My Baby
The layer of fat your baby has rapidly been putting on has now rounded out his face. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives. Speaking of eating, nearly all experts agree that breast milk is the best possible food for babies -- even the companies that make infant formula don't argue this fact. Easily digestible, breast milk provides the perfect balance of protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins that babies need to grow healthy and strong. And plenty of research points to its immune-system -- and even IQ-boosting -- benefits. But having said all that, it's equally important to remember that plenty of healthy, brilliant people (presidents, Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs) have been raised on formula by plenty of loving, caring moms. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to breastfeed -- or if you simply choose not to. If you plan to try breastfeeding, it's a good idea to get the number of a recommended lactation consultant now, in case you have problems getting the hang of it initially.
The layer of fat your baby has rapidly been putting on has now rounded out his face. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives. Speaking of eating, nearly all experts agree that breast milk is the best possible food for babies -- even the companies that make infant formula don't argue this fact. Easily digestible, breast milk provides the perfect balance of protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins that babies need to grow healthy and strong. And plenty of research points to its immune-system -- and even IQ-boosting -- benefits. But having said all that, it's equally important to remember that plenty of healthy, brilliant people (presidents, Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs) have been raised on formula by plenty of loving, caring moms. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to breastfeed -- or if you simply choose not to. If you plan to try breastfeeding, it's a good idea to get the number of a recommended lactation consultant now, in case you have problems getting the hang of it initially.
My Body
Here, yet another reason to be in awe of that extremely hardworking bod of yours: You've actually been capable of producing milk since about your sixth month of pregnancy. You may have even noticed droplets of a cloudy fluid, called colostrum, on your nipples. Also known as early milk, this fluid contains antibodies that help fight infection and build resistance to many common illness during your baby's first days on the outside. So even if you don't plan on breastfeeding for the long haul, you might want to consider nursing just for a couple of days so your baby can take advantage of this nutritional head start.
The production of true breast milk is triggered by the release of the hormone prolactin right after birth -- and it usually takes three to five days to arrive. When it does, many women will find that their breasts suddenly become huge (and we mean huge!), rock-hard, and really sore -- a condition called engorgement. It might last for several days, but nursing or pumping, massaging the girls in a hot shower, or applying ice packs can help. And as your baby continues to nurse, your body will adjust milk production according to how much he's actually eating, which should also provide some relief.
Here, yet another reason to be in awe of that extremely hardworking bod of yours: You've actually been capable of producing milk since about your sixth month of pregnancy. You may have even noticed droplets of a cloudy fluid, called colostrum, on your nipples. Also known as early milk, this fluid contains antibodies that help fight infection and build resistance to many common illness during your baby's first days on the outside. So even if you don't plan on breastfeeding for the long haul, you might want to consider nursing just for a couple of days so your baby can take advantage of this nutritional head start.
The production of true breast milk is triggered by the release of the hormone prolactin right after birth -- and it usually takes three to five days to arrive. When it does, many women will find that their breasts suddenly become huge (and we mean huge!), rock-hard, and really sore -- a condition called engorgement. It might last for several days, but nursing or pumping, massaging the girls in a hot shower, or applying ice packs can help. And as your baby continues to nurse, your body will adjust milk production according to how much he's actually eating, which should also provide some relief.
My Life
You might be wondering...if breastfeeding is sooooo beneficial, why doesn't every mom do it? Well, for starters, it's harder than it looks -- and it can be pretty awkward, too. Breastfeeding is unlike anything you've ever done before, and there's no way of knowing how easily you and your baby will get the hang of it. It can feel weird to have milk coming out of your breasts, and especially in the beginning, nursing is a true balancing act (figuring out how to hold baby, use the Boppy, unhook your nursing bra, etc.) Some women have a hard time producing enough milk, and some infants (especially preemies) have trouble latching on properly, for example. And it's also a big time commitment: Newborns generally need to eat every two to three hours 'round the clock, and it can be extremely exhausting to have your boobs at the ready on that kind of schedule. Then there's the whole breastfeeding in public issue -- if you're nursing exclusively, you've gotta be comfortable with it. (No wonder more than 70 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their newborns, but only about half nurse their 3-month-old babies, according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) So if you're able to breastfeed, that's great! Health benefits aside, it's a very sweet way to relate to your new baby, and it's different from any kind of relationship you've ever had. But if you can't or choose not to, remember that love -- not free-flowing breast milk -- is what makes you your baby's best possible mom.
You might be wondering...if breastfeeding is sooooo beneficial, why doesn't every mom do it? Well, for starters, it's harder than it looks -- and it can be pretty awkward, too. Breastfeeding is unlike anything you've ever done before, and there's no way of knowing how easily you and your baby will get the hang of it. It can feel weird to have milk coming out of your breasts, and especially in the beginning, nursing is a true balancing act (figuring out how to hold baby, use the Boppy, unhook your nursing bra, etc.) Some women have a hard time producing enough milk, and some infants (especially preemies) have trouble latching on properly, for example. And it's also a big time commitment: Newborns generally need to eat every two to three hours 'round the clock, and it can be extremely exhausting to have your boobs at the ready on that kind of schedule. Then there's the whole breastfeeding in public issue -- if you're nursing exclusively, you've gotta be comfortable with it. (No wonder more than 70 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their newborns, but only about half nurse their 3-month-old babies, according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) So if you're able to breastfeed, that's great! Health benefits aside, it's a very sweet way to relate to your new baby, and it's different from any kind of relationship you've ever had. But if you can't or choose not to, remember that love -- not free-flowing breast milk -- is what makes you your baby's best possible mom.
And here we go, into month number 9! We're in the homestretch, and I can hardly wait to see our new little family member! It's so exciting!
There really isn't much else to report from here... John is wrapping up his holiday concert season this coming week, which is good. The last thing he's got is his school's concert on the 19th, and that will be a good show anyway. I'm looking forward to getting up there to see it!
We will be hosting Christmas at our house this year, which is also exciting, and I am looking forward to that as well. It's nice to not have to travel, and to have people come to us. John will be singing at the Christmas Eve mass the night before, but that is at 4 in the afternoon, so we'll still be home nice and early. The 23rd we're hosting a Christmas party for some friends, which will also be fun, but it will make for a busy weekend, with the 22nd being a party for one of my uncles in Hanover. So, party the 22nd, party the 23rd, Christmas Eve the 24th, Christmas the 25th. And people wonder why I'm taking the week before my due date off? I just need to recover from the holidays!!!
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