Caring for a baby is like dedicating hours of your day to something I call Anti-Yoga. Here's how it's done:
First, when nursing your baby, ensure your neck is crooked completely down, staring into his face. Hold this position for 20 minutes to an hour to ensure optimal tension. Forget to breath.
Next, take him to his bassinet for a nap and gently lay him down. Bend awkwardly over him, with your hands on his body to ensure him you are still nearby. Stay like this for as long as it takes to ensure he will not wake. Hold your breath.
If he wakes up and fusses, pick him up and carry him around with you. Bounce him and sway often. This added weight should do wonders on your back and feet.
Now that he's settled, it's a good time to practice strength training. Because who needs to eat anyways? If you happen to have two 40lb toddlers at home, now is the time to lift, hold and hug them because they've been watching you do this with the baby for the past two hours. Get on your hands and knees and practice cat pose - then crawl around the house like this playing "kitties go to the beach", "kitties have a picnic" and such.
During diaper changes and bath time, ensure you hunch over your children as much as possible. Really twist yourself around to reach into the tub and wash them. Hold yourself steady, standing with your back rounded and wash their hair.
Finally, curl up beside the baby in bed to ensure him you are close enough that he can smell you and/or nurse. You may have to arch your back, bend your arm under your head and crink your neck completely downwards to watch him. Stay like this for at least another hour and don't breath or he might wake up. Final resting pose.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Week One
I started blogging again thinking I would write about the differences between having one baby and having twins, and so far, absolutely everything has been completely different. From the single "normal" pregnancy, to the birth that started naturally, progressed and ended beautifully, to the first week with one baby to hold, feed and bond with. There is no anxiety so far, the recovery has been so much easier and there is no shock of becoming a first time mom. I am so grateful to have this experience.
I'm so much more relaxed this time around, as I think many second time moms tend to be. I know what to expect, and how to breastfeed, I'm already bonded with him (which happened much faster than with the girls), and nighttime is infinitely easier only having to nurse and comfort one baby.
What I didn't anticipate was reliving a lot of the emotions I went through when I had the girls. I felt as though I could never give each one enough. From pulling them off the breast if they'd been on too long (as there was someone else in line), having to put them down to fall asleep because I couldn't hold both, not being able to bond/stare lovingly at them for too long as before I knew it, the other would need something. And now, bringing the new baby into the house, I am remembering all that guilt I felt with them. They are having a hard time adjusting to having a new person that needs mommy so much. I am tired and starting to lose my patience just a little bit more with them. I know this period of time will pass, that we will all adjust and things will be okay. When I found out I was pregnant again, I worried so much about how I was going to care for a newborn (because the first time around was damn difficult), but it turns out that's the easy part! The hardest part has been maintaining my relationships with C&L, and having the energy for them.
I am still recovering, we are all adjusting, and so busy, but I hope to write more about this amazing experience.
Thanks for reading,
L
I'm so much more relaxed this time around, as I think many second time moms tend to be. I know what to expect, and how to breastfeed, I'm already bonded with him (which happened much faster than with the girls), and nighttime is infinitely easier only having to nurse and comfort one baby.
What I didn't anticipate was reliving a lot of the emotions I went through when I had the girls. I felt as though I could never give each one enough. From pulling them off the breast if they'd been on too long (as there was someone else in line), having to put them down to fall asleep because I couldn't hold both, not being able to bond/stare lovingly at them for too long as before I knew it, the other would need something. And now, bringing the new baby into the house, I am remembering all that guilt I felt with them. They are having a hard time adjusting to having a new person that needs mommy so much. I am tired and starting to lose my patience just a little bit more with them. I know this period of time will pass, that we will all adjust and things will be okay. When I found out I was pregnant again, I worried so much about how I was going to care for a newborn (because the first time around was damn difficult), but it turns out that's the easy part! The hardest part has been maintaining my relationships with C&L, and having the energy for them.
I am still recovering, we are all adjusting, and so busy, but I hope to write more about this amazing experience.
Thanks for reading,
L
Monday, January 6, 2014
8 Weeks Left
As I ease into 31 weeks pregnant with baby #3, I've been thinking back quite a bit about this stage of pregnancy with the girls. I went off work at 30 weeks pregnant, passed off all my projects, had a baby shower and went home to incubate the twins. Then waited, albeit uncomfortably, at home, in sweet silence for them to arrive. I slept when I was tired, walked (very slowly) around my neighbourhood, drank 10 cups of water a day, ate fresh fruit and generally had no idea what I was in for.
This time around... is different. There's a general fear and anxiety that hangs over mine and my husband's heads, as we remember the, to put it lightly, "hard" time we had with twinfants. We know the worst of what we're in for. But we brush it away; it just can't be as difficult this time around /knocks on wood. I try my very best, but it's almost impossible to rest when I'm tired, and if I try to, I am clambered upon by elbowy three-year-olds, or suddenly everyone is upset about something and I have to get up. Instead of waking from pregnancy-related insomnia, and sleeping it off during the day, I'm awoken by toddler nightmares and early risers, and kept awake until bedtime.
With all the time I spend during the day feeding people, entertaining people, responding to people's questions, taking people potty, washing people's hands, helping people get their shoes and coats on, taking people to and from activities and appointments, I just don't have a lot of time to think about being pregnant, drinking 10 cups of water or eating fresh fruit, no matter how I try.
And then there's something new that I never experienced the first time around. As I think about holding my baby, my tiny, snuggly, helpless, sweet little baby, I start to glow. I know how short infancy is, I know firsthand how quickly everything changes. I hope this time around I am not so overwhelmed, that I am more relaxed and that even just at times, I'm able to enjoy it, enjoy my last baby, the one I wasn't sure I'd ever have, the one I was so afraid to try for, while he's so small.
HOW is it that despite all the sleepless nights, the desperation, the struggle, and now the busy life we lead, how is it that I melt at the thought of bringing another infant into our lives?
This time around... is different. There's a general fear and anxiety that hangs over mine and my husband's heads, as we remember the, to put it lightly, "hard" time we had with twinfants. We know the worst of what we're in for. But we brush it away; it just can't be as difficult this time around /knocks on wood. I try my very best, but it's almost impossible to rest when I'm tired, and if I try to, I am clambered upon by elbowy three-year-olds, or suddenly everyone is upset about something and I have to get up. Instead of waking from pregnancy-related insomnia, and sleeping it off during the day, I'm awoken by toddler nightmares and early risers, and kept awake until bedtime.
With all the time I spend during the day feeding people, entertaining people, responding to people's questions, taking people potty, washing people's hands, helping people get their shoes and coats on, taking people to and from activities and appointments, I just don't have a lot of time to think about being pregnant, drinking 10 cups of water or eating fresh fruit, no matter how I try.
And then there's something new that I never experienced the first time around. As I think about holding my baby, my tiny, snuggly, helpless, sweet little baby, I start to glow. I know how short infancy is, I know firsthand how quickly everything changes. I hope this time around I am not so overwhelmed, that I am more relaxed and that even just at times, I'm able to enjoy it, enjoy my last baby, the one I wasn't sure I'd ever have, the one I was so afraid to try for, while he's so small.
HOW is it that despite all the sleepless nights, the desperation, the struggle, and now the busy life we lead, how is it that I melt at the thought of bringing another infant into our lives?