Bottles, Milk Supply, and Solids

After a long little sabbatical due to, you know, motherhood and stuff, we are turning some attention to the blog again and trying to get back on top of it!  With our little girls growing faster and faster time doesn’t allow for a lot of sit and type on the computer moments.  As such, this post may be a little unorganized, perhaps even scatterbrained.  But we were so pleasantly surprised to hear that people were missing this blog!  It has reawakened our desire to connect with our fellow moms and moms-to-be out there.  So we will try harder to stay on top of it as long as you keep interacting with us about it!  With every post we not only welcome other advice and opinions we seek them!  Please continue to come be involved as we talk about motherhood and babyhood and the different experiences we all have!

On that note, here is a post about a certain experience that can begin to happen to most babies around 6 months- I’ve heard it called the 6-month drought.  This is when baby’s weight gain hits a plateau, so to speak, or may even decrease.  I didn’t know anything about it until we were in it.  In the last few months Olivia and I have both been having some up and down motherhood moments in one certain category- breastfeeding.  Some of you may remember the facebook status I posted about how I was getting worried about Audrey’s nutritional needs not being met.  I got A LOT of suggestions and advice.

I began the post by saying that my milk supply has been decreasing.  A few people expressed that they were skeptical of that.  They said that if I was doing everything right there should be no reason for my supply to decrease.  Without getting into anything confrontational I would like to firmly say that that is not true.  At least in my experience and a few of my fellow new mother friends it has not been true.  We hear quite often that every baby is different, but I think there is not enough understanding that every mother is different as well, INCLUDING the way her body works.  I know only the basics of lactation and I know that eating healthily and nursing often is the way to keep milk supply up.  However, despite all this my supply WAS going down and I was getting worried.  Times where I used to be able to feed my baby one full 30 minute feeding on one side, I suddenly was running out within 10 minutes and had a screaming hungry baby on my hands.  I was doing everything exactly the same as I had been.  Maybe for other women this never happens so they don't really believe that it could.  But there was no doubt my milk was tapering off and there was no apparent reason. 

This would not be such a big deal if it were not for the fact that Audrey does not take a bottle.  Olivia and I have talked about how we both have had the goal to make it to a year nursing, but we also both know that our baby’s needs are more important than our own personal goals.  So, if formula or other alternatives to nursing were necessary, then so be it.  You do what's best for your baby.  The problem for our little family is that Audrey won’t take milk from anything other than me.  Andrew and I have tried every suggestion to get her to take a bottle, but to no avail.  These two things combined was worrisome.  That was the dilemma- milk supply decreasing combined with her not taking a bottle.  We were also having issues with solids.  I was having a harder time than Audrey was because I was so worried about everything.

As hard as it has been and as hopeless as it has felt at times in the last few months, we HAVE managed to keep nursing!  It has gotten so much better.  The biggest help for us has been the herbal supplement Fenugreek suggested to me by my sister.  Here is a list of some things that have worked for us as well as some of the suggestions mentioned on facebook.  If you’re having trouble with or worrying at all about your milk supply definitely try a few of these.  What worked for me may not work for you and vice versa.  For some reason my body responds really well to Fenugreek but it did not work at all for my friend Shauna.  Let's try to understand each other, not tell each other what we're doing wrong.  As said before, remember that every mom is just as different as every baby is.

Suggestions from FB:

MILK SUPPLY:

Domperidone (medication)- doubled LH’s milk supply

More Milk Plus capsules- doubled JS’s milk supply within 2 days

Mother’s Milk Tea- I’ve heard different opinions about this one, but MC had great success with it.  I tried it for a few days but it made me a little nauseas so I stopped.  Definitely worth a try, though.

Lactation cookies- KA had success with these.  Find a good recipe online.

Nurse on demand

Drink a lot of water and/or milk (unless your baby gets an upset stomach when you have too much dairy)

Pump after every feeding, or at least as often as possible- TU said, “It doesn’t matter in nothing comes out, what matters is that you stimulate the milk production.”

Plain rolled oats- HH ate a bowl every day, sometimes twice a day and had great success with it boosting her milk supply.

BOTTLE ISSUES:

Sippy cup/Regular cup- the problem for Audrey is that she doesn’t ever want to suck on anything other than breast or pacifier.  When we gave up on the bottle we tried a sippy cup, but had the same problem with her just not sucking on it.  But we learned that she loves to sip out of a cup like kids and adults do normally.  Interesting, huh?  We wouldn’t have found that out though if we hadn’t tried the sippy cup first.

Different bottle nipples, particularly faster flowing ones

Syringe feeding- LF said to try and syringe or straw feed extra formula while nursing.  “They have super tiny flexible straws that you just slip into the corner of baby’s mouth while she nurses.”

Supplemental feeding system- a tube that attaches to your chest and brings formula up to where baby nurses

SOLIDS SUGGESTIONS:

Mix rice cereal or oatmeal with fruit purees

Try homemade mashed foods instead of baby foods- avocado, bananas, mashed potatoes, refried beans

Look for baby food grinders at Walmart- TL said that she used it to make spaghetti, mac and cheese, pot pies, small enough for baby to gum

Mix healthy fats with baby food for weight gain- avocado, coconut oil, olive oil

Try using a mesh baby food feeder

RESOURCE OPTIONS:

La Leche League

Milky Mommas fb group

Look up “baby-led weaning” online

This is by no means an extensive list, so please add to it!  Let us know what has worked for you or whatever questions you might have about any challenges you’re facing.  Remember there is an army of moms out there who are ready and willing to respond.  

Having it All: Balancing Marriage and a Baby

Everyone knows that a baby brings change to your lives. People are always telling newlyweds and young people this. But they do not always talk about the change that a baby brings to your marriage. And really, that is what young couples need to hear about. Because anyone can predict the sleepless nights and messiness that is imminent with a new infant, but not everyone expects the changes that will inevitably come to your marriage.

There is always the question of how you and your spouse will raise your new child. Everyone has a different upbringing and that will certainly play a role in how you choose to raise your baby. Usually a healthy mixture of the two styles your parents used (mixed in with things they never tried) will result in a solution that everyone can be satisfied with. Hopefully you both have some inkling of what the other person feels is the "right way" to raise a child (if there was a "right way," which I do not believe there is). If you are single or dating or engaged, make sure you talk to the other person about this before getting married. I can assure you that you will be better off knowing what you are getting into before you are in the thick of it. Regardless of whether you have ironed out these details or not, there is always time to figure it out, and believe me, you will--whether you do so happily or not is up to you. Then, there is still the matter of your relationship with your spouse.

I wish I could blame the issues that arrive with a new baby on one person. I wish I could just say something like, "it's the wife's problem" or "husband's are responsible for the changes that come with a newborn," but reality has other ideas. If one person were to blame, things would be so much easier to fix. I could just direct this post toward husbands or toward wives and then they would read it and know what to do and their marriage would be magically repaired. Alas, we are all humans with our individual agency, which means that we make our own choices, good or bad. And the hard truth is, both of you are to blame. You cannot place the blame on your new baby, though it might be easy to feel that way when he or she is the one keeping you up at nights and preventing you from doing the things you used to do as a couple. Adjusting is a part of marriage and an even bigger part of life. You will learn to adapt to the changes of a growing family and though there will be rocky times, they will help you appreciate the joyful ones even more.

Even though I blog and openly share things about my marriage and life experiences, it does not mean that I do not struggle just as much as the next wife. Though I do not always talk about it (I like to dwell on the positive), my sweet husband and I argue at times. I am impatient. He hates being nagged. When I ask him to help with something or do me a favor, I want it done RIGHT THEN, darn it, not in ten minutes or an hour or tomorrow or worst of all "later," which in my head means probably never. Dalin rarely, rarely asks me for favor. He will say, "Can you please get some water bottles from the grocery store," and I grumble and mutter under my breath because water bottles are heavy and there is nothing I hate more than lugging them all the way to our upstairs apartment from the trunk of our car down the icy sidewalk in the cold. But over time I have learned a few secrets to marital happiness and though the prideful part of me just wants to do whatever my emotions want when I'm angry, my conscience is bigger than my pride. Here are a few things that are important:

1. Put your marriage first. This means after God (who should always come first if you want the most happiness), love your spouse first. Even more than your children.
2. Serve your spouse. It might feel like this is all you do. If you are a stay-at-home mom like me, it can feel like an endless list of small services. But I mean really serve your spouse. Offer to make a special dessert or just do it. Do something with them that he or she likes to do. Shopping, golf, fishing, video games, frisbee, whatever, just take the time to be playful again. This is especially important when you feel upset with him or her. Serving others will change your heart, I swear it. It will feel like the last thing you want to do at first, but if you make an effort to serve your spouse, your attitude will start to turn around faster than you would think. Happens to me every time.
3. Be thankful and appreciative. Even if you feel like they have not helped you at all that day, say thank you. It can be easy to miss all the things your spouse does in secret. I know some days I just want to complain to Dalin about my day but I try to remember that I might not know how his day went at work. Maybe his day was worse than mine. Try to remember that, and be a positive part of his or her day. And fun fact--gratitude actually makes you happier! Try it.
4. Schedule, schedule, schedule. Date nights, family nights, nightly prayer and scripture study, and even intimacy. Don't skip out on the things you love to do. Work, school, church are all priorities, but nothing is more important than your marriage.
5. Have discussions about your future. Remember back when you were engaged or newlyweds and had all sorts of dreams and plans for your future? You may not have vocalized them in a while, but I believe it is an important part of fostering your romance. You need to dream together in order to have something to look forward to on the hard days. Know that the stage you are in will not last forever.
6. Agree to disagree. When it comes to parenting your child and you simply cannot agree on how to raise him or her, try both of your ideas. Let one parent be responsible for their idea and the other for theirs. You may find that compromise is easier after you see how each idea turns out. If one is a complete failure, go with the other or find an alternative that incorporates the best of both. Remember that putting off arguments can give you peace of mind immediately and you may find that the argument seems less important to you later on. Maybe you will have more clarity on the matter. Whatever you do, do NOT allow raising your child to tear you and your spouse apart. Be willing to try their ideas. Remind each other that you both love your child and you are both trying to do what you think is best.
7. Let your child bring you together. Share the responsibilities of raising your son or daughter. While one parent may be more responsible for their upbringing, that does not mean that the other parent is just a roommate. Tell your spouse about the experiences and firsts they have missed and make them feel as though you wish they could have seen it. Do not make them feel guilty for not being "as much" a part of your child's life. If you both enjoy snuggling your baby, do it together. If you both want to try co-sleeping, go for it! But do take nights off. Put the baby in the crib for a nap or the night and be together. Talk like you did when you were dating. Your baby should be a uniting force rather than a dividing one. Remember the reason you had a baby. You are growing your family, and with time, it will get easier.
8. Be organized. Besides making your home life easier and less stressful, this will help you stay focused on the important things when you finally have free time. For example, you will not feel burdened by laundry or dishes or tidying up if there isn't any to do. Instead you can focus on what you want to do--enjoy your spouse and children. Have fun. Play. Do things together.
9. Be happy. Being happy is a choice. It is not an easy one many times, but nonetheless, you can control your attitude. If you need more happiness in your life, try some of these: serve others, express your gratitude, exercise, get enough sleep, go outside. These are all proven ways to increase your happiness. And if you are happy, it will be much easier to encourage that same happiness in your spouse!

What are your ideas for maintaining your marriage with a new baby?
How do you let your little one unify you and your spouse?

Here are some other articles you might find interesting:
Let Parenthood Strengthen Your Marriage
Your Marriage After Baby: Problems and Solutions

Combatting Annoying Advice

Hello, everyone! This is Olivia responding to one of our reader's questions.
Oh, how I loved this topic. When people see babies, a delusional part of their brain kicks in that causes them to think they suddenly have leeway to offer advice on every subject imaginable--wanted or not. The worst offenders are almost always women. We can group the majority of them into three categories: Ladies with No Children, Other Moms, Empty Nesters, and The Elderly.

Let's discuss them one by one.

Ladies with No Children
These women mean well, (I think...) but unless you have children or interact with them on a daily basis, you just can't know the many aspects of raising a child. For me, having a daughter changed my outlook on many parenting subjects and made me realize that there are certain things I will (and won't) do for my daughter that I had never considered prior to her birth. There were many things that I never thought I would do before I had our baby. For instance, I never thought I would change my daughter on the floor in the middle of a public place like Nickel City (just one example) but that happened (okay, I was off to the side, but still in a fairly public area). Basically, if you haven't had kids, your wisdom does me no good because you don't have enough experience with children, and more specifically, you haven't had experience with my child. Unless my child is in near danger, please refrain from instructing me on how you think you would parent my child if they were yours. Because truly, you have no idea what it's like until you're in the position. These ecards say it best:

And

Sorry for the sarcasm, but really. That's kind of what it's like.

Other Moms
I recently had a family member (also a mom) who saw me nursing mildly suggest, "Make sure the baby's nose isn't covered so she can breathe." I think for an instant I was annoyed by the suggestion, mainly because my daughter is five months old and has survived okay thus far with the same nursing habits. But I chose not to take offense because she very obviously was trying to be caring rather than critical, and instead I just said, "Yep, thank you," and continued what I was doing. It can be hard to be given advice from other moms, especially ones whose children are at a different stage than yours. They may have forgotten what having an infant was really like or be offering advice for a child that is older than theirs even. Other moms also have the tendency to share stories and experiences that helped their child, but might not help yours. If anything, I am guilty of doing this because it's hard to remember that everyone's child is different and that what worked for me might not work for a friend. So in short, it's okay to share advice when asked or when having a conversation with a friend, but pushing your techniques at other moms is obnoxious and usually not helpful.

Empty Nesters
It is always fun when parents who no longer have kids in the home offer their advice. Most often (and many times in the last year) I've been informed that children and babies are wonderful fun...until they become teenagers. Man, empty nesters love to tell young parents that. It's not that all of their advice isn't useful--I've learned some good tricks from people in this category--but it is not always easy to relate to someone who hasn't had their child living at home in fifteen years. Things change, and scientists make more and more discoveries altering the child-rearing practices that were once popular back in the empty nester's day. I would suggest that people who fall into this category only offer advice (first off, when asked for it) if it is timeless and still applicable in present day. Giving a tip is alright, unless you're giving it because you've seen something that you feel another parent is doing incorrectly. Parents are different and children are different. Just like you once had to, let mothers figure out how to become a parent on their own!

The Elderly
Oh, the Elderly. If one group is more guilty of offering unsolicited advice than any other, it is definitely the old ladies that do this best. And if the Empty Nesters are guilty of giving expired parenting advice, than one can only imagine how out of date many of the old folk's suggestions are. I think that the Elderly just can't help but feel that they know it all. They have been through everything, and though it was a hundred years ago, they still insist it is fresh in their minds. The Elderly believe they've seen it all and therefore they know it all. They can be incredibly helpful when you ask their opinion or advice, or incredibly annoying when they offer it for no reason or in order to correct you. Sometimes they will say something along the lines of:

Spellcheck--they meant "follow" but anyway.

Well thank you, Elderly folk, but sometimes it's important for parents to learn lessons on their own. And try (try) to remember how it felt to be given unwanted or unneeded advice back when you were a mom. If you're contradicting someone else's parenting style, try to think twice before opening your mouth.

So the question you're actually wondering (and the one I've put off answering) is how to deal with these unsolicited advice offerers.

Well, in my opinion, it depends on who the offender is. If they are a friend or family member, you might find it easier to disregard their advice. OR it might be much harder to disagree with them, particularly if it's an in-law. Strangers generally are a little easier to handle because you have no reason to impress them and although I believe one should at least attempt to be polite during these situations, you do not have the same obligation you might feel you have with a friend or family member. Acquaintances (or any person in between the two categories) present their own challenges. Maybe you don't value their advice, but they might be important or close to someone you know and therefore you can't be rude.

In thinking about this subject, I asked my husband's opinion (mainly out of curiosity), who unsurprisingly made it seem easier than it actually is to respond to these things.

Helpful Husband Tips
1. Ignore it. Say thanks then don't follow their advice.
2. Don't say anything. At all.
3. Just beat around the bush--Paula Abdul had it right--never give a straight answer.

Thanks for your opinion, dear.

His suggestions were actually not that bad. Unless you are confrontational and want to give the person a piece of your mind, these are pretty safe options to use on anyone, including friends or family. If they're smart, they'll take the hint and leave you alone.

Some other options are:

4. Nicely tell them that you know what you're doing. You're the mom and you've got it.
5. Ask, "Did that work for your child?" This can help you avoid thanking them and distract them from trying to raise your child.
6. Try their advice. Maybe their obnoxiously offered advice will actually be useful. Don't be so prideful that you choose to ignore it completely just to make a point. You'll be kicking yourself later if you find out it could have saved you a lot of problems.

And if all else fails, this onesie is always an option.

If you want to read some other ideas, check out these articles on managing unwanted parenting advice:
Baby Care Today: Old Advice You Can Safely Ignore
Return to Sender: What to Do With Unwanted Parenting Advice
Dealing With Unwanted Baby Advice
How To Handle Annoying Parenting Advice
and, if you need a laugh:
I Read All the Baby Sleep Books

What unwanted parenting advice have you been given (and by which group)? 
How did you respond?
Do you have any other suggestions for dealing with unwanted advice?

Olivia's "Mommy Must-Haves"

Last weekend, I went to a baby shower for a woman in my ward at Church. She is having a baby girl pretty soon now, and the other moms and I had a blast telling her all about giving birth and everything that comes with being a mother. I felt inclined to Facebook message her later and tell her about a few items that have been huge life-savers for me.

• 

  12/7, 1:35pm
  

  Dalin-Olivia Gunnell
  

  
  

  Hey _____, here are some of the things that I LOVED having, especially in the beginning. 1.) Here is the nipple shield that I still use with nursing (and as a result, I never have had soreness or dryness or anything) which you can get at Wal-Mart for $9 I believe. http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-20mm/dp/B000YQMWLU/ref=sr_1_8?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1386448273&sr=1-8&keywords=breast+shells

  
  

  Medela Contact Nipple Shield 20mm

  www.amazon.com
  

  Medela Nipple Shields can be an effective tool for professionals and moms to manage infants with latch-on problems, for moms with overactive let-downs or for flat, inverted and sore nipples. They are also an invaluable tool in the NICU environment where latch can be problematic but critical for e...
• 

  12/7, 1:50pm
  

  Dalin-Olivia Gunnell
  

  
  

  2.) These are the Swedish breast shells which I LOVE. By the reviews, it sounds like these ones (like mine) have the small hole on top that you can use to pour the milk into a bottle and save it. (Which is good, you want one with just one hole). If you plan on breastfeeding, I highly suggest them. Especially when you start out breastfeeding, you leak a lot. I'm past using them now, but they were amazing to have in the beginning! I don't know how I would have done it without them. It's so nice to have a place to collect the milk and it saves you from a big mess. http://www.amazon.com/O-Cal-ette-Nursing-Breast-Shell-0813-0099-00/dp/B002UKXLJK

  
  

  O-cal-ette Nursing Cup

  www.amazon.com
  

  Breastfeeding should be enjoyable, not painful. O-Cal-ettes are designed to help eliminate the unpleasant side effects of nursing. Simple and easy to use. Can be used prior to delivery to help correct flat or inverting nipples, which allow the baby to latch on easier. Provides relief from swollen...
• 

  12/7, 1:54pm
  

  Dalin-Olivia Gunnell
  

  
  

  Oh and I only used them at home or under my nursing cover. It sounds like some people leave them on which is kind of weird. And I only used one on the side I wasn't nursing on to catch leaks. I just stuck it in my bra. Make sure you check on them occasionally while you're nursing and have an empty bottle nearby that you can pour it into so they don't get too full and overflow. Breast milk can be unrefrigerated for 3 or 4 hours (6 or so hours tops according to WIC) so don't throw the milk away! I did because it separates and I assumed it went bad but it doesn't happen that fast.
• 

  12/7, 1:56pm
  

  Dalin-Olivia Gunnell
  

  
  

  3.) These are the nursing pads I liked best out of like four brands. They sell these Johnson and Johnson ones everywhere, I got them at Macey's. http://www.amazon.com/Johnsons-Contour-Nursing-Pads-60/dp/B00121PZX8/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1386449672&sr=1-3&keywords=johnson+nursing+pads

  
  

  Johnson's Contour Nursing Pads, 60 Pads

  www.amazon.com
  

  Johnson & Johnson Contour Nursing Pads Johnson & Johnson Contour Nursing Pads feature an absorbent core that keeps moisture away from your skin. A soft lining delivers superior comfort and its rustle-free design is discrete beneath your clothing. Why You'll Love It: These pads provide a secure a...
• 

  12/7, 2:03pm
  

  Dalin-Olivia Gunnell
  

  
  

  4.) And last, (I use this every day) I would definitely suggest a nursing pillow. The boppy is supposed to be really good but it's expensive so hopefully someone gives you one. I got my pillow (which is similar to a boppy and which I love) by signing up for an account at Motherhood Maternity and they gave me a coupon thing in the bad which I almost threw away, but I'm so glad I didn't! The nursing pillow from this place: http://www.nursingpillow.com/ was completely free with the code they gave me, you just pay for shipping which is $12 but so worth it. It's nice to have some kind of pillow for sure if you're nursing, otherwise you'll just be hunched over while she lays on your lap. (I don't hold her very much when I nurse anymore...it just exhausts your arms. It's easier to nurse sideways in bed or with them laying on a pillow on your lap).

I guess basically all of essentials I have listed are for the breastfeeding mom. But there are many other things you will find will work for you that might not work for someone else. In all honesty, I would not buy much before the baby comes except the obvious (some clothes, blankets, burp clothes, a bed of some sort, and of COURSE diapers and wipes) and see what you need as it comes. Dalin and I hardly spent a thing on stuff for Tenley. We were given plenty of hand-me-downs, gifts, and LOTS of clothes and blankets from adoring grandmothers and great grandmothers. We basically found out that we would be buying lots of diapers and wipes. Don't buy something just because a baby website says you need it. There's a good chance you might never need many of the must-haves they suggest! 

What was a major must-have for your son or daughter? 

Anything Hillary and I didn't cover?

Hillary's "Mommy Must Haves"

When my sister had her baby she did a blog post about her “mommy must haves.”  She and I have since talked about the different things that do and don’t work for each us and our babies.  So here is a list of my “mommy must haves” and why they have worked for us:

1.  Nipple shield- This little device has made life SO much easier for Audrey and I with breastfeeding.  She had a hard time with feedings when we were still in the hospital but when the lactation consultant gave us this it was pretty much smooth sailing.  If your baby has a hard time breastfeeding look into getting one of these to help him or her start out.  We were lucky to get ours free from the hospital but they are between $5 and $10 at Target in the baby section.

I was thinking I wouldn’t post a picture of it but then decided that if this blog is for info and support for moms I might as well be as un-shy as possible. (don't worry though, we wont get too explicit)

2.  White noise- This has been a complete life saver.  It amazes us every time we use it.  When Audrey is having a particularly hard time and we can’t figure out what to do (which happened a lot while she was colicky), we turn this on and within minutes (sometimes seconds) she is either asleep or calm enough for us to help her.  It’s seriously like magic.  I was able to demonstrate this magic when my friend Kelsey was over one night and she was very surprised at how quickly it worked.  It’s especially been very helpful when Audrey is hungry but too upset to eat.  That’s such a hard situation because we know what will make her feel better but she can’t calm down enough for it.  Enter this white noise video.  She slowly calms down, eats, and emerges from her meal a very happy girl.  I highly recommend trying it.

3.  Baby bath- We went without one for awhile but life became a lot easier when we got one.  We really like it because it helps us feel more confident while bathing Audrey.  She always is SO slippery with the soap on her and it scares me think of something bad happening.  I know other moms who don’t feel the need for it, but it’s been a must have for us.

about $20 at Walmart.  ours is blue :) 

4.  Mobile- This has been another lifesaver- for our arms and backs.  For awhile the only way Audrey was okay with being out down was in her crib under the mobile.  I wish we had set it up sooner than we did.  We just had no idea how much she would love it.  It keeps her entertained longer than anything else, which allows me to get stuff done around the house.  And the cuteness of her talking and laughing at the animals is another major plus.

5.  Baby seat/bed- I don’t even know what this is really called but we refer to it as “the yellow thing.”  This is also Audrey’s bed.  We can drag it from room to room but at night it’s right next to our bed.  When she starts to stir and get upset at night I can just reach over half asleep and rock her back to sleep in it.  I also bring it in the kitchen sometimes (when the mobile is not doing it for her) and give her some toys.  She’ll sit contentedly for a little while.  And sometimes ‘a little while’ is enough for me to get something done.  It’ll be pretty sad when she gets too big for it.  (couldn't find a picture because I don't know what it's called!)

6.  Swaddlers- Swaddling with a blanket is important to learn, but these make it easy to do and harder for baby to bust out of.  These little things are great.  You wrap your baby up nice and tight in it and it helps them calm down and feel cozy.  I’ve heard that the tighter the better because it helps them, especially newborns, remember being in the womb where it was warm and compact.  Not to mention how much easier they are to carry without limbs flying and falling everywhere.  There have been times where Audrey was screaming as loud as she could and once we wrapped her up she was able to calm down.  There is a video called “The Happiest Baby on the Block” where this and other techniques are used to trigger what they call the “calming reflex” in babies.  It’s a good video, definitely check it out if your baby is colicky or just having a hard time.

7.  Saline drops and bulb syringe- Audrey had some breathing issues when she was born and part of it had to do with mucus build up, I believe.  The bulb syringe is something I think every mom knows about, but Saline drops are less well known.  What it does is help thin the mucus so that it drips out or comes out much more easily with the bulb syringe.  So very helpful when baby is congested.

So those are a few of the main things that have helped me in motherhood so far.  Obviously as Audrey gets bigger this list will probably completely change (right now Audrey is 4 months old and some of them have already become obsolete), but so far these are the things that have helped us keep our baby girl happy and healthy.  

What are some of your "mommy must haves?"

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