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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

My Review of the Nested Bean Zen Sack

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

After seeing ads for the Nested Bean Zen Sack and Zen Swaddle incessantly on Facebook, I was intrigued. I had been Googling sleep related questions, so it’s no surprise I was seeing this product everywhere online. The posts claimed to help your baby sleep better in just a few nights, and after more than three months of being woken up every 2-3 hours, I was willing to try anything. I purchased the Zen Sack sleeping sack for Addi around the time we wanted to start sleep training.

The Nested Bean Zen Sack is a sleeping sack for infants that is available in 13 designs. Sizes are available in three options: 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 15-24 months. I have used sleeping sacks like the Halo and the Ergobaby and liked those, but this one claimed to be different thanks to its weighted pressure pad on the chest that is supposed to mimic a parent’s touch. If the baby is a tummy sleeper it can be worn backwards, too. Addi has been sleeping on her tummy, but I keep the pad on her chest and she doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable that way.

I purchased the Stardust Pink option in size 6-12 months. When I opened the package, I was impressed by the quality of the material. It looked like it would be perfect for the winter time to control Addi’s temperature. It has a two-way zipper on the side that goes around the bottom, which makes diaper changes or putting it on easy. The shoulder straps have two sets of snaps that make them adjustable.

Keep in mind this was before sleep training, but I did see an improvement in her sleep. On the first night she wore the Zen Sack she woke at 2 a.m. and then not until almost 6 a.m., which is about when she had been waking for the day. On the second night, she woke up twice. She woke up three times on the third night. On the fourth night she had a five-hour stretch, which was long for her at the time. On the fifth night she woke up three times.

We reached out to Nested Bean for their free sleep advice, which they say they offer, and they offered this suggestion: “To help her get used to falling asleep on her own, try gently rubbing/patting the weight of the sack, while she is in the crib (fully awake). This will help your baby associate the weight of the sack with you soothing her to sleep. Do this until she dozes off.” Another tip: “When she wakes throughout the night, try the gentle/patting again, until she falls asleep. Of course, if she is hungry or needs to be changed, you can take her out of the crib, but otherwise TRY to avoid taking her out! At 7 months, she is nearly ready to stay in the crib all night, and needs your help understanding that it’s okay to stay there. If you find that the gentle patting works to help her fall asleep, try to gradually decrease the amount of time you spend doing this, so she can eventually do without it!”

Soon after this, we began trying to let her fall asleep in her crib in conjunction with using the Zen Sack, and sometimes other sleeping sacks when it’s in the wash. Addi now wakes usually once a night (if she’s not sick or teething). She has had stretches as long as nine hours since then. Last night she slept nine and a half hours, fed and then slept another two hours. Her sleep stretches can be anywhere from 5-6 hours to about nine on a really good night.

My final thoughts:

I like the Zen Sack and think it’s well made based on my almost two months of use. It has held up well to many washes and it has a cute design. Despite some reviews saying babies have slept through the night in just a few nights I would not expect a miracle product (unless your baby is already a good sleeper). But when used in conjunction with teaching your baby healthy sleep habits, like implementing a routine, it can definitely help both baby and parents sleep better. I would definitely purchase another Zen Sack.

Related post:

Baby Product Gift Guide for On-the-Go Parents

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A’s 8-Month Update

This has been a major month in terms of milestones for Addi. She has changed so much in a short time, and this phase has become my favorite so far. I love watching her do new things and learn every day.

Sleep: After waking 3-5 times a night every night since she turned 4 months old, we decided it was in our family’s best interest to attempt to teach her to fall asleep on her own. It’s been less than a week and she is already sleeping better and going down for naps more easily. We are attempting as gentle an approach as we can.

Feeding: She’s eating three meals a day now along with breastfeeding and drinking breast milk or formula from a bottle. We are mostly feeding her purees, but we are slowly introducing chunkier foods and letting her self-feed.

Stats: I am not sure what her weight is now. She is in 9 or 9-12 month clothes and wears Size 3 diapers.

Highlights:

She pulled herself up to stand in her crib, so we had to lower the mattress.

She started army crawling at first but is now fully crawling, though she is still a bit unsteady.

She still smiles and laughs constantly.

She loves to drink water from her sippy cup and can hold her own bottle.

She still protests when mom and dad walk away.

She places her hand on mine when I say high-five.

She loves to splash around during bath time and now sits on a nonslip mat vs. in a bather.

She wants to grab EVERYTHING.

She still doesn’t have teeth.

We also had her passport photo taken and submitted the passport applications for both the girls, and we are excited for future trips as a family.

That’s it for today’s update. I’ll share another as she gets a bit older and we have hit more milestones. Do you have a kiddo(s)? Share a fun update in the comments!

 

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** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

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Related post:

Flying With a 2-Month-Old Baby
Adelina’s 4-Month Update

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Baby Favorites and A Fail: 0-5 Months

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These past five months have been the quickest of my life. How can my little Addi already be 5 months?! I enjoy reading posts about baby favorites because it gives me an idea of what I might want to check out for my own daughter, and items that others did not like. The baby favorites I am sharing below are used every single day, and we are happy with these purchases (or gifts). I would recommend these as gifts to friends who are expecting or as purchases for your own little one if you’re pregnant.

Our baby favorites for 0-5 months:

  • DockATot: This is one of our most used baby items. It can be used as a cosleeper or lounger and it has such a pretty cover. Of course, you can pick whichever cover you like. I’m going to be sad when she grows out of this, but I am considering getting the larger size. (This was gifted to us by DockATot, and I have a $10 off referral discount using this link.)
  • Activity Mat: At first she didn’t seem interested in this mat, but now that she is more active she loves it. She plays with it every single day. I like that she can kick the piano to play music.
  • Boon Lawn Drying Rack: This is another one of our most used baby items. We use this to dry her bottle parts and my pumping parts. My only regret is not registering for the larger size.
  • Boppy: When she was first born and I was getting the hang of breastfeeding I used this every single feeding, but now I use this more of a tummy time pillow or lounger for Addi. This is one of my favorite baby shower gifts.
  • Sleep sacks/bags: Addi sleeps well in sleeping bags and they keep her at a comfortable temperature. (I linked to an Ergobaby Classic Sleeping Bag that I was gifted by the company. This mention was not sponsored by them in any other way.)
  • Activity Center: This was a recent purchase when Addi started to need more entertainment. She loves it! It was super easy to put together and turns into a toddler play table later on.
  • Noise Machine: I didn’t think a noise machine was necessary when you could use an app, but then you need to leave your phone in the room and can’t get anything done. I also need my phone for other tasks. I am so glad I was gifted this at my shower.

Baby Product Fail

  • Rocker: We didn’t research rockers or swings well and bought this because it was on sale when Babies R Us was going out of business. She liked it at first and would nap in it, but she quickly lost interest. We don’t really use it right now, but we will continue to try for a bit longer.

Do you have any current baby (or pet or adult) favorites? Share them with me in the comments!

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How I Organize My Baby Changing Station

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

How I Organize My Baby Changing Station

I like for all areas of my home to be neat and organized, and that’s become a challenge with two kids, but at least my diaper changing station is in order. When Addi was first born we weren’t even sure we would buy a baby changing table, but I’m so glad we chose this one from Wayfair. It has storage for toys, blankets, or whatever on the bottom, as well as space for three storage bins.

How I organize my baby changing station:

I wanted an animal theme room for the girls, so I registered for this adorable set. I use the bin on the left to store diapers and wipes, the middle bin for gas drops, thermometers, lotions, extra shampoo that isn’t in the bathroom and all sorts of care essentials, and the bin on the right for headbands and pajamas. Originally this last bin only held pajamas and clothes I wanted her to wear, but I moved headbands in here so that I remember to put them on her. She has quite a few, and they were almost all gifted to us by friends and family.

In the bottom section, I use three gray and white storage baskets from Target to store clothes and accessories. These have dividers so that the baskets are separated into three sections. In the first basket, I use the first section to hold clothes she hasn’t worn yet so I can remember to put them on her before she outgrows them. The second and third baskets are sizes 3 months and 3-6 months, which is currently fits into. I want her to wear these as much as possible, so I keep them under the changing station vs. hanging in her closet.

In the next basket I have bibs, hats and socks/shoes. She actually only has one pair of shoes, gold moccasins I found at Target. These divided baskets are perfect for storing such accessories! The final basket has more clothes: bottoms (shorts/pants), two-piece outfits, and keepsake onesies that she probably won’t wear again. (I’m still not sure what to do with them.)

In case you’re wondering, I have already gotten rid of her newborn clothes. I kept the onesie she came home from the hospital in as well as her Adelina onesie for sentimental reasons, but everything else I sold or gave away to my friend. I am constantly rotating her clothes in and out so she gets good use of them.

To the right of the baskets we have two rows of items: A row of swaddles and blankets and a row of towels and washclothes. This is where I have keepsake blankets, too, like her milestone blanket for photos and a blanket from the Chicago Cubs front office.

The top of the table has a pad and a cover, but sometimes I use a blanket over the pad, too. Lately we have been placing the sound machine in a corner because the table is currently in our room until we transition her out. The table is next to a window, and she loves looking at the tree as I change her. She is mesmerized by it. (Note: The window never opens and I have my hands on her the entire time.)

So far I this method of organizing my changing table has worked really well! If you have a baby, how do you organize your baby items?

Related post:

Baby Wish List Gift Guide For On-the-Go Parents

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Adelina’s 4-Month Update

I can’t believe how quickly four months have flown by. Adelina just had her four-month pediatrician appointment and as I drove to the office I wondered where the time went. Addi is such a happy and sweet baby, and I have really loved seeing her change these past several months.

Adelina’s Four-Month Update:

Sleep:

Adelina started sleeping through the night just before turning 3 months old. She typically falls asleep around 8:30 or 9 p.m. and sleeps until about 7 a.m., sometimes as late as 8 or 9 a.m. In the past week or so, though, she has started waking around 3 or 5 a.m. for a feed, which I suspect has to do with the cold that our entire family had along with possibly a temporary drop in my milk supply. (Or the 4-month regression?) Her naps have shortened significantly as well. The pediatrician suggested at her appointment that we now try to teach her to fall asleep on her own, which may help with the naps. She also still sleeps in a bedside bassinet but we are transitioning her to a crib this month. Wish us luck!

Feeding:

We are still breastfeeding, but after two months of not needing to supplement, I needed to give her formula again when I noticed a drop in my milk supply and she seemed to still be hungry. I am working to increase my milk supply again, but I also have no problem whatsoever with formula. Fed is best, after all. Her pediatrician says that we can start introducing rice cereal and purees between now and six months if she shows an interest in our food. She gave us guidelines to follow when we decide to begin.

Stats:

She weighs 14 pounds, 13 ounces, putting her in the 50th-75th percentile. She is 25.3 inches long, which puts her in the 75th percentile. She wears size 3-6 months clothing and size 1 diapers.

 

Adelina's 4-Month Update
I purchased her milestone blanket on Etsy.

Adelina's 4-Month Update

Highlights:

She loves to babble and use her little voice.

She loves when we play music, sing to her and dance.

She loves being outside and if she’s ever fussy she’ll immediately calm down when we take her to the backyard.

She doesn’t enjoy tummy time at all.

She isn’t interested in taking a pacifier, but she does use the teether clip I got her.

She constantly has her hand in her mouth, too!

She loves to watch whatever her big sister is doing.

She smiles constantly and laughs sometimes, too! My favorite part of the day is when she wakes up and immediately smiles at me when she hears my voice.

She went on her first flight at two months and slept the entire way.

She’s been to the Shedd Aquarium, two Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Botanic Garden and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Adelina's 4-Month Update

 

And that’s about it! If you have any tips for transitioning to a crib or sleep training please leave them in the comments!

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Related post:

Flying With a 2-Month-Old Baby

What I Didn’t Know About the Fourth Trimester: Maternity Leave Lessons

Maternity Leave Lessons

Maternity leave is over. I’m back to work full time as an editor. A positive is that I can work from home, though returning to work was still depressing and overwhelming. But on my first day I realized I also felt something I didn’t expect: relief. I felt relieved to be forced into a routine that is in some ways familiar. I felt more like myself than I have in months. Now that I am working again I’ve started to reflect on the past 12 weeks of maternity leave. I went into my maternity leave with grand illusions of being able to accomplish so much. I was going to cross off major blog to-dos, complete my summer bucket list and enjoy my time with my girls. Boy, was I wrong (with the exception of my time with my daughters)! I’m sharing some of what I didn’t know about the fourth trimester, aka the first three months postpartum.

What I Learned During Maternity Leave:

Maternity leave is isolating. This is especially the case if you don’t live near family and close friends. My mom was able to visit and help for two weeks, which helped immensely, but other than that I didn’t have much help. (I am grateful that my mother in law plans to visit soon, though.) People gave me advice about taking time for myself without realizing that I’d love nothing more; I just didn’t have any help with child care and wasn’t ready to leave my baby with a babysitter. I have had some friends visit, which I loved, but for the most part it’s been just me and the girls while Graham works. He has many long days due to the nature of his work, and sometimes his schedule was unpredictable, but we have survived so far.

You need help. If you have people willing to help in whatever way they can during your maternity leave, take it! I wish I could have had that luxury. By help I mean assist with household chores, errands, shopping, child care, whatever!

Your emotions are all over the place. I expected the baby blues, but not to the extent that I felt them. For me they lasted longer than just a couple of weeks. My anxiety has also resurfaced. A contributor to my blues was being alone so often with the girls. I was also anxious and afraid to do things alone with them for fear of what could go wrong. It took time for me to become more confident in venturing out. Some days still have tears, but talking to people honestly about how I feel has helped. Hearing people say that they will help in any way they can has also helped, even if I know they can’t do much from far away.

The bodily changes continue. It doesn’t end with giving birth. Postpartum life also comes with hair loss! Everyday I wonder how I could be losing this much hair. Also, your cycle can return at different times depending on whether you’re breastfeeding.

Twelve weeks of maternity leave is not enough. I know I am privileged to even have 12 weeks off work when many women have to return much sooner due to financial and other concerns. My maternity was unpaid and I had to pay for my health benefits during my leave. I was able to save for it beforehand, but I am still missing out on my big chunk of my annual salary this year. This experience has taught me that 12 weeks is not nearly enough for a woman to recover, and that more companies should show they value their employees by compensating them during leave.

The fourth trimester tests your marriage/relationship. With so much focus on the baby (and your other children), it becomes more challenging to make time for our marriage. But that relationship is the foundation of our family, so it’s important to refocus on it. Now that I am getting slightly more comfortable with leaving the baby I hope to find a night for a date sometime soon depending on Graham’s schedule. Another challenging aspect is figuring out how to work as a team to handle things such as nighttime feedings when you’re both exhausted. Showing appreciation for each other is key during this transition.

Have you experienced the fourth trimester? What did it teach you?

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Flying With a 2-Month-Old Baby

Flying With a 2-Month-Old

I mentioned last year that we canceled our trip to Puerto Rico right after the hurricane because the island was hit hard (No hotels were available at the time.) and pregnant women are advised not to travel to places affected by Zika. We ended up with Southwest Airlines credit to use before it expired at the end of June. I didn’t think I would be able to use it after giving birth, but we asked ourselves, “Why not?” This is our how our first experience flying with a 2-month-old came about over Father’s Day weekend.

We booked a quick weekend trip to Phoenix so that Adelina could meet my side of the family and we could check up on our condo. To say I was nervous to fly with a 2-month-old is an understatement. I was terrified she would cry incessantly because of the ear pressure change or that she would be fussy the entire flight. (We typically don’t worry about V because she is an expert flyer by now.)

Here’s how it went:

We got a late start heading to the airport. We booked a parking spot at the airport on SpotHero, which I’ve written about as a great source of cheap parking, especially in the Chicago area. (If you use my referral link you get a $7 credit and I get $7. Win, win!) This required a shuttle ride to the airport, so my first tip would be to give yourself at least an extra hour to get to the airport and through security than without kids. It was valet parking, which I recommend to save time. We also brought our stroller, which allows V to stand or sit on the back and connects with our infant car seat. This stroller** is great if you have a toddler and a newborn!

Security wasn’t terrible; we went through the family line. Remember to put all your breastmilk and formula in a clear bag and in its own tray for security check. The stroller and car seat had to go through the scanner, which we weren’t prepared for. (Last time they let me push the stroller through with V in it!) Second tip: Take your time and feed your baby before you go through security. I gave A a quick snack feed because she was starting to get fussy.

We got on the plane during family boarding and headed toward the back of the plane. I wanted to be near the bathroom and on the aisle in case I needed to change her. Tip and something I wish I had done: Keep a small bag of what you might need handy, or put everything in the same pocket so you’re not fumbling around on the plane. I had diapers, changing pad, paci, wipes, nursing cover and bottles in different pockets of a backpack, and it was not that easy to find what I needed in the dark. It would be easier to set up mini packets of what you might need for feedings, changings and entertaining.

As far as travel times, we went with flights that were around the kids’ bedtimes. This was a gamble because Addi has been fussy before bed lately, but luckily she wasn’t. I made sure she napped enough during the day and was well fed. I rocked her in the stroller while waiting in the line at the airport and she fell asleep for a bit. Tip: Go with flight times that work best for your baby. If your baby is happier and sleepier at a certain part of the day, that might be the best time to travel. Try not to travel during the busiest times at the airport, either.

My last tip is to go hands-free. We gate checked our stroller and car seat and Addi was my lap child. She was in my carrier for most of the time but I also just held her. Don’t try to carry too much other stuff. Learn from my mistake: I spilled a venti Starbucks drink on the plane because I had too much stuff in my hands.

Overall the first two flights went well! The most stressful part of the trip was getting to the airport with enough time, and that was our fault for not leaving earlier. As long as you allow enough time, it’s fine!

Have you traveled with a baby? What tips do you have for my future flights? Share with me in the comments!

Related posts:

Gift Guide Wish List for On-the-Go Parents
Lessons From First Month With Newborn

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Day in the Life, Maternity Leave Edition

Day in the Life During Maternity Leave
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Addi is seven weeks old as of yesterday, which means I only have five more weeks of maternity leave. I can’t believe how quickly time passes! I don’t yet have a set routine down, and I expect it will take some time for things to settle down. I will have to find a way to work from home with a baby when I do return to editing full time. I have faith in myself, though, because I managed to work from home with a toddler for a year and a half now. I just need a new routine! Today I’m sharing a typical day during my maternity leave.

Here’s how it went:

I wake up at 7 a.m. and head to the bathroom to put my contacts on, brush my teeth, etc.

Victoria is up and I make her breakfast. Today she wants a bagel and cream cheese.

I pump before Adelina wakes up and while V eats. I start a blog post while pumping.

I eat a bagel and get dressed. I put on some light makeup.

I get Victoria ready for preschool.

I nurse Adelina and supplement with pumped milk.

I drop V off at school by 8:30 a.m.

I head to a grocery store to pick up a parking sticker but they tell me they no longer sell them. Their bathroom was out of order and I needed to change Addi, so I end up changing her diaper in the back of the car. #momlife

I head to a currency exchange place in the neighborhood, where I pay $118.50 for a city sticker and zone parking. Yay, Chicago!

I drive home, park the car on my street and place the new sticker on the Jeep. I walk to Starbucks to get myself a Strawberry Acai Refresher. I feel like I earned for the hassle of getting a parking sticker.

I walk back home with Addi in my carrier.

I wash Addi’s bottles, do the dishes and clean the kitchen counters.

Addi wakes up and I nurse her while watching “Parks and Recreation.”

At 11 a.m. she falls asleep and I pump.

While she sleeps I work on the blog post I had started earlier a little more and then put some laundry away. I start a new load. I also finally make the bed, which I didn’t have a chance to do earlier. She wakes up and I nurse her again. I finish the last episode of Parks and Rec and it makes me cry even though I have watched it before.

At noon, I sweep the kitchen floor and heat up leftover pasta while Addi sleeps. I check the mail and change into the new shorts I ordered from Target. They are super comfortable! I start the new season of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on Netflix.

At 12:45 I remember to take my prenatal vitamin and rub my belly with Bio-Oil.

At 1:30 p.m., I nurse Addi again before leaving to go pick Graham up from work.

We pick V up from school at 2:30 p.m. I end up having to feed Addi in the car.

I change Addi’s outfit and diaper when we get home. I eat a snack pack of lactation cookies.

We spend the afternoon relaxing with the kids and watching “Spirit” on Netflix. Addi wants to nurse again around 3:45. She then spends some time playing with her activity gym.

At 4 p.m. I pump for 20 minutes.

At 4:45, Graham heads to a dentist appointment.

V and I watch TV and hang out. Addi gets fussy for a couple of hours and I feed and soothe her.

Graham brings home dinner and we eat as a family, except he can’t really eat after his dental procedure.

We start Addi’s bedtime routine and feeding. She is sleeping by 8:30.

I help V brush her teeth and read her a story. (She changes into pajamas on her own. Her bedtime used to be 7 p.m. in the winter but we have no luck getting her to sleep while it’s light out in the summer. Her new bedtime is 8:45-9 p.m.)

I usually hang out with Graham for bit but on this day he falls asleep at 9. I wash my face, take out my contacts, and put in my retainer.

I, too, go to bed pretty early because I want to get enough sleep and I know I will be up to feed Addi two or three times during the night. I usually pump for 20 minutes before bed and prepare as many bottles as I can for the night.

And that’s a typical day during my maternity leave! I didn’t mention our dog Capone, but Graham takes him for his walks and one of V’s chores is to feed him. I help her do that every day. What’s a typical day like for you right now?

 

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My Breastfeeding Struggles (Plus a Giveaway!)

In the third trimester I spent much of my time watching YouTube videos on what to expect in labor and delivery. I also read countless blog posts and made a list of what to pack in my hospital bag based on dozens of videos I had seen. But there was one area of parenthood I didn’t learn much about: breastfeeding. I had heard both that it was “natural” and that it was challenging. I wondered if I should take a breastfeeding class at the hospital before giving birth, but I was told to wait and see how it goes.

I was not prepared for just how difficult it would be.

The Beginning:

As soon as Adelina was born, she was placed on my chest and she latched soon after. I felt relieved and took it as a sign that breastfeeding might not be as hard as I thought. Later, in our recovery room, a nurse tried to show me how to express colostrum, which I found to be painful. I would try to do it myself and just couldn’t get anything. The nurse also showed me how to position Addi over and over again but I could never get comfortable. It seemed like I got the hang of it when the nurse was in the room but as soon as she left I felt lost. I called the nurses in for help so many times that first night in recovery. On top of that, I was exhausted from a 39-hour labor and being checked on every hour.

The next morning, I attended a lactation class at the hospital where we were given lots of information that I quickly felt overwhelmed by. The class didn’t involve actually feeding our babies, which I would have found more helpful, but I did learn that I could rent a hospital grade pump for a while to help. That night was more of the same. The nurse brought in a pump for me to use, and I did get a tiny bit of colostrum that I placed on my finger and fed the baby. I was told this was all the baby needed for now. But I never quite felt like a had a good latch at the hospital when I was by myself, so a second lactation consultant came in the next morning to help and said it looked OK. Again, I got too much information that I was completely lost in, though I appreciated her encouragement and guidance.

Adelina was quite the sleepy baby when we brought her home. She had to have the jaundice screening a couple times at the hospital and at home she constantly fell asleep at the breast. The first two nights at home were a whirlwind and I just couldn’t get the hang of what I was supposed to be doing. How often was I supposed to pump? How long should she be nursing? I knew nothing and thus I now know I didn’t do enough.

The Monday after being discharged was Adelina’s pediatrician appointment. She weighed 5 lbs 9 ounces; she had lost a full pound since being born, or 15 percent of her birth weight. I felt like such a failure. It’s normal for babies to lose weight after birth, but not that much. The pediatrician immediately suggested supplementing with formula until my milk came in. She sent me home with a box of Enfamil and I tearfully started feeding it to her. To clarify, it wasn’t upsetting that I had to use formula, but that I had allowed my daughter to lose that much weight. There is obviously nothing wrong with formula feeding, I just felt like I had chosen to do something and then failed at it. That was my hardest day since her birth. My pediatrician referred me to several lactation consultants in the area, and I contacted one of them that night and set up a time for her to visit us in our home the next day.

Finding Help:

The lactation consultant has been a godsend.

She first weighed Adelina and then observed as she latched onto my breast. She determined exactly how much she was getting from each side (not much  – only 2 ml on one side that first day she helped!) and gave me tips to keep her awake while feeding. She wrote down exact instructions for how and when to feed her, how much formula to supplement with, how long to pump and when, and more:

  • Offer 1 ounce after breastfeeding, either pumped milk or formula.
  • Used paced bottle feeding.
  • Pump both breasts for 10-15 minutes after nursing.

Overnight the plan was:

  • Offer 2 ounces pumped milk or formula.
  • Use paced bottle feeding.
  • Pump for 20 minutes to drain well.

As you can imagine, this took up all of my time. It could take up to 30 minutes just to breastfeed, plus the time to change her diaper to wake her up and then pump. Feedings were every two and a half to three hours from start to start, and it took about an hour for one feeding. My full-time job was breastfeeding. I could do little else, which for me was extremely difficult and defeating.

Note: I am not suggesting this plan is necessary or for you. Please consult a consultant or your pediatrician for help with breastfeeding if you need it.

The consultant even boiled my bottles for me on that first home visit since I had not already done so. (Adelina was early so I had not gotten to that yet.) She showed me how to clean and store my pumping parts, and she helped me find the right positioning for nursing at home. She suggested a pumping bra, baby carrier and other products (like Vitamin D drops), and she came up with a plan to have Graham feed her at night while I pumped. She suggested storing pump parts in the refrigerator so I don’t need to wash them after every pump and I can instead clean them once a day.

It was several days before my milk finally came in. At Adelina’s next appointment she had gained a few ounces, but we had so much more work to do. I continued to struggle because Adelina got sick in her second week of life. I have also suffered from low milk supply from the start. The next week I attended a lactation clinic where again the consultant measured her weight and how much she gets from each breast. The plan was altered because Adelina didn’t have enough energy to stay awake at the breast:

  • Breastfeed twice per day, offering each breast for 5-10 minutes.
  • Supplement with 30-45 ml (1 ounce to 1.5 ounces) after nursing.
  • Pump for 10-15 minutes.
  • At all other feedings, offer 60 ml (2 ounces) milk or formula and then pump for 20 minutes.
  • Apply generous paced feed.

With this plan I was able to get Adelina’s weight up to 7 pounds, 2 ounces at her next appointment, which was a gain of 14 ounces in eight days! We changed the plan again to breastfeeding three to four times a day since she was feeling better and was more awake. Plus, thanks to breastfeeding she was getting my antibodies.

  • Breastfeed three to four times day for 10-15 minutes per breast while compressing to increase milk flow.
  • Supplement with another ounce after nursing.
  • Pump for 10 minutes after nursing.
  • At other feedings, pump for 20 minutes.

I set up a breastfeeding and postpartum kit next to my bed so that everything I need is right there next to my pump. It makes life so much easier, especially in the middle of the night. I am currently using the Symphony pump I rented from the hospital. My insurance provided the Freestyle pump, but I find the Symphony to be much more helpful and worth the rental cost.

 

Results

My lactation consultant has continued to help by calling and texting to check on us. After each call we reassess the plan. It’s been more than a month and she continues to call every week. She is one of only a few people to truly give unconditional support for breastfeeding, and if it wasn’t for her help I would have quit in that first week. (In case you’re wondering, I paid $225 for her service, but I submitted a claim to my insurance. Check to see if your insurance covers this and take advantage if so. If not, it is definitely still worth it if breastfeeding is important to you, because she has worked incredibly hard to help us.)

Thanks to some products I have found as well as the help I received, Adelina weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces as of yesterday’s lactation clinic.

My current game plan from the consultant is to breastfeed at least five times a day and bottle feed for the other feedings. She doesn’t get enough for a full feeding from my breasts, so I must supplement with either my pumped milk or formula each time. Sometimes I have enough of my own milk to give her, sometimes I don’t.  I keep telling myself not to compare myself to women who pump 5 ounces from just one breast, because I’m doing the best I can.

I haven’t given up on breastfeeding because I want to be able to tell myself I have tried everything I could to feed her the best I can. I also want to bond with her since I didn’t get this experience with Victoria. I produce just enough milk for her, which is enough for me. If I have to stop breastfeeding in a month or two, I know I have done everything I could. I am proud to have done it even this long, though, because I know not everyone can turn it around or find the support she needs.

Products That help/A Giveaway!:

Getting my daughter to a healthy weight with my own breast milk took nonstop sleepless nights, lots of pumping and persistence to get there. It also took research into products to help me with my milk supply. That’s when I came across Colson & Joe, a breastfeeding subscription box. I wanted to help moms like myself who have struggled with nursing, so I reached out to them for a complimentary box to gift to one of you!

 

My hope is that it can help a mom who wants to breastfeed (exclusively or not) and just doesn’t have the support she needs. I received the May Colson & Joe breastfeeding subscription box, which contained:

 

 

I had already tried the lactation cookies, so I was excited to get more of them in the box. I have enjoyed the tea with honey and feel like it did work for me. I like the idea of the Busy Tabs, which you clip onto your bra so you know which side to feed from. The Grey’s Cowbell Muffin was quite tasty and filling. I also immediately started taking the Happy Ducts supplement. I’m excited to continue to try these products on my breastfeeding journey and can’t wait to give a reader a chance to try similar products in a box of her own!

Rules: Open to U.S. and Canada residents age 18 or older only. Winner will receive a coupon code for a free box worth $29.99 and $5 PayPal cash to cover shipping. In order to receive the box, winner will visit Colson & Joe’s website and fill out a survey to determine needs. Winner may choose to continue subscription at his or her own cost. Giveaway entries must be received by May 29, 2018, at 12 a.m. This giveaway is not affiliated with, administered by or sponsored by Instagram, Twitter, or any other company.

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Colson & Joe Gives Back

I love it when companies give back, and Colson & Joe does that. A portion of the proceeds of every box goes toward supplying free boxes to mommies facing the challenge of nursing their baby in a NICU. Helping others is something I can get behind, which is why I reached out to them to do a giveaway.

Other Breastfeeding Resources:

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Sign up for Colson & Joe!

Baby’s First Outing With the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

** This post was sponsored by Binxy Baby. All opinions and photography are my own.

Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

I tried to be as minimal as possible when registering for and purchasing baby items because we don’t have a lot of space in our Chicago apartment for excess infant gear. I searched for infant items that are efficient and can make life easier in the city. Also, because we chose a convertible car seat that can evolve as Adelina grows (vs. an infant car seat), we won’t be carrying our baby around in the seat during errands. We opted instead to use a baby carrier and another item I am really excited about: the Binxy Baby shopping hammock.

Binxy Baby is a hammock in which you can securely rest your infant (or your infant in his or her car seat up to 50 lbs) while you shop. I was gifted the floral pattern Binxy Baby shopping hammock a couple of months ago, and I’ve been eager to use it for baby’s first store run.

Adelina is still quite sleepy, so she continued to rest comfortably during our shopping trip to pick up essentials for her older sister’s birthday this week.

The Binxy Baby shopping hammock is used for babies until they can sit up on their own. It attaches to standard size shopping carts and is safety tested. (The hammock also has safety buckles to keep the baby secure.)

I like that I can quickly and easily place her inside and that safety straps on the side of the shopping cart keep the hammock in place.

The Binxy Baby shopping cart hammock comes with detailed instructions for how to use it. It doesn’t take up much room in my diaper bag, which I appreciate.

If you’d like to try the hammock or gift it to a mom friend or family member, you can use my discount referral link.

GRAB A DISCOUNT ON THE BINXY BABY SHOPPING CART HAMMOCK!

RELATED POST:

BABY PRODUCT WISH LIST GIFT GUIDE FOR ON-THE-GO PARENTS

 

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