Tandem Nursing - Notes from the Field

The Good: Still nursing JJ seems to be helping JJ adjust to having a little sister, in that he feels like he still gets his "mommy time". It also makes ensuring I get alone time with him easier on me because it's sort of built in. When they nurse together,it gives him a chance to "play" with his little sister (hold her hand or rub her head gently) in a closely supervised environment.

For Zoe, it has meant an easier time nursing since my milk was already "in" with less frustration. She's gained weight well and didn't have any jaundice issues. And finally, I'm down to 3lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight, just 3 weeks after birth (I gained 25lbs total during the pregnancy) and my bleeding has almost stopped. The Not-So-Good - Think of all the time you spend feeding a newborn. Then add half again as much time during the week and twice as much on the weekends because now you're feeding 2, one of whom doesn't really need it physically, but definitely needs it emotionally. I often feel like a walking cafe and that can get downright frustrating, especially when you're tired. Occasionally, I just want to scream "What?! Am I just a pair of boobs to you people!?!" And of course I know that's not the case and after a nap and a chocolate bar I've got my perspective back, but I'd be lying if I denied that I had those moments several times a week. Night times can be especially hard when Zoe wakes JJ up and he decides he wants "MILK!" too. It's hard enough to get a squirmy newborn latched on properly without having to juggle an impatient nearly 2 year old while operating on an hour of sleep. Also, it's nearly impossible to eat enough. I'm not surprised I've lost weight so quickly - it's hard to find time to eat (since I'm feeding someone else most of the time) and then it's just hard to eat enough to keep up with the calorie demands from nursing 2 kids. I'm hungry a lot. This is getting slightly better since JJ is back in daycare, but still a challenge. Would I do it again? Yes. In spite of the obvious challenges, I think the positives outweigh them for us. JJ clearly needs the emotional support and connection he gets from nursing and I really value the extra time I get to spend with him. It also made nursing Zoe SO much easier for me - I really struggled with JJ and had to supplement for a year because my supply was never enough. It's been good not to have that frustration this time.

JJisms

"hoe-ja" - hold ya or, more accurately, pick me up

"heardit!" I heard something

"checkitout!" - let's go see whatever made that noise, delivered in a breathy, schwartzenegger-esque tone

"here go" - here you go, you can have this

"maaalk" - mommy milk, please

"shoowar" - yes, I'm sure

"baff" - bath

"chewocolate" - chocolate

"spreaditout" - spread the blanket out

Zoe Stats and Pictures

7lbs 11.2 oz

20 inches

Born 12/21/09 @ 7:59am

Zoe Elizabeth birth story

We arrived at the hospital at o dark thirty in the morning, deciding they must schedule c-sections so early to prepare you for the sleep deprivation to come. After surrendering my worldly possessions and signing many papers agreeing to hold no one responsible for anything, I dressed in the fashion dujour - a stunning open backed gown with comfortingly neutral tones - and awaited the main event. My anesthetist, sporting an incongruously bright hospital hat replete with multicolored cats, administered the combination spinal and epidural, and as I lost all feeling in my legs I knew we were on the way to meeting our latest addition.

The incision, accompanied by the usual burning smell from the cauterizer, seemed to take forever, as I waited on pins and needles to hear that first little cry. The room erupted in laughter as my doctor opened the uterus and Zoe promptly stuck her hand out (looking for credit cards already, quipped the assistant). A minute later she was out and filling the air with a healthy bawl. As they were almost done sewing me back up and I was drifting in and out of a drug-induced haze, I could hear them counting the equipment - and they were missing some forceps. They ended up being in the asst. surgeon's pocket - ha ha (not!)

They brought Zoe to me in recovery and she latched on right away like a champ. Since I am still nursing JJ, she got milk right away. Everyone was amazed at how quickly she latched on and how long she ate (45 minutes!!) My little chow hound :)

Back in my room, JJ was completely unhappy that Mommy was in bed and couldn't get up. The 2nd day was a bit worse - he came in while I was nursing Zoe and started freaking out (No! Mine!) However, the 3rd day, I was nursing him and they brought Zoe in hungry. I asked him if it was OK if Zoe had some milk too and he said OK. So I put Zoe on the other breast. After a while, he straightened up and leaned over to watch her eat. Pointing at her, he says "Zozo, milk?" "Yes, Zoe is having some milk." he points at my other breast and then at himself "JJ, milk?" "Yes, you get milk too." This huge grin spread over his face and he clapped his hands together and almost shouted "Same!" then went back to nursing. Now, when they nurse together, he'll reach over and hold her hand while they're both on. It is heartbreakingly sweet. He calls her Zozo and corrects people when they call her Zoe.

Overall, I've recovered much much more quickly than last time, have had less pain, have been less drugged out/loopy, and feel able to do a lot more than I should. On the downside, I've come down with an ear infection and am back on antibiotics :( Zoe lost about 10 oz while in the hospital and had started gaining back weight before we left on Christmas eve (in a snow storm of all things!) By her appointment on Monday, she'd gained back nearly all her weight - she's only 1 oz shy of her birth weight now.

Welcome to the world Miss Zozo :)

Weight and sick

Weigh in today: 215lb. That's a total gain of 25lbs for this pregnancy, and just exactly where I want to be. Hooray!

Unfortunately, I am fighting a really bad cold. Lost my voice on Wednesday. They started me on antibiotics on Tuesday (a z-pak, so they are serious). Bad bad cough today. And contractions off and on all week. The contractions seem to be getting more frequent, even though I'm not doing anything to start them up (like, I'll have them while lying down in bed, drinking water). So far, nothing regular, but it's scary when I think of the dr. telling me I "better not go into labor because the scars from the myomectomy might not hold." Yikes!!!

Zoe, girl, you can make an appearance any time...but it would be sweet of you if you waited until Monday :)

Circumfrence update

47 3/8" - 10 days to go. Last time I was only 46" around. This little girl is going to be BIG!

Of course, I managed to come down with pink eye, of all the annoying things. JJ had it last week - I thought I was in the clear. Guess I've been burning the candle at both ends...

Another potty update

JJ is doing GREAT on the potty training. He rarely has more than 1 pee accident a day and rarely a poop accident (it still happens, but very infrequently). And 2-3 times a week, he'll go all day with no accidents at all. YEAH! Go JJ!