He is here!

Oliver Wayne is finally here! We welcomed our sweet boy on Wednesday, June 3rd. We woke up bright and early and headed to the hospital for our scheduled repeat C-Section. It was a calm car ride.. but weird in the fact that we knew within hours we would be holding our son. I was really nervous for it all, knowing what to expect everything to be like.

When we got to the hospital we were greeted by really nice nurses who asked me about my previous birth experience and then made sure that this experience went the complete opposite. Everyone came in and introduced themselves to us, explained what their role would be in the birth, and then again, asked how they could make me feel comfortable. It was absolutely amazing.

Once all of the papers were signed, and I was prepped... I had to walk into the OR. I didn't know that would happen, but it did. It was intimidating walking into that bright white operating room. Funny part was that I was too short to climb onto the table. They actually had to find a stool for me to hop up there on. Once I was on there I was prepped and given the Spinal block. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I definitely almost jumped out of my skin when I felt the pinch of it. Thankfully my anesthesiologist was incredibly nice and good at what he did. He made me feel safe and in good hands. (My last experience, my anesthesiologist was a total b***h, honestly.)

Once I was numbed and everything was good, everyone else flooded into the room. It went from quiet small talk between the nurses and I, to a buzzing bee hive. I remember just wondering where Dillon was, and when he would be there. Once he was finally there it all began. Pressure, tugging, talking, then I felt the weight of Oliver's body missing from mine... and then there it was! His little baby cry! I was so happy and relieved to know he was Earth side! And even more comforting, my doctor had said, "this baby is posterior too!"...... I was instantly filled with gratitude and so proud of myself for listening to my gut. I could have attempted what the doctors even confirmed would have been a nightmare of a VBAC that probably would have still ended up in a C-Section.Although I have dreamed for so long of that natural birth experience, I am so thankful that I made the choice I did. I would have felt robbed again of my dream if things would have went south.

Once they checked everything on Oliver really quick they instantly brought him and laid him on my chest. It was awesome that my hands were not shaking and going crazy this time. Even more so that when I felt anything weird I could tell my anesthesiologist and he had some way to fix it for me. 

Getting to finally hold the little boy that was inside of me for so long was amazing. I was flooded with emotion and love. He was so cute, and to my surprise looked nothing like Opal. He was short and chunky, and looked like me! Every day he wakes up looking a little different and more like me. I love it! I held him for a few minutes, and would have got to hold him longer but I handed him off to Dillon because my eyes started to get really itchy and I couldn't stop blinking really hard. It was frustrating. But during this time Dillon got to go cut the umbilical cord, see Oliver be measured and weighed, and then we were all off to the recovery room.

Once we were there I got to nurse Oliver and cuddle him. It was the best moment. There's nothing like the first latch and that knowing that bond between you and the life you created is about to blossom. He did so well with his latch, and has only been getting better.

I'm not sure what it is about my body and birth, but I always have complications with bleeding. This time around I was passing baseball size blood clots after birth with a constant leaking of blood. Not good. But the DR stripped my uterus and after a while the clots stopped and the blood stopped leaking.

Once that situation was resolved I got to go to the mother-baby area and settle into my room. Once my legs were no longer numbed I got to go on a walk that evening before bed. My night nurse was on my nerves at that point lol. I was feeling really good, and I guess she wasn't used to that. I was taking small steps, smalllllllll steps!! And this woman kept telling me to slow down and that I was going too fast and that I should be in pain. I was so confused, like, was I supposed to pretend to feel worse than I did? Lol, anyways, walking was easy for me to do. It wasn't like I was speed walking or even walking at a normal pace... I was walking like an elderly woman who was very tired. The next morning my catheter was removed along with some monitor that was attached to my incision. I felt like a million bucks getting to use the potty by myself! And don't get me started on how amazing getting the IV removed was! It blew me away that this all happened on my first day post surgery!! None of this happened until day 5 with my last birth. I got to get dressed and do my makeup all on day 1!! It was so exciting.

My mother in law, father in law, and Opal came to visit after the surgery. I was incredibly nervous to see how Opal would take to Oliver. I didn't know if she would be happy, confused, angry... Didn't know. Thankfully though, she was amazing with him!! She came and sat next to me on my bed and kept saying "boy!" And "baby!" It was incredible! She kissed and hugged him a lot. You could see the love and adoration in her eyes. She is still doing great. We've only had 2 jealousy moments so far. I'm learning to balance how to spread myself between the two kids and my husband. Can you believe with 2 kids we've somehow still found time to cuddle and have quiet time to just talk on the couch. It seems so natural and easy, honestly.

 

Oliver has already been out and exploring with us. We have gone to Eastern Market, grocery shopping, and to a park for a picnic. We even  went to lunch at a bakery I've been eyeing in Old Town Alexandria.

Recovery for me has been a breeze. With the last C-section I was miserable. I had so much pain, swelling and trapped gas. This time around I think the most painful part was my engorged boobies!! Hahah! They switched my medication this time around to one I wasn't allergic to, and then some ibuprofen also. I had been taking it all every 6-7 hours apart rather than the 2-3 that is suggested. I still have so much medicine in my bottles and have stopped taking them because I don't feel much pain. The worst of it is probably just moving in bed I can feel the pinch of the stitches on my uterus, but even that is only for a split second and it is gone. Amazing, right?

I didn't even have much swelling in my legs or ankles. The swelling and bloat on my stomach is fading fast too. I wake up every day and it is at least 2 inches smaller. I have no fear that it'll all go down and I'll be back to somewhat normal very soon. :-) no worries about that either though, just want to fit my shorts because it is too hot for yoga pants, haha!!

Since being home, our lives still seem normal. It feel natural to have this little baby nursing all day, along with a toddler who is getting into everything. Night time is actually fairly easy. Opal's toddler bed is in our bedroom. I nurse Oliver, wrap him up and place him in the bassinet. Then I lay a pillow on my lap/ chest and Opal climbs up into my lap and within minutes she passes out. I then move her to her bed and she's good for the night. I have been moving Oliver back into my bed and letting him cosleep with us because getting up and out of bed can be interesting with my stitches. It's much easier to just nurse him while sleeping, too.

So honestly, I've been sleeping normal too. The only thing I haven't been able to do as easily is cleaning up. I kind of just sit around in the sofa and Dillon cleans everything up. I'm so glad he's home to help me with everything. I couldn't do any of it without him. And bless his heart, he's been doing all of the diaper changes!! I have changed only around 5 diapers between 2 kids this entire week. I'm so lucky, lol.

I can't believe I am even saying this, but life with an eighteen month old and a newborn is going easy. I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but I'm just so thankful for it. I hope it can continue to feel this natural and amazing. 

And I know I have been saying for months that we still don't know what is going on with our future... And as of today... We still don't. But I will tell you what we do know.

We put in our 30 day notice and will be leaving Virginia at the end of this month.

We scheduled our move with DMO (TMO) for the last Friday of this month.

We are moving to my hometown in California as of now, but that shouldn't actually be our destination. We should find out our new duty station by next week, but can't change the TMO stuff until they cut us official orders.

I hope that sometime next week I can have a post all about our future. It would be nice to know where we will be moving to in 2.5 weeks. It has been and still is extremely scary and stressful to not know what our future holds. It's even scarier to know you're technically going to be homeless and jobless until someone finally decides to get to work on your stuff. We have been waiting and waiting, and then his application gets sent back to be fixed or changed, or a signature has expired... It's just all been a nightmare. I'm ready for it to be done. And as far as we know now, it is finally at its last destination and on the desk of the final part of this process. We are so close.

So until then, wish us luck and keep my family in your thoughts please! <3

Fourth Trimester Needs, what do I need now?

 So you had your baby and you're home from the hospital..... now what?

This is the question all new parents have. You're incredibly tired, you're not sure why the baby is crying and you're not even completely sure what is going on with your body. Your boobs are filled with milk now, you're so sore down below, and to top it off.. you're going to have your "period" for around 4 weeks! How fun, right? Don't get stressed out about all of this stuff. You've got a sweet babe in your arms, and I promise they will make it all worth it!

Here's my list of things you should have on hand once you're home!

PHOTO FROM EARTHMAMAANGELBABY.COM

C-Mama Healing Salve / Mommy Bottom Spray/ balm:

I love Earth Mama Angel Baby products, (obviously) but if you happen to have your own brand preference, great! As an example though, I am using these. If I have a VBAC I will use the Mommy Bottom Spray, (and/or possibly this balm) and for my scheduled C-section my handsome and wonderful husband ordered this salve for me. You can buy the spray in stores at Target and Babies R Us, the C-section salve you have to order online.

To see their full collection of postpartum care products, go here.

Pads:

Let's face it. Nobody really wants to talk about the bleeding (lochia) that happens after birth. But it is going to happen regardless, to every mother. You can't wear tampons during this time frame (4-6 weeks) so what do ya do? In the hospital you'll be wearing these huge diaper-like pads that they provide. Last time, I bought my "favorite" pads, which were thin and what not. I hated it.This go around I bought maxi pads, because let's face it, thin just ain't gonna work. I made sure to buy nighttime ones too, because worrying about leaking all over my sheets is at the top of my worries. Blood just grosses me the heck out, and coming from there is even worse. For the first week to 10 days it'll be at it's heaviest. I will switch to a smaller, thinner pad once the bleeding goes down to a regular flow.. until then, maxi pads!

Belly Band:

I mentioned this in my hospital bag post, but I think it is fitting here too. Your belly is gonna be swollen and most likely your skin will be loose/ saggy feeling. These belly bands help hold everything up and in. It helps after a cesarean too, because you can protect your stitches/ scar from your clothes rubbing against it.

Lactation Cookies/ Teas:

I may pack a couple cookies for the hospital and have some on hand for my arrival home. Good to help your milk supply. I've heard from a lot of women that these types of products helped them. I have used the teas before, but never the cookies. I may give them a shot!

Postnatal Vitamins:

I will finish the bottle of prenatal gummy vitamins that I have and then I will switch to some postnatal vitamins and possibly add some specifically for nursing. I will talk to my OB about this, you should too.

Water Bottle:

The thirstiest you've ever been in your life will be the second your baby latches on to your breast. I promise. And if you are unable to get up to get something, you'll be a crazy woman demanding anyone in your house (possibly even your dog or cat) to get you a beautiful tall glass of ice water. So to avoid this scenario from happening, make sure to top off your water bottle before nursing.


Hope this helps you remember and plan for yourself AFTER birth.

xoxo, Chelsea.

Hospital Bag Pt. 2: What to pack for Mommy.

 

 Hey! So last month I made a general must haves post about packing my hospital bag! You can read that here. But I want to go into detail about what specifically to pack for mommy, baby, and the family over this next week. To begin, lets start with Mommy!

(Obviously you'll need your wallet and things like medications you're taking- if any. All of those obvious items, I am not going to mention here.)

Here is a little recap from the last post:

A pretty robe and nightgown.

I don't care what anyone says! That hospital gown makes you feel so gross and it isn't flattering at all. It doesn't look pretty in the photos, and I don't care if I stain this. I bought it to boost my confidence for the hospital and it really will do just that. Purple is one of my happy colors. I recommend taking something in a color that makes you feel amazing and ignore the "you'll stain it somehow" remarks. Who cares! I want to feel and look pretty while in that bland hospital.

Comfortable sleep nursing bras.

I have some old ones that I had from nursing Opal, but I bought this new set for the same reason as above. New stuff makes me feel special and pretty. I didn't have this style of sleep bras yet, so that is exciting to. It is going to do the job of making my uncomfortable engorged boobies feel as awesome as possible.

Undies.

Personal preference. But the day I go home I am most definitely not wearing those mesh undies. I am going to feel like a normal woman in some normal undies.

Nursing pads.

Washables will stay home, I am only packing the disposable ones.

Slippers.

Walking the halls is a necessity. Pack some slippers! I bought these to match my robe, and I haven't wore them once. I am saving them to add to the "new makes me feel awesome" feeling.

Socks.

The hospital's compression socks aren't all too flattering either- so I'm taking these. Hopefully I wont be as swollen this go-around, and they'll fit.

Glasses.

Don't forget to pack these if you need them!

Lip balm.

You'll need this for sure. Hospitals are dry and if you're like me and lick/ bite your lips while nervous or anxious- you'll definitely need it! Ha-ha!

Water bottle.

Your hospital will have large foam cups that the nurses and your partner or family will continuously bring you full of yummy ice water. 

So what else does Mommy need? Toiletries and Nursing items!

Nursing Pillow.

  I have used a Boppy, My Brest Friend, and those free ones that you get emails about.

My personal preference has been the My Brest Friend- I love the back support, strap, pockets, how wide it is for baby, and how the baby is actually supported and not rolling into or away from you like they can with the Boppy. I have this specific pillow in "Blue Bells".

Nipple Butter and Pads.

I chose Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter. It is all natural and safe for you and baby. You don't have to stress about wiping it all off before each nursing sesh. I'll probably use it as my lip balm too. Babies R Us carries it in stores AND you can now finally buy this in stores at Target, too!

Check out all of their products for:

Breastfeeding care here.

Postpartum care here.

I like these NUK pads because of how thin they are. You can't see them through your tops. They work great, and they don't come apart like some others that I've tried. The price point on them is really great too.

Skin care.

I have a really serious thing about taking care of my skin. I break out and am allergic to a lot of products/ makeup. So I will be taking my face wash routine, some makeup remover wipes, and a facial cleansing wipes to keep my face from breaking out while I am in the hospital.

I am also taking a body wash and small moisturizer for my face and hands.

Deodorant- because duh.

*not pictured- shampoo and conditioner. Take these with you if you plan on washing your hair during your stay. I am taking a shower cap because I will wash my hair the day of my surgery and wont need to wash again during my stay.

I ALSO RECOMMEND SHOWER SHOES. TAKE SOME FLIP FLOPS TO WEAR WHILE YOU SHOWER IN THE HOSPITAL!!!!!!  

Hopefully your hospital is clean, but you just never know with public showers. I don't do germs.

Eye care.

I mentioned above to take your glasses, but don't forget to pack your contacts, their case, and a small solution for them. I love my contacts, so these are definitely going.

Oral care.

 Take your toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. I am taking Listerine in the travel size also, because you just never know if you'll be stuck to a bed for a long period of time unable to brush your teeth properly.

Make up.

Some women will want to wear makeup, others wont.  There are usually professional photographers who will come by and offer to take photos that you can later purchase. Having these items on hand is good if you plan to do this.

 Hair Care.

If you plan on showering (and washing your hair) you'll likely want to pack shampoo and conditioner. I am having a scheduled C-section so I will be washing my hair the day of and styling it. I am taking a shower cap because I only wash my hair every 3 days. :-) If I need these products my house is close enough to the hospital that my hubby will bring them to me.

I am going to try to do my hair and makeup every single day of this journey because that is what I feel will make me happy. I want to feel and look my best. I am going have the professional photos be taken this time around also.

Nursing tops.

 If you're going to be nursing, take a couple tank tops even if you're planning on a short stay. You never know when your milk is going to come in, and you may leak. I hate being in a top that has a bunch of dried milk all over it. It just feels nasty.

Dress from Target.
Jacket is from Gap.
Necklace from Charlotte Russe.

Handbag: gift.
Sandals are from Payless.


Going home outfit and shoes.

 I am having a C-section, so I am packing a light and very loose dress. I don't want to wear anything tight or touchy on my scar. I'm taking sandals the day I go in, and will wear them returning home too.

For the lovely ladies having a natural birth- leggings and a top are optional for you. Definitely pack clothes for a size 5 or 6 month belly. You're still going to have a pretty swollen tummy while your uterus is in the process of shrinking.

I do recommend packing a dress just in case. You never know how your birth will end. 

I had no idea I was going to have a c-section the first time around and had to wear leggings and a tight top home. I was in so much pain and was uncomfortable. I truly wish I packed a dress to go home in just in case.

DRESS: FOREVER 21  SHOES: TARGET

TUMMY BAND: MOTHERHOOD

Tummy Sleeve/ Band. 

I am taking mine with me to hold my belly up. I wasn't a fan of the Abdominal Binder that the hospital gave me last time. It hurt and was too large for me. I am going to use this and if I end up wanting something more supportive I will buy the smaller binder from Babies R Us. Last time though, this did the trick and I could still breathe.

Ipad/tablet with favorite movie(s).

Your hospital should have the option to pay for cable during your stay. I am going to do this again, but I am also taking my Ipad with my current favorite movies. It will help to pass time and take my mind off of things if needed. Especially during the times my hubby may be at home napping or spending time with Opal and I am alone at the hospital. 

Pillows.

I don't think I am going to take pillows from home with me, but I am going to keep two in my car. Why? Because I am totally taking others' advice about hugging one pillow, and sitting on another on the ride home. Having that C-section wound is going to have me all sorts of sore. I remember every bump on the drive home was so painful, so I hope this tip really does help.

I also want to share a link to my Pinterest board that I have been pinning some advice from other bloggers.  

 

        

I'll continue to add to this as much as possible.

My breastfeeding journey at 8 months post partum.

Here we are, eight months postpartum! How in the heck did this happen?! I seriously feel like I sat down on the remote of my life and accidentally switched it to "fast forward".... WHERE'S THE PAUSE BUTTON!? I would totally love to pause my life and enjoy Opal at this stage in life for a bit longer. I wish Dillon was here to enjoy her. She's beautiful and just so, soooo smart.


I want to focus on how our breastfeeding journey has been thus far, and share a couple of things with y'all for World Breastfeeding Week.


First of all, I want those parents who may be reading this, and weren't or aren't breastfeeding to know that I am in no way wanting you to feel offended or less than those who do. I support you and however you are feeding your babe! They're being fed and that is all that matters! I know that there are so many reasons parents use formula, and that is your business, completely!


I happen to be breastfeeding though.... and I want to share my experience and the lessons I've learned.

Try to sleep as much as possible.

First off, the first couple weeks sucked. Having a newborn baby and being super tired sucks in general. I remember waking up so many times to my husband, Dillon walking around the room holding a pillow in his arms and "shushing" it back to sleep.... He was asleep and thinking he was comforting our new baby. That is how tired we were!

Life has to go on.

Dillon and I had no family in DC.. It was just us. There was no hospital visitors, balloons, prepared food, clean house, or welcome home party.. It was just us and the dogs with a brand new little baby. Neither of us had changed a diaper before. We had no idea what we were doing. And we had no one to do our errands for us. Opal literally was out grocery shopping with me in snow storms at 2 weeks old. I had to take her out. I had to resume my normal life, even with a fresh cesarean scar.

 Talk to a lactation consultant.

Engorged boobs were the worst! I started out with a B cup, by the time I was 9 months pregnant I was a DDD, and I am now a D to DD, depending on how much milk they're carrying. Opal had a tough time the first day that my milk came in, but we happened to still be in the hospital when that happened (due to an infection in my uterus) so I had a lactation consultant come by to help me out. She was an angel. She helped me out so much, taught me so many tips, and gave me so much confidence.

Create a circle of support.

When we got home from the hospital I was soooo scared. Nobody in my family had breastfed so I had no idea what it was even supposed to look like! I called my mother in law for advice and asked all of my friends for so much advice. It was a lot of pressure knowing that I was responsible for our daughter's nutrition! I didn't want to do anything wrong. How was I to know if I was feeding her enough? What if I would wake up one morning and not have a drop of milk for her? Should I keep formula on hand? What kind of bottles would she need if I caved and used formula? All of these questions would run through my head and I would have panic attacks every day. I definitely want anyone and everyone to feel comfortable coming to me for anything! If you have a question about nursing, I am here for you. If you need to vent about how tiring it is, I know, and I'm here to listen!

It actually got better!

I didn't believe anyone that it would get easier, but Opal and I became better at nursing every single mealtime. She was really good at latching on early into it. I think the hardest part was when my letdown was too much for her. She would get really overwhelmed and start coughing. It scared me so much, that I actually went to Target to look at formula... I started reading everything about it and was actually ready to switch because I thought I was hurting her. I decided to reach out to some of my friends who told me to try out some different nursing positions that may help. They actually worked and we got stronger and better.

Nurse in public because you're f*cking awesome. *excuse my language

My family continuously asked me how I would feed Opal when we were out running errands or shopping. They would ask if I would use a cover or just pump... And you know what? I've done both.

I've tried using a cover and that sh*t sucks. I couldn't see Opal, it made us clumsy, she was so sweaty, and I almost dropped her because we got all tangled up.

I've also pumped, and it sucks too! The only part about nursing that hurts, (aside from the occasional bite) has been pumping. I seriously give moms who have to pump everyday props. I cannot imagine how hard that must be, especially to keep a positive attitude while doing so. I actually just invested in a hospital grade breastpump and I'm very excited. I hope it is a lot better than my smaller one and that I can enjoy pumping somewhat more.

When I'm out running errands or hanging out with my family and Opal tells me she is hungry, I stop and feed her. If I'm at a mall I find the family restroom and nurse her in the room set aside for that. If I'm at target I just sit down somewhere quiet (yes, in a random aisle- I don't care) and I feed her. If were using the carrier I just pull my shirt down and feed her, that simple. If were driving, I pull into a parking lot and feed her in the backseat. I don't use a cover and I don't pump and take a bottle with me. I tried those things and I just didn't like it. I've learned that feeding my baby wherever and whenever works for me.

Teething sucks, but it will get better! 

As I type this right now, I'm laying in bed watching breaking bad. Opal is latched on, dream nursing, and every couple minutes she will sneak in a little tiny bite. It is JUST barely noticeable. But, that's not always the case. Sometimes she will look at me with a very sneaky smile... And she will chomp down! I've learned to over dramatically scream and to say OW! She instantly looks shocked and will kiss my boob or my arm. I hate when she bites, but she's cutting 4 teeth right now and I don't blame her one bit! I go absolutely crazy when my wisdom teeth flare up every couple months, and she's just a little baby who can't even understand what the heck is going on with her mouth and ears. That must be so frustrating! 

When she first started teething I had asked what to do when she first started biting. Instantly, people who had never breastfed in their lives told me "that means she doesn't want to breastfeed anymore." 

I was devastated! I was so confused! How could my 3 month old baby already be done? How could this be? 

Well, they were wrong. I researched a lot. And my baby kept asking for my milk. And I just flicked her and over dramatically said "OW!" If she bit me. And you know what? It got better!! Now were going through another hard teething phase and I'm not taking it as "mom your breast is no longer necessary!" I'm taking those bites as, "HEY MOM MY MOUTH HURTS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO." ;-) 

Don't give up. It gets better!

It takes dedication.

Being a breastfeeding mother is easy and hard at the same time. It is hard to be solely responsible for your baby's nutrition. But you know what makes it easy? Knowing that you are giving your baby exactly what God planned and blessed us with!

If you ever need help or advice, I'm here for you!

:)


-Chels.

C- section scar.

I am the type of person that obsesses over my imperfections, especially my skin. Growing up I always had really great skin, and then puberty happened. Since then, I've gone through every stage of skin problems. (Oily, acne, dry patches, and recently cysts.) 

Hormones are not my friend.

Well, I was really confident going into my pregnancy about everything.. But then , before any noticeable bump popped out I was already bearing 2 stretch marks... Before I was even 12 weeks pregnant.

I talked to my doctor and she told me that the elasticity of my skin would probably resemble that of my mom's and grandma's. Well, crap. They're covered in stretch marks. 

And well, the same thing happened to me. It has beaten me down pretty bad, because it was already a bad insecurity of mine. It really doesn't help that my skin is highly sensitive and will react to anything.

Well, when the reality of a possible c section was brought to the table weeks before I was due, I had to come to terms with another damn scar. It's been a big problem for me mentally. But, I religiously try to keep it moisturized and I use a dark skin neutralizer. I finally checked my scar today for the first time in a month.. And I'm pretty happy with the difference that I already can see! 

I was having issues with sensitivity and itchiness in the area, so I stopped wearing any undies that touched my scar.. (THANKYOU PINK FOR MAKING THESE AWESOME UNDIES)..

Here is how my scar looks currently. :-)

I pulled my stretched out skin up for you to see, haha!