Nursing Notes

Skip this post for all you menfolk!

1. Plugged Duct: I meant to mention that about 10 days ago, I had gotten a plugged duct (painful) in one breast. I read that changes in bras can cause this. I had slept two nights without a bra, and I usually sleep wearing a sports' bra. I put some warm washcloths on the painful area that morning, slept with the bra on that night, made her nurse on that side first all day, and the pain was gone within 24 hours!
2. Biting: As you already know Aolani loves to bite, especially now that her top teeth have come down a lot. Teeth marks, bruises, cuts, blood, scabs... Horror! One thing has really decreased the frequency of her biting. I read that babies tend to bite is boredom from either being done or the milk ejection has slowed down. So, I have drastically cut the time she gets to nurse. I use to give her 15 minutes per side, 30 minutes total. Now, I give her 5-10 minutes per side, 15-20 minutes total. When she does bite, I pull her off right away and firmly say, "No bite!" I sign no and tell her that biting is off limits and hurts Mommy. She fusses and cries (telling her 'no' hurts her feelings). I give her one more try on that side to drink milk. If she bites again, I loudly say, "NO!" and either switch sides or end that nursing session.
3. Position: By accident, we discovered a new feeding position that is so useful with bigger babies (she is 18 lbs and can sit alone). Aolani is so long that it was getting hard to maneuver her on the Boppy. Basically, she sits up sideways on my lap and turns her head and goes for the breast closest to her. So, I flip her the other direction when it is time to change sides. This position is so easy!

Mosaic

• Aolani passed her 6-month exam with "flying colors." I had to fill out this 4-page test (who knew?), and I seriously felt nervous!


• For 5.5 months, Aolani and I have had some nursing struggles. There were many "problems" that I didn't know were connected to each other. I won't go into detail, but after many months, tears, and confusion, I finally got it all figured out (thanks to La Leche League International). Simply put, I have oversupply issues - my "enthusiastic" body makes too much milk, which actually affects us a lot. Anyway, we identified the problem, and we've been working on a solution for a few weeks now. I am just so thankful!


• I think I'll introduce solid food in the next week or so...


• I started reading Philippians 1 to Aolani today. I can't believe I am 3/4 of the way through memorizing this book!


• My last wheelchair parts came yesterday - lateral supports (they help my trunk balance, so I don't topple over to the side). It will take some getting used to, but they're a great addition!


• I wanted to post some inspiring words that were quoted in Lecrae's Rebel Intro song: "But everyone is sinning, so it's no longer rebellious to sin! Jesus was a rebel who was counter-cultural... You're just a conformist if you're drunk and naked... getting pregnant out of wedlock. Everyone's done that! That's so tired. If you really want to be a rebel, read your Bible, because no one's doing that. That's rebellion. That's the only rebellion left!"


• I know you're probably tired of my homemade lullabies, but here's my latest:

Help Her Sleep (to the rhythm of Brahm's Lullaby)

Help her sleep, help her sleep
Help her sleep, gentle Savior
Help her sleep, LORD, help her sleep
Give her little baby dreams
For You are our God, LORD of all created things

Choco-Cherry Love

Although that happens to be Ricky's favorite DQ blizzard, it has also become Aolani's nickname. Seriously, I can't decide if she is the most beautiful baby there ever was or the happiest baby there ever was... wait. I don't have to decide. I'm the Mommy. She's BOTH!

Aolani is either smiling or laughing [almost] ALL THE TIME (around us anyways; she's a little shy around others)! Here's a glimpse of her this past weekend.

She sleeps, too ;)

"They" say that there are several ways to decrease the chance of a baby getting colic -- breastfeeding, wearing your baby via baby-carrier, co-sleeping, skin-on-skin contact -- and so we do/did them all. I guess something worked?!

Here is a good, short video of her laughing (for hearing not really seeing):

Nursing Gear

Just thought I'd compile a little list of some things that have been essential to breastfeeding for me (to help any moms expecting her first baby):

• The Boppy has been a life-saver; while you're at it get a couple extra slipcovers...
• Burp cloths, and LOTS of 'em!
• Nursing sports' bras for lounging around the house
• Zipper jackets, for ease of use (also housewear) OR shirts that unbutton halfway
• Medela Pump (it's worth the $)
• Night light that attaches to the headboard of your bed (unless you plan on getting out of bed to nurse)
• Digital/Sportswatch for timing the length of the feeding (important during the first couple months)
• I use the best ointment that's organic and works wonders (cures diaper rash and soothes nipples): Recovery Salve

Postpartum, Post-due

The good thing about writing this a long time later is that a lot of the postpartum woes are gone with the wind -- like the pain and burning when you sit (wait... I always sit!) or pee or MOVE. That lasted for two weeks (should have been 1 wk but exacerbated by sitting in a wheelchair all day), but was somewhat alleviated by warm, salt baths. I had big, nasty bruises from the hep-lock that hurt. The baby blues hit me harder than I expected, which brought many tears and the desire to not see or talk to any human being. Hormones. And let's not forget that learning to nurse is tough and a lot of work but way worth it!

I had my 4-week postpartum check-up that pronounced me healthy. The doctor's office gave Aolani the "Prettiest Baby of the Month" award. We think that's being modest ;) Noteworthy news: the doctors at this practice are going to write a case study (medical article that will be published in a medical journal). We are so excited about this and the chance for there to be more information on childbirth for women with Friedreich's Ataxia. I must admit that it is relieving to know that all that work in keeping a pregnancy journal is not wasted.

Alright, the main thing. Ever since I gave birth, my left foot turns outward and points to 10 o'clock. We've been to eight doctors. Exhausting and unprofitable. Lots of opinions and no real diagnosis, except that it is obviously some kind of nerve damage, most likely originating in my spine. My favorite comment, "Huh. I've never seen that." For the first month, my foot tremored. The twitching lessened as my foot started to permanently angle outward. However, we can grab the ankle and foot and turn it straight. So, we think it will heal itself over time. Unfortunately, I cannot put weight on it or my other foot -- that's because I pulled the heel cord muscle in that foot by putting all my weight on it when I transferred. So, transfers are just that: unfortunate. Also, my foot hurts all the time and hinders my sleep (some nights are really rough). We've been trying to get a leg brace for it to hold my ankle and foot straight, but we're still waiting. We have a night splint, removable cast and a bad brace. They don't work. We're hoping that a correct brace will help with the pain, maintain the range of motion for that muscle and encourage those nerves to remember what they are suppose to do. I kept postponing this post because I kept hoping this foot issue would get resolved before I wrote about it. Please pray for my foot. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Bottom line: Postpartum for me has been a little tough, but HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH FOR ME (2 Cor. 12:9)

Mosaic

When we have random notes or news we'll call it "mosaic," because it's fun, colorful pieces (just like people's lives)... and, what can I say, mosaic is a pretty word :)

• While I was on disability leave before Aolani was born, my job was terminated.


• Ricky returns to work May 13 (for real).


• Aolani slept in the car for the first 4-6 weeks, but she now stays wide awake in the car. So much for relying on the car to get her to sleep!


• Breastfeeding is my favorite thing -- my love for her (desire to provide and protect) is so strong, and she is SO cute and dependent then ;)


• Ricky is such a great father!!


• We went on a date last Saturday (Aolani partied with Grandma O). Aolani took her first bottle then (she did alright with it but prefers the skin-on-skin). Ricky and I went to a coffee shop to play chess and find Waldo (Where's Waldo makes for a great, cheap date; we are only halfway through a book we got for $6.95 a year ago!) before dining at my favorite Japanese steakhouse.


• We were out and an older lady (late 70's) saw the car seat and wanted to see the baby in it. She asked her name, pronounced it beautifully, and proceeded to tell us about how she taught a little Hawai'ian girl by that name a long time ago. Talk about unexpected!


• Ricky's parents came for a visit a couple weekends ago and took us out to eat. We were at the restaurant so long, Aolani eventually wanted to eat too. So, Ricky and I headed to the women's restroom (the handicap stall) for this little ordeal. Well, we were getting along fine until a college-aged girl pranced into the bathroom and, literally, ripped the stall-door open (even with it locked). Just to find Ricky leaning over me holding Aolani up while she feeds. But wait, my back was to the door, and this girl couldn't see the baby. Shocked, flabbergasted, embarrassed -- she quickly left and the door kept swinging open because the lock was broken! Who knows what she thought with a man leaning over a girl in a wheelchair hidden away in a bathroom stall... Alas, we finally left and Aolani, belly full, was none-the-wiser.


• We've been working on this 2,000-piece puzzle of an ancient world map. We thought that we would have plenty of time to finish this during postpartum. Yeah, 9 weeks later and it looks like we just started yesterday! Babies keep you busy...


• We used disposable diapers the first 4-6 weeks while she grew big enough to wear cloth diapers. We use bumgenius and they are great! Highly recommended and no diaper rash! Washing them is really a breeze. Cloth diapers have drastically changed over the years (so we're told).


• Ricky received a Seahawks jersey for his birthday (from his parents) and was so glad at this surprise gift, he wanted to show it off.