It's that time...

...time to get healthy, get in shape, and get back to pre-pregnancy body. 6 weeks postpartum has creeped on me! That's okay though, I am ready to like my body again. I had Jason take pictures for me so I can track the progress. Holy back fat! Thank goodness he took those because seeing that picture can me a lot of motivation.

Before I started anything I got new shoes. Because, new shoes.

My plan is a modified beachbody/shakeology with a little common sense and my own knowledge of health. Since I am breastfeeding Morgan I am hungry all the damn time. I will trade in my McDonald's and bad foods for healthy and fresh. Don't get me wrong, I will cheat and have treats from time to time. All in moderation, right?

My pre-pregnancy weight: 147

Weight at 39 weeks: 169

Weight at 6 weeks PP: 150

Here are the 6 weeks postpartum pictures. 

 Expected this ^^

 Expected this ^^

Where does back fat come from!? Eww! Do. Not. Like.

I did my first workout for the day today. It was hard. I will be sore tomorrow. Half way through my 4 sets, Morgan needed to nurse. Maybe she felt sorry for me because I was struggling? Maybe she is excited it is National Breastfeeding Week? Or she is just a chunker. 

Cheers to day 1!

Week One

It's officially been one week since Morgan was born. There are a lot of changes going on in our world. Not only are we transitioning from 1-2 kids, we are also in the middle of a PCS. Nate has become a big brother, and I am going through what some call the "4th trimester".

I want to celebrate Morgan's 1 week, celebrate Nate being a big brother, Jason being awesome, and me adjusting to postpartum life.

First...Morgan. She is the cutest little chunker. She eats and sleeps and poops. All. Day. Long. When she is nursing, she sounds like a Pterodactyl. She is in newborn clothes, but not for long. She loves to sleep on mommy and daddy's chest. Target was her outing at 5 days old and at 7 days old, she went to 808 Bounce to watch her big brother bounce. She had her first bath at 6 days old...didn't love it, didn't hate it. She doesn't have a sleep schedule yet, every night has been different.

Second...Big Brother Nathan. He is very loving towards her and asks where she is frequently. He will randomly kiss her on the cheek. He likes to give her his bear and blanket in the morning when he wakes up and she is still sleeping. He tries to share his toys with her, like a puzzle piece or a small car. Since he cut the umbilical cord, he asks if he can "cut it"(her stump is still attached). He really hasn't been rough with her. I think it is because we talked to him about her from the very beginning and he watched her being born. I have no doubt he will very protective over her.

Third...Myself. The 4th trimester is the first 3 months after baby is born. It's all the changes that happen to a woman's body after growing a human inside of you for almost 10 months. It's been a week and my body is changing. The first few days my uterus was still contracting. Super painful. Day 3 my milk fully came in and I was in SO much pain. I still get super engorged and pump at least twice a day to relieve some of the pain. In 7 days, just pumping twice a day for about 3 minutes, I've accumulated over 30oz of milk in my freezer. That's not counting all the milk Miss Morgan is getting. I am averaging about 3-5 hours of sleep at night and not all together. It seems like I am just taking small naps. Let's just say I'm tired, but still functioning well in my opinion. My stomach is slowly going down. I have lost about 10lbs. I still look pregnant. I still wear maternity clothes because I am in an in between size and they are more comfortable holding in that extra fat. I'm pretty pleased with how I look just 7 days after popping out a human though.

Fourth...Jason. The best daddy and husband. He celebrated his first Father's Day as a daddy of two. He was been on Nate duty so I can be on Morgan duty. He sleeps through the night so I can nap during the day. He tells me I'm sexy. He changes poopy diapers, both Nate's and Morgan's. He is handling all of our PCS arrangements from flights to hotels to rental cars to shipping and selling our cars and everything else we need to handle before we leave Hawaii. The guy never stops. Always doing something to help out. How did I get so lucky?

So that has been our last 7 days. With everything going on, I feel like we are adjusting as well as we can. Everything is falling into place and my stress levels have dropped tremendously. I can't wait to see how the next weeks go. My next goal is getting some family pictures of the four of us. We are in organized chaos. We are living our life and it is amazing. Crazy, but amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

Hospital Bag Packed!

Time to pack the bags! My due date is less than a month away and movers come in a week so our bags for the hospital(and hotel living) are getting packed and ready to go. With Nate, I packed everything at 38 weeks. I would wait with Morgan, too, but with us PCS-ing it has to be done a little bit sooner.

Since Morgan is a girl, I had a very difficult time deciding what to pack. Girl clothes are so flipping cute! I wanted to bring every headband and every outfit she has already! I tried to limit myself, but I know I probably packed way too much.

This bag is packed with the assumption I will have a vaginal delivery and stay in the hospital for 2-3 days.

Cute stuff first. Our going home outfit. I went to a Baby Expo and got a tank top for me with a newborn headband for her. I will wear the tank top and leggings. She will wear a onesie, pants, and the headband. Isn't it so cute!?

Mommy's stuff:

1. Clothes

* Hospital gown. My mom got this gown for me as a gift. Otherwise I would just wear what the hospital has.

* 2 nursing bras

* 2 tank tops(nursing friendly)

* 1 nursing shirt

* 1 long sleeve nursing friendly top. I get cold fast so I packed a long sleeve just in case I was cold.

* 2 pairs of soft socks. Again, because I get cold and the floors are dirty in the hospital.

* Flip flops. I will wear them to the hospital.

2. Toiletries

*shampoo/conditioner

*body wash

*toothbrush/toothpaste

*hairbrush

*chapstick

*make-up/makeup remover

*deodorant

*hair ties

*nursing pads

*nipple cream

3. Pillow.

*The hospital will obviously have pillows, but I want mine. 

4. Camera, phone, and chargers

5. Insurance cards 

6. Cash

* Just in case the cafeteria is closed and you need to eat from the vending machines.

Things I need, but hospital will provide: Every hospital provides different items so be sure to ask if yours provides the extra items you need/want.

1. Mesh panties. Take them all. I don't want to get my own underwear gross and bloody and they are actually really comfortable. 

2. Peri bottle. 

3. Tucks

4. Pads. Again, take them all. You will be bleeding heavily. They feel like you are wearing a diaper, but oh well. Get thinner ones once you leave the hospital. 

Postpartum Care: These are things I am not packing in my hospital bag, but will have ready to go when I get released.

1. Pads. Thinner ones, but still overnight/heavy flow.

2. Tucks

3. Nipple cream

4. Bottom spray

5. Nursing pads

Morgan's Stuff:

1. 3 sleepers

2. 4 outfits + going home outfit

3. 3 mittens

4. 2 pairs of socks

5. 2 swaddle blankets

6. 1 swaddle me

7. 1 burp cloth

8. 2 pacifiers. Not sure if I will use them.

9. Boppy

10. Cloth diapers. Just bringing a few for the last day to see the fit and start getting into the routine. 

11. Wet bag.

12. 1 woven wrap and 1 ring sling. Not necessary, but I want to be able to try them with a newborn and if I am walking around, she can have skin-to-skin. 

13. Car seat

Both Morgan and my stuff fit in one duffel bag, minus the Boppy, my pillow, and car seat. 

That's it! I can't believe I can fit it all in one duffel bag! I still need to pack Nate an overnight bag in case he has to go with a friend. Also, some people pack a change of clothes, pajamas, and toiletries for daddy-to-be, but Jason is going to fend for himself. 

Hope I remembered everything! Any other suggestions are welcome!

Sharing is Caring: A Guest Post by Katie Moore on Transitioning into Motherhood.

Tips for Transitioning into Motherhood

 

First time motherhood is a monumental experience that can be filled with anticipation, joy, and amazement. Luckily, the long nine months of pregnancy allow a mom-to-be to address several of her questions and concerns before the baby even arrives.

 

Some decisions should be made prior to the baby's arrival, including:

 

1. Cloth diapering versus disposable - For cloth diapering, there are some start up costs that should be noted, including different sized diaper covers and washable inserts; for disposable diapering, moms should have enough diapers and wipes for the first few weeks of baby's life, but remember that certain brands will work better for each baby so try not to stock up too far in advance in case baby needs a different diaper brand

 

2. Formula versus breast feeding - Every mother has the right to decide how to feed her baby. It has generally been believed that breastfeeding was better for a child, but formula feeding is just as healthy. For breastfeeding, there are several educational resources including lactation specialists at the hospital and breastfeeding classes a woman can take to learn the proper way to get her baby to latch on.

 

Baby formulas are available in several different varieties and the baby may prefer one type to another due to sensitivity, taste and even allergies; moms can contact formula companies and request different samples to have on hand when baby is here and ready to eat; many hospitals and doctor's offices can also provide formula samples until moms find the one that works best for their baby.

 

3. Cord blood banking – Planned for before delivery day with a private storage facility, umbilical cord blood banking is where the cord blood is collected after birth and stored for potential use in treating a possible future illnesses. The medical staff in the delivery room should be made aware that this option has been chosen by the parents so they can plan to perform the collection when the time comes.

 

The first few weeks of baby's life is an adjustment period for mom and baby. For a mother used to a full night's sleep, the interruptions at night to feed the baby can take its toll. Luckily, there are several things that a mom can do to regain her strength and avoid suffering from sleep deprivation:

 

1. Sleep when the baby sleeps! A new mother should relax and avoid the temptation to do housework or other chores when the baby naps. Mom can snuggle into bed and take a nap; even a short amount of time resting can do wonders for their energy level

 

2. Proper Nutrition – A mom should make sure she is eating and drinking enough, especially if breastfeeding, to help keep her energy up. Making it a priority to have small meals throughout the day and always keep a water bottle handy are great ways for a mother to ensure her health is taken care of.

 

3. Accept offers of help – Many times, family and friends want to help a new mom take care of her home and newborn to help during post-delivery recovery. Some mothers may feel reluctant to accept the help either out of embarrassment or the feeling that, as the mother, she needs to be able to handle it all. For a new mother, recovery time is important and she can learn that her feelings of exhaustion will not be forever; accepting help with house chores or babysitting will allow a mother some time to rest and relax.

 

A new mom should know that it is normal to have some emotional ups and downs, known commonly as the “baby blues”. A mother has just gone through a major change and will need time to heal. However, if a mom ever feels like her moods are just too much to handle, she should feel comfortable asking her doctor about postpartum depression. With a great support system of family, friends and medical partners, a mother will breeze into motherhood.

 

This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.  If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.