many quaint shops selling everything from jewelry to wooden furniture to cowboy boots. If you’re in the area, definitely spend some time strolling the streets, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to visit this part of town.

We worked out three times…because why not!

We visited Tucson. As some of you may recall, I lived in Tucson for eight months after graduating from business school. In fact, it’s where MIS was conceived!

My aunt, uncle, and cousin live in Phoenix, and we originally planned to grab dinner with them on Sunday night. But when my aunt suggested taking a day trip to Tucson, Vishnu and I happily agreed. In fact, it was nice to break up our unplanned days with a little bit of sightseeing action. While in Tucson, we visited the Pima Air & Space Museum and Mount Lemmon. We also ate the most delicious Mexican meal at Guadalajara Grille, an old favorite of mine! In fact, Vishnu said it was the best Mexican meal he’s ever had!

What we wanted to do but didn’t

It may sound a little crazy at almost eight months pregnant, but Vishnu and I wanted to go on a couple of easy hikes while in Scottsdale. He even found a few close ones to the resort. But for one reason or another, it just didn’t happen. Looking back, it’s probably a good thing because my legs (and lungs!) have started to tire out more and more quickly as the days go by. Better safe than sorry!

Where we ate

Centro (at the Omni) – We ate here for lunch and really enjoyed our meal. There’s a great selection of various appetizers, salads, flatbreads, and sandwiches.

Prado (at the Omni) – We ate breakfast here three of the four mornings and really enjoyed the food. The menu includes all kind of egg dishes, as well as some lighter fare options such as a fruit and yogurt parfait, oatmeal, etc.

Crave (at the Omni) – We stopped here after a morning workout and got a couple of fresh-pressed juices (both of which were delicious). This little café also offers coffee, baked goods, gelato, and other smaller meals.

Flower Child – We had dinner at this ‘healthy meets tasty’ restaurant and loved the salads we chose as well as the vegan cookie we picked up as a treat. While it’s not super fancy by any means, you won’t leave this place feeling heavy or overly full.

Postino Wine Café – We had dinner at this cute little café type restaurant and really loved the food we tried. According to a friend of Vishnu’s who went to medical school in the area, Postino’s is known for its bruschetta (so many different kinds to choose from), so that’s what we opted for along with a bowl of assorted olives as an appetizer and a chocolate bouchon dessert with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. Yum!

The Mission – We had lunch here on our last full day, and I’m so glad we did because the food (especially the table side guacamole) was some of the most flavorful of the trip. Our mini tacos (butternut squash for me and pork + pineapple for Vishnu), while small, packed a powerful punch.

Zinburger – This was our last dinner outing of the trip! After going back and forth, we decided burgers just sounded like the best idea! My veggie burger was one of the better ones I’ve had in a while, and Vishnu said his burger was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I only wish we saved room for one of their epic shakes…the chocolate hazelnut had my name written all over it!

Overall, this was one of the best vacations we’ve taken to date. It wasn’t extravagant by any means, but it provided us with lots of time to connect, be more mindful with each other, relax, and just be. And hopefully it’s just what we needed to gear up for our big upcoming move. Oh and our upcoming baby!!! 🙂

Life Update – 30 weeks pregnant

written by Parita 4 Comments

Life at 30 weeks pregnant is…interesting. The third trimester is no joke. And I’m only two weeks in. Ha!

I know I said MIS wouldn’t turn into a pregnancy/motherhood blog, and I want to hold to that promise, however, at this time, I basically live and breathe all things pregnancy. But that’ll change…well in 10 weeks!

With that being said, I thought I’d share a life update and shed light on what it’s like at 30 weeks pregnant. Let’s get started!

Baby
Our little guy is stronger than ever, and I couldn’t be more thankful. His movements are becoming more and more pronounced. Some days, we can literally feel a body part kicking/punching away. At my 30 week appointment, the doctor mentioned how he’s positioned fairly low (nothing to worry about). This makes total sense because the lower part of my belly feels very heavy.

The one consistent thought I have at this point is wondering who he’ll look like! I hope he’s a mix of me and Vishnu. So fun to think about!

Mama-to-be
I’m doing well for feeling like I have a watermelon strapped around my waist! To be honest, my biggest issue at this time is me! I’m still having a hard time slowing down, but the sheer size of my belly is forcing me to tone everything down a bit. I constantly remind myself to take it slow for the baby!

My pregnancy related symptoms right now include nighttime back pain and having to pee constantly. Both of which lead to very irregular sleep and a very tired Par. Other than that, everything is a-ok!

Dad-to-be
Vishnu’s also doing well. The anticipation of our move and setting everything up before July makes him a little nervous. And it doesn’t help that the last half of May and all of June is a very busy time for him at work. I just tell him to breathe and that we’ll get through it together…just like we always do!

Other than that, I keep him on his toes with my antics! But seriously, I could not ask for a better person to have by my side through all of this. He’s always there to rub my back, tell me he loves me, tell me I’m beautiful (when I feel it the least), do the dishes when I’m exhausted, make me laugh constantly, etc. I hate to get all mushy gushy, but he’s the best…even when he’s a little annoying!

Food
I’m pretty sure I’m the most boring preggo ever. I have had zero cravings in the last seven months (and zero food aversions thankfully!). I pretty much eat what I ate pre-pregnancy, however now, a morning snack is a must (usually a Larabar or a Granny Smith apple).

The third trimester brings it’s own challenges when it comes to food. I can’t eat too much in one sitting. If I do (which happens every now and then), my stomach feels like it’s literally going to stretch open! So I try my best to eat a little bit at a time and take breaks as needed.

Exercise
In my experience, working out in the third trimester is no easy feat. While I’m still walking/EFXing, I’m definitely slower than I’ve ever been (for good reason!). With that being said, I’m trying to take it slower now while still staying as active as my body will allow.

Even my strength training routines have changed. While I still trying to include weights in my workouts 2-3 times a week, I’m using lighter weights and doing higher reps.

And now more than ever, my daily activity counts as ‘exercise’ in my book. For example, I try to walk to work and back home whenever possible (i.e. when it’s not raining). That equates to about 2.4 miles if I’m able to do both. Not too shabby!

Parenting/baby books
I’m still making my way through The Awakened Family. Because it reads a little like a psychology textbook, it’s harder to just get through. I’m really enjoying it though and so much of what the author shares resonates with me and what will hopefully be my parenting style. Only time will tell!

I recently purchased Eat, Sleep, Poop based on Diana’s recommendation. We haven’t bought/read too many baby books, but it sounds like this will be a good reference guide once the baby is here.

And finally, Vishnu plans…ok fine, I suggested that he plan…to read The New Father when we’re poolside in Scottsdale. My sister bought this for him a while back, and he hasn’t cracked it open yet. I’ll share his thoughts once he’s read a page or 50!

Pregnancy humor

When I need a little laugh to get me through the day, my go to thing to do is log on to Pinterest and search ‘pregnancy humor.’ So many funny (and very true) images to sift through. You’re guaranteed a good laugh!

Here are a few of my recent favs:

And that’s all she wrote! I can’t wait to share about our Scottsdale babymoon adventures. With that, it may be a little quiet on the blog front over the next week or so, but I’ll be back soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!

7 Months Pregnant and Searching for Bathing Suits

written by Parita 1 Comment

You know what’s not fun (for most women)? Trying on bathing suits. You know what’s worse than that? Trying on bathing suits at 7 months pregnant.

Trust me – been there done that!

BUT, I’m here to tell the tale! So there’s that.

The quest to figure out my bathing suit situation for Scottsdale (almost babymoon time!) began on Thursday. Mind you that was t-one week + 2 days from trip time! I realized I hadn’t yet tried on the suit I bought for Hawaii back in December and therefore had no idea if it would even fit me. I also realized that said suit, given it fit me, was my only option for a five day trip.

Not knowing what else to do, I went on Amazon searching for one piece maternity swim suits. Everything I liked cost $75+. To be fair, I’m not sure I’d pay that much for a non-maternity suit, so needless to say, I came out of that fun game empty handed.

The next afternoon, as I was chatting with my boss, I happened to mention my dilemma. She said the best thing to do in my situation was go to Target and buy a size up. BUT, she said to try on the suit to ensure it fits. Great idea but ugh…try on a swim suit in the Target dressing room. Not exactly my idea of a fun Sunday afternoon.

But off I went…

I searched high and low for a cute one piece suit. Believe it or not, I couldn’t find one in the size I wanted. The next best thing I found were tankini tops. I figured I could potentially wear a bigger top with the bikini bottoms I already own (if that turned out to be false, I still had time to head back to Target and buy bigger bottoms). I made my way to the dressing room and smiled at the attendant as I showed her my two tops. She smiled back at me and commented on my “cute” bump. She even offered to get me different sizes if I needed. God bless people who are kind to preggos!

As I pulled the first top over my head and adjusted it, I looked in the mirror and laughed. I looked…like a very pregnant person. It was just funny to see my bump sticking out so prominently. I tried the second one on and smiled at myself this time, as I suppose I knew what to expect. The second top fit a bit better so I decided to go with that. AND it was on sale for $12.94!

The next adventure came when I got home. I pulled out my Hawaii suit and tried it on. While I looked completely different than I did in December, the suit fit! And hey, at least I wouldn’t have to make a last minute trip to Target…or Amazon for that matter.

I then tried the tankini top on with my bottoms. Again, everything fit and actually looked good together. I did a happy dance…completely different body and all!

And then it hit me, who the hell cares what I look like in my suits. Vishnu and I are soon going to spend five days at a beautiful resort in my favorite state.

I. CAN’T. WAIT!!!

So yes, searching for a bathing suits at 7 months pregnant is definitely not fun. However, as long as it ends in us hanging out poolside, getting massages, drinking tasty (non-alcoholic for me) drinks, and eating lots of delicious Mexican food, I’ll be just fine! And…all I had to dish out was a measly $13! Wins all around!

Advice for New-Moms-to-Be — Breastfeeding — Part 2

written by Parita 10 Comments

The other day, someone asked me what I’m most looking forward to as a new mom and what I’m the the most nervous about. When it comes to what I’m looking forward to, the list goes on and on and on. And it grows by the day to be honest. When it comes to what I’m most nervous about, my answer is almost always the same. Breastfeeding.

I’m not quite sure what I’m nervous about, except that it seems so daunting. I’m not someone who strictly believes breast is best, but I do want to breastfeed if I can…for as long as I can. What gives me some sense of relief is knowing that both my sister and I were formula fed and turned out beyond ok (if I do say so myself!).

Some of the moms I reached out to a few weeks ago shared some great breastfeeding advice, so I thought I would post about this topic today. While it is a very personal decision and can be controversial, I think it’s important for people to have open [minded] discussions about it. There’s no point in keeping your experiences to yourself when it comes to mom “stuff.” The more we share, the more normalized it becomes! It’s also fitting that this is something I think about at least once a day!

Without further ado, please keep reading for personal breastfeeding advice from some pretty awesome mamas! And please remember that each mama is sharing her own experience. As I like to frequently remind myself, what works for one person doesn’t always work for the next. But hopefully, if your’re a mom-to-be or a new mom, pieces of this advice will resonate with you and put your mind at ease!

From a newish mom – “I’m sure each of us could write a book about our experiences with motherhood, but I’ll share my hardest experience – breastfeeding. Man, breastfeeding hit me like a TRUCK. I had no idea what a battle it would be and how consumed I would become with winning the war! I’m still no expert and have ultimately embraced formula (now at ~5.5 months). However, I wish someone had helped me prepare to be a better breastfeeder. Again, I could write a book on everything I have learned, but I think I would have been more successful if I prepared for the PAIN and knew that it would PASS. I would tell new mothers (who are committed to breastfeeding) to:

1. Hang in there – it’s worth it.

2. Keep baby at the breast nearly ALL the time, as that’s the only way to make more milk (at least every two hours).

3. Sleep deprivation will make you nearly insane and feeding every two hours is a very demanding job! Focus on just feeding + sleeping and ask family to help with everything else. Don’t get bogged down with all the other household responsibilities (like I did) and dedicate yourself to breastfeeding. The first few weeks (2-6 weeks) are the most important. Consider hiring a postpartum doula or lactation specialist to help you, but baby-to-boob is really the key (practice makes perfect), and yes it will hurt (a lot!). And do pump if you are hyper-dedicated.

4. “It’s not supposed to be easy!” – as said by one of our family friends, an elderly Bengali lady with 7 kids of her own. I hope I’m not scaring you because really breastfeeding is magical once you get through the early horror! But I have no doubt you can do it!!

5. Get your husband and family on board. It takes the whole family to be committed to breastfeeding for it to be a success. My family tried to spare me and would let me sleep and give the baby a bottle. But every bottle he got would make my supply diminish so I had to force them to force me to stay on top of breastfeeding (I tell you that “every 2 hours” is no joke).”

From another newish mom – “Nursing is a whole other challenge. Decide in advance whether you will nurse or use formula, and know that either is great! If you nurse, be extremely patient. It’s common to use formula for a few days or a week to supplement your milk supply as it comes in. Be patient, and don’t be frustrated if your supply seems lower or slower to come in. Be patient, persistent and don’t think too much about the whole process. Also, decide in advance whether you will nurse and/or pump. Giving the baby a bottle earlier on frees mom to take a break (other people can feed the baby) or do other things! You will need a break!”

From a semi-new mom – “If you’re breastfeeding or trying to, I recommend seeing a lactation consultant while pregnant. Go to the classes. Read up on it. But get the consultant’s number if you can. Try to see a lactation consultant while in the hospital. Get someone’s number to call when you’re back home. You’ll likely have questions, and depending on your area, you’ll have a weekly meet up with the lactation consultant to help with LOTS of things and/or one come to your home once after you’re back home.”

From a slightly more experienced mom – “It is absolutely, 100% a-ok to formula feed. I had a c-section which caused my milk to come in pretty late, and my daughter had a tongue tie which made it difficult for her to latch. While we eventually got to a point where I was able to breastfeed, the days leading up to that were incredibly frustrating. I kept beating myself up every time I had to open up a bottle of formula, as I was reminded of the unsolicited advice from some hospital doctors, nurses, lactation consultants and some super annoying mommy bloggers ( the internet is evil!), who had no problem making me feel guilty for not breastfeeding. Fortunately, I found a WONDERFUL lactation consultant whose valuable advice to me was “FED=BEST!” She reminded me that my job was to simply provide nourishment for the baby- whether it was breast milk or formula. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for the route you choose. YOU know what’s best for you and your baby!”

From an experienced mom who is who is expecting baby #2 soon! – “This will be a controversial topic, and everyone will have an opinion on it. You might already have your own thoughts and opinions formed about what you want to do: nurse, pump/nurse combination, exclusively pump, formula feed, etc. Keep an open mind and don’t be disappointed if you end up going a different route than you envisioned. Many people (including some nurses and doctors – shame on them), will tell you that you won’t bond with your baby if you don’t nurse, or they will assume you are going to nurse so choosing anything different would be crazy/wrong. I had a lot of trouble with breastfeeding in the beginning, and I was getting increasingly sad, frustrated and felt like the worst mom because it wasn’t working. My baby was losing weight and all of the nurses were scaring me and freaking me out (partly I was probably overly hormonal/emotional and overreacting) and told me if she didn’t gain weight before we left the hospital, we would need to put her on formula right away, as if it was such a terrible thing. Finally one lactation consultant came into my room, held my hand, and told me it was ok. I bawled like you would not even believe it – just hearing her say that was everything. I can easily look back at this now and know how silly it was to get so worked up, but at the time, you have no idea and you are so overwhelmed in wanting to do everything right and perfect and you also have all these expectations of nursing your baby. Ultimately, I decided to stick with trying to nurse but I also learned how to pump while I was in the hospital and fed my baby pumped breast milk from a bottle. This worked. She was a much happier baby all of a sudden (because she was being fed!), and she started gaining weight. I felt so much relief, and at that point, I decided to continue with pumping. After all, she was still getting breast milk and that’s what I wanted. For some women, it’s not as easy to pump, and that’s ok too. There were times when I went back to work and it was getting difficult for me to pump frequently, so I would have to supplement one feed with formula. I felt so guilty about it in the beginning, but then I quickly got over it.

I went the exclusive pumping route, which worked for me and my family. But know that what works for you might not work for someone else, etc. Exclusive pumping has its own set of challenges and it takes a lot of dedication and time. I personally, though, felt it was much easier on me and my family to pump than to nurse around the clock: 1) I could set my own schedule on when I pumped, and I could pump more milk and save it to use throughout the day/week. It also allowed me to give my baby breast milk for a longer period of time because I could store breast milk and freeze it and use it months later. 2) Anyone could feed the baby with my pumped milk – my husband, my mom, etc. – and this gave me a break too. If I was exclusively nursing, only I could feed her, which adds to sleep deprivation. 3) It made the transition back to work easier because my baby was already accustomed to a bottle. 4) I didn’t have a baby attached to my boob 24/7. 5) I wanted to make it to one year or more of pumping, but I found out I was pregnant with #2 when baby #1 was 9.5 months old and my milk dried up. I had no choice but to transition 100% formula. I felt guilty, but it was fine. I let it go.

The challenges of exclusive pumping: 1) It takes up a lot of time. In the beginning, you are pumping every 2-3 hours. But I thought of it the same way as nursing. 2) There is a lot of extra work with pumping because of all the parts/bottles, etc. that you have to clean and wash all day/every day. 3) Your milk supply might vary from week to week and you do have to watch your diet and work hard to produce milk. But again, this is not much different than nursing. 4) It can be painful after pumping so much. But this also can happen with nursing.

Basically the motto to this is: whatever happens, I promise it will be fine. All babies end up growing great and getting the same amount of nutrients. Looking back, I was way too stressed about this. With baby #2, I am so much calmer, and even if I have do formula from day one, I am totally ok with it.

THE BEST breastfeeding resource is kellymom.com. I used this website for all questions related to breastfeeding. I highly recommend it.”

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My Perfectly Parita Chicago Baby Shower

Our Babymoon in Scottsdale, Arizona

Life Update – 30 weeks pregnant

7 Months Pregnant and Searching for Bathing Suits

Advice for New-Moms-to-Be — Breastfeeding — Part 2

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