Preparing for a C-Section Baby

I've been just plugging along but feeling pretty uncomfortable which makes blogging hard. Who wants to hear about contractions and swollen feet for the next ten weeks, everyone raise your hands?!?  .... Yah thats what I thought. So here is something that is actually partially interesting. My packing list for the hospital. Having done this once already I feel like I've got a better idea of what I want to bring with me this time. 

My own pillow: I have trouble sleeping without a big firm pillow. The thin flimsy ones they have at the hospital just don't cut it for me. Neck support people!! They are great for between your legs though (yeap you'll want that, trust me, even with a c-section). They are also great for on either side of you for nursing the baby. SUCH a help, just not great for actual sleeping. Last time I brought in my pillow with my vintage Star Wars pillow case on it and all the nurses came in to check it out LOL. This year I might just pick out a cheap fun case that I can take with me for the fun of it. 

Flip Flops or slip on shoes: You're REQUIRED to walk the floor starting just hours after your surgery for a c-section at the hospital we go to. No ifs and or buts about it. The hospital will supply you with those brown grippy socks but they were so uncomfortable on the bottom of my feet. This time I'm getting a toss away pair of flip flops that I can shuffle around in. (also great for the shower if you're a germaphobe).

Nursing Bras: My boobs get HUGE when my milk comes in. I'm talking G cups here people. So I end up wearing a nursing bra 24/7 for several weeks afterwards even to sleep. Make sure you buy at least a size up from where you are at when you hit your 3rd trimester. You'll thank yourself later! If you've got big boob issues like I do go to ebay when you're looking for nursing bras. Best deals out there and in every size imaginable. 

Nipple Cream: While we're on the boob subject. I hate lanolin. I'm sure its a wonderful product but I can't get past the fact that I'm smearing rendered sheep sweat onto my nipples. It just grosses me out. And I know logically that I'm being silly. I mean, I know what honey is (don't look it up if weird things gross you out) and I love honey. I just can't get past the sheep sweat for some reason. So I found an alternative that doesn't contain lanolin and it is WONDERFUL. I still have the jar that I bought before Miss P was born 3 years ago but I'm going to get another one just in case. It's Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter. It smells SO Good. Like chocolate. And feels wonderful going on the skin and doesn't need to be wiped off prior to nursing. It's a MUST HAVE. (P.S. it also works great on baby rashes). 

Nursing Pads: I'm pretty sure this is the last boob thing. When my milk came in I leaked like a cow all the time for the first week. I love the idea of the Milkies Milk Saver and I'll probably invest in one but those first few days I'm just trying to keep from drowning in my own milk! Nursing pads keep you dry and fit nicely into your nursing bra. I'll use the milk saver at home when my body finally regulates and knows how much milk I need to be producing. My fav. are the Lansinoh brand. They were the most absorbent of the few brands I tried and they were the most comfortable too. 

Individual Cans of Pineapple Juice (not from concentrate): I was wrong. One more boob thing. Pineapple juice is the nursing moms saving grace. Firstly its an anti inflammatory which means it'll help you from getting clogged milk ducts. That alone will make you want to wear one of those beer hats filled with pineapple juice. Secondly the pineapple juice will help your milk taste just as sweet as can be. If you've got a baby that is resistant to nursing for whatever reason this could be the game changer for you. Lay off the asparagus and get on that pineapple juice. 

Robe: If you don't bring a robe you have to put on an extra hospital gown to cover your rump when your walking the floor, getting up to use the bathroom, or whatever else you need/want to do outside of your hospital bed. A robe is going to be a lot more comfortable. I didn't do this last time and I regretted it. 

Nightgown: Don't bother with pajama pants because they are too much of a hassle when the nurse wants to check your incision again and again and again. Also you're not going to want anything tight around your waist. I'm going to bring a nightgown that has easy access for nursing. Either with a bunch of buttons down the front or with a criss cross front I can pop my boobs out of when I need to. Remember loose fitting is better!

Dry Shampoo: That first shower doesn't come soon enough honestly. Especially with a c-section. Dry shampoo is great so you don't have greasy hair in every picture before your shower. You can make it really easily if your crafty like that or get it on amazon for pretty cheap.

Toiletries: Travel size everything for the win! Really its so much easier than lugging all your good stuff to the hospital and they are super cheap. Body wash, toothpaste and a disposable toothbrush, deodorant, lip balm, lotion etc. The lip balm could have its own line really. I didn't think I'd really use it but delivery/surgery just sucks the moisture right out of you. DON'T FORGET YOUR LIP BALM.  Also a few hair bands if you need them. You're bound to lose at least one so bring extras. 

Power Strip: Are you raising your eye brow at this one? The hospital has maybe one or two plugs that aren't being used if your lucky. Now think of how many things you need to plug in: Your phone, Your SO's phone. tablet, SO's laptop, camera, camcorder, etc. Don't fight over what gets charged first. Be smart, bring a power strip. Oh and don't forget your charging cables. Duh. 

ID Cards and Info Sheet: I don't bring my purse to the hospital with me. Not even my wallet if I can help it. Its just extra stuff to lug home later. Get a little coin purse and put in your drivers license, insurance card, and fold up a sheet with important info they may ask for. This way even if your sleeping you SO can still relay pertinent information to your nurses. Phone numbers, address (mailing address), social security number, your chosen pediatrician (our hospital wont let you leave without choosing one), etc. Even a credit card number with expiration date might come in handy. Then give that to your SO and tell them to keep it safe. 

Towel: You're going to be in the hospital for at least 3 days. The towels at the hospital, God love em, are thin, scratchy, which I could live with but they also just don't dry you off well at all. Bring a towel from home, or pick up a cheapy from Target to use. 

Mints: Yah you'll want one, but honestly you'll want to offer them to the friends and family that have been in the waiting room sucking down coffee while they wait to see you. After a c-section you're going to be woozy and a bit nauseated. Coffee breath does NOTHING to help. I puked. Then I felt bad that someone else's bad breath made me puke, like I had offended them somehow. You just can't win. Bring the mints to avoid this situation. Here is what I plan on saying every time everyone comes in the room "Take a mint! No offense but I'm nauseated and everyone's breath is making it worse. Its just the medicine and NOTHING Personal. THANKS!" Then everyone will just eat a damned mint and get on with oogling my cuter than cute baby. 

Going Home Clothes: I'm sure I'm repeating every hospital list out there when I say this but it bears repeating:  DON'T BRING YOUR PRE-PREGNANCY CLOTHES. I felt so Stupid packing my favorite pants and having to send someone home from my maternity yoga pants. Yeap, I was that girl. Instead do yourself the favor and bring a very comfortable pair of yoga or stretch pants that DO NOT Have a tight waist band. Also you're going to want a big pair of granny panties. Get them a size bigger just to ensure there is no pressure around your incision or waist band. Then pack a flowy top. Nothing confining. Big T-shirt? Yes! Flowy cotton summer top? Yes! Tight tank top? NO! OUCH! Or even better wear one of those cute cotton maxi dresses home. That car ride home, with the seat belt and the bumps and turns etc. is uncomfortable enough, don't make it worse on yourself!

For Baby: The hospital is going to provide just about everything for you. Hats, blankets, shirts, diapers, wipes, etc. Things they didn't include were baby socks, Weird right? So pack a few of those because even in July baby will get cold toesies. You'll also want any cute picture outfits and a going home outfit. At our hospital there is a lady that comes by and does a newborn photo session right in your room so having a few outfits to choose from (in varying sizes) is a smart choice. Also don't forget to have your car seat installed before you head to your c-section appointment. That'll be one less thing for your SO to do before you go home. I like to have mine checked by the fire department to ensure its in correctly and when you leave the hospital (at least where we go) a nurse will come out with you to ensure the baby is buckled correctly. 

For Your SO: We're not bringing much for Burly. We are only 15 minutes from the hospital and he's got to go check on the dogs every day so he'll just get what he needs from home. Our hospital doesn't provide snacks for dads so we'll bring something for him and probably some cash for the cafeteria but other than that he's okay. 

Things I might bring but might not use: 

Nursing Pillow. With Miss P I was so engorged with milk the only way I could comfortably nurse (for both of us) was on my side. No two babies are alike though, and I suppose my milk supply might be different this time. I'm still on the fence about it. 

Receiving Blankets: The hospital provides receiving blankets for baby but we have so many cute and soft ones at home, it might be nice to use them at the hospital. Then again I just love looking at Miss P's hospital pictures and seeing the cute hospital blanket. It was a special time. I'm considering it but it'll probably be a no. Same with baby hats. 

And that's about it. This is my list. Anything you think I should add? What did you bring to the hospital with you for your c-section?

Okay I Can Talk About it Now

For a while the conversation just couldn't happen. Not even in text. The thought of it just made me well up with tears. The mere reminder of the agony of waiting just killed my spirit, even after the waiting was over. I am pretty sure it was the scariest time of my life to date. Here is why I've been quiet for so long:

I got a call at work. One that no one ever wants to get "Ma'am this is the geneticist from the hospital. We got your test results and would like to take a few minute to speak with you. Can you sit down before we continue?"

Dear lord. Please. Not us. Not this baby. Not my baby.

Her exact words get a bit hazy after that. She said the results of my last blood test showed that our baby had a chance of having Down Syndrome. I needed to come in the next day for an extensive ultrasound. She asked that I bring Burly with me just in case 'important decisions' had to be made. She meant if we needed to decide to terminate our pregnancy.

The rest of the day was tears of course. I sat at my desk at work and just coughed on all the fear I was holding down inside me. I went home early and laid on the bed and bawled like a baby. What if. What if. My mind whirled with what we would do if the ultrasound results showed Down Syndrome. How would we care for a special child? How could we burden our daughters after we passed away with the task of dealing with a special needs sibling? That one came back to me a lot. How could we do this to Miss P and Miss M. It would change their lives forever. Make it incredibly harder.

We went to the ultrasound appointment and as much as I tried to hold it together I lasted till they took my blood pressure before I broke down bawling again. They got me back to the tech room and they started the scan. It took 2 hours. The ultrasound wasn't conclusive but they didn't see the signs they normally associate with Down Syndrome. We opted for an amniocentesis. That way we would have 99% accurate information about whether or not our baby would have DS.

The results for an amnio take two weeks to come back. That was the longest two weeks of my life. We didn't hear from anyone at the hospital for two weeks. We were very selective about who we told in our lives as I didn't want to be bombarded with questions and sympathy and just all the noise that comes with possible bad news. I know people would just be trying to offer support and help but that sort of thing just makes my anxiety run wild. Mostly we just kept to ourselves and waited for the call. The geneticist said that if the news was good she would call as soon as she got the information, generally in working hours. If the news was 'more complicated' she would call in the evening after 7 in the hopes that both parents would be at home. Every evening call made me jump out of my skin. I cried a lot in those two weeks. My mind went back and forth over whether we would terminate the pregnancy or try to live and love a child with special needs. I kept going back to the girls and how it would affect them. Their dreams. Their goals. Their childhoods and their adulthoods and how this could affect everything for them. I felt guilty for wanting to make it work, and guilty for wanting to terminate and sometimes guilty for both at the same time.

I also felt shame. The geneticist told us that having a baby with Down Syndrome is like roulette. It just came down to luck. There wasn't anything that either of us could have done differently. Neither of us have family with disabilities. We're both healthy-ish. Older yes, but only in our 30s. But I still felt shame in the fact that I might be carrying a baby that was different. That might not have the same possibilities in life that my daughters have or any other kid for that matter. I still felt responsible somehow. I mean I am responsible for growing this baby. How did something possibly go wrong? How would I tell Miss P and Miss M that their baby sibling would be different? Or worse, how would I tell them that the baby died if we decided to terminate? I have no idea.

I got the call at 10:45am on a Tuesday. The news was good! Our baby did not have Down Syndrome. We also found out in all of this that we are having another girl. Our prayers were answered. I felt so relieved. We shared the news publicly at that point about what we had been going through and was able to share good news thankfully. But I wanted to put it behind me so I didn't have to think about that ordeal anymore. The idea of what could have been still weighed on me and made me tear up. Thats why it took more than a month to share our story. Only now can I write about it and now get overly emotional (being pregnant that's saying something!).

We do still have some obstacles. I'm not off high risk yet as the baby is measuring two weeks behind. I go in tomorrow and they will either move my due date OR they will be sending me to a new specialist depending on how she grows. I feel her kicking me as I write this up. She's extremely active. Here she will be known as Miss V.

So thank you for putting up with sporadic posts. Hopefully you have gotten  your Momma Brand fill on Instagram at least :) I'll be sure to update more frequently from here on out!

Even Mommas Get Sick

I've got it and I've got it bad. The sickness. Anything I put after this would be an extreme TMI. Just know I'm sick. SO SICK. I'll be back soon.

Instagram

Hey! Guess who Instagrams it up over here? Yeap this gal. If you wanna see the kiddles and me and what we do everyday you can check us out there! 

http://instagram.com/mommabrandrocks

Here is a sneak peek at what you'll find:

Miss P Learns a New Skill - Potty Training

This last weekend was a big deal for my little Miss P. She learned to use the potty! Now this wasn't some magically accepted process. Oh no. She did not wake up wanting to use the potty. Miss P is almost three (in April) and I've been trying to jump start this process since she turned two! Every time I would say "Oh hey guess who learned how to use the potty the other day! Do you think you'd like to give that a try?' she would shake her head emphatically and firmly say "No Momma". Sometimes forcefully and sometimes like I had asked her if she'd like to eat lunch on Mars. Crazy talk.

Now, I'm pregnant (16 weeks and counting) and the thought of having to wrangle Miss P for a diaper in my third trimester just exhausts me to even think about it. And the idea of  two kids in diapers... I could run screaming.  I knew I needed to take action now! (Okay, Okay and the idea of a few months of not having to buy diapers DID cross my mind! lol)

So I snagged a trick from Pinterest and on Saturday morning we got started. She woke up looking like this. This is our ritual for Saturday mornings when its just the two of us. Peanut butter waffles in bed. Her favorite part is showing me all the peanut butter she got on her face. That is her I'm doing something bad/silly to get attention face. Its the same face she makes when she passes gas at the dinner table. My little lady this one.

So after breakfast its time for clothes and new diapers. This is where Momma gets tricky. In the night I grabbed up all her size 5 diapers and put them away for the babe-to-be. Then I got out a new pack of diapers in size 1. Diaper time comes around and it goes something like this:

MOMMA: Why goodness child you must have grown a lot last night this diaper just isn't going to fit on your little rump!

MISS P: I grew big!?!

MOMMA: Yeap, You are too big for diapers now. We'll have to put you in panties from here on out and you'll need to use the potty. You are a big girl now!

MISS P: I think it fits...

MOMMA: I can't even wrap it around you. It certainly won't fit. Would you like to stand up and try?

She does and it prompty falls off

MISS P: I grew!! *she's jumping up and down like a naked minion at this point very excited like*

MOMMA: Well lets get that tush on the potty to try to go before we put panties on.

You'd think this was the end of the deal. But as soon as we reached the bathroom she threw herself on the floor crying. She knew this gig, She did NOT want to sit on the potty. And she certainly did NOT want to put her peepee in there!

She needed a little more positive encouragement (otherwise known as A BRIBE).

Her daddy came over for the day (we're divorced but are co-parenting champions) and she got to tell him all about how the diapers were too small and she was a big girl now. She didn't sound exactly thrilled about it at this point. She sat on the potty for a while and then as soon as we let her get up she wet herself. Bummer.

So out came her two favorite things stickers and candy (how candy got to be her fav. thing I have no idea. I next to NEVER give her candy but her ginormous smarty pants child brain knows exactly what candy is and knows how much better it is than diamonds, gold, or Google stock). But even with her two 'favorite' things you can see the start off was .... off to a slow start.

I tried offering her a trip to the toy store when she got a whole day of stickers with no accidents but it just wasn't instant gratification enough (she's my kid after all) so we upped the desperation level from 'she'll jump in soon right?' to 'do whatever we can to make this work, like NAOW'.

We moved the potty from the bathroom to the living room so no matter when the mood striked her she could drop trough and get her business done. Even while watching her favorite show. This was good. She was 'trying' a lot more often. And by 'trying' I mean she spent a lot of time sitting on the potty watching Octonaughts on the television set while nothing special happened down below.

She was obviously holding out on us. The kid hadn't gone since the morning and we even gave her a special treat of juice (mixed with water) which is something I hardly ever keep in the house and only purchased because I knew potty training was happening soon and the more fluids that go in the more come out right? She was defying my made up facts on this one. Dangit!

I told her she could have a special sleep over on the floor in the living room for her nap time. She thought it was awesome! I was just trying to save the bed/couch from the flood that was surely impending. I made a mat that consisted of a dry pad, a blanket, and her pillow, special blanket, and Weenie her best little stuffed animal friend. I hovered over her the whole time just waiting for her to wake up wet and crying. Never Happened. This kid has an iron bladder.

After nap she had one success and I thought we were making progress but it was followed by two accidents where she just waited too long to say anything. Ugh.

Here is the turning point. She got a chocolate coin for her after potty treat once and she thought that was the BEST THING EVER!

We've only had one half accident after that where she just didn't quite make it to the potty before she started going.

The first time she went poop on the potty she beamed like she had just climbed Mount Everest. She called her Nonnie and Poppie (Grandma and Grandpa), her Daddy, and told everyone she came across the next day just how awesome she was. She was self assured that she was the coolest kid on the block. I was proud too. Who knew your heart could soar for a load in the pot? I may have even taken a picture to send to her Daddy. I'm that mom. Totally not ashamed (much...). At least I'm not sharing THAT here!!!

Day one was a success in my book!

The next day we had two accidents and that was while we were out at a Super Bowl party and she was caught up playing. One was I'm sure all that juice finally catching up to her. Ew.

Two more days have gone by and NO Accidents after that! I'm sure we're not finished but....

Potty Trained for the WIN!

I will honestly say that around nap time on that first day I looked at her Daddy and asked if we did the right thing making the decision for her. I questioned whether we had pushed her too soon. If we were bad parents. If I was being selfish for wanting her potty trained so I didn't have two butts to wipe. I was worried.

Now I know I just needed to wait. And honestly I know my kid. She was comfortable in diapers and until she had a reason to switch she wasn't gonna do it. She just wasn't. Why would you give up someone else wiping your butt for you and making you laugh for something you are unfamiliar with? Not gonna happen. Not with this kid. She needed a valid reason to give it up so I went ahead and fabricated one. And the true pride she has when I pick her up from daycare and she tells me how well her potty training went that day.. Well that is worth its weight in diamonds, gold, and Google stock.

Meatball Sub Casserole That Defies the Odds

Right now you're thinking that the bread will get all soggy with marinara sauce right? WRONG! It doesn't! The cream cheese mixture makes a barrier that protects it from the Land of Sog! Instead you get warm crisp bread with a nice Italian spread that pairs so nicely the best meatball sandwich flavor ever. You've really got to try this!

*No picture yet. But it's coming soon!*

• 6 - 8 slices Francisco International Sourdough bread (or any other sliced sourdough)
• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1-lb. pkg. fully cooked frozen meatballs, thawed
• 1 (28 oz.) jar marinara sauce
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese

1. In a 9x13 baking dish arrange bread slices in an single layer along the bottom. Fill any major gaps with pieces of torn bread. 
2. In a bowl (or kitchen aid mixer) mix the softened cream cheese, mayo, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
3. Spread the cream cheese spread evenly across all the bread pieces in the baking dish. This is best done with a spatula I've found.
4. Spread the meatballs evenly across the baking dish.
5. Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the top of the meatballs and bread. You want to try to coat everything in the pan at this point.
6. Sprinkle all the cheese over the whole delicious beast you've just created. 
7. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes 

They Aren't All Winners - My Alfredo Fail

So last night I tried a new fettuccine alfredo recipe that I thought was just going to be tops! It looked delicious, all white and noodley with chunks of chicken breast and specs of pepper floating through. I went to take the first delicious bite and....Um no. It was bland as all get out. And that was WITH about 2 tbsp of fresh cracked pepper!!! Goodness gracious.  

The thing to keep in mind is that the experimenting process was fun! I had a great time finding and following along with the recipe, trying new processes and tasting something that others find to be really tasty even if it wasn't for me. The taste was a bummer but the activity was well worth it. I had fun! 

Also this just means I get another change to experiment with alfredo recipes! Do any of you have any alfredo suggestions? What's your trick to the perfect alfredo sauce? Thick, creamy, and oh so parma-cheesy!

When I do find the perfection I'm looking for I'll be sure to add it right here so you can try it too!