Introducing .... the newest EF member!

[caligirl]

Things are good ... I am tired, I don't get a lot of sleep at all. Longest I have slept in a row is about 3 hours - maybe. Trying to nap and not doing things around the house, but I am not very good at that. I like to do things for myself, hard for me to depend on others. I need to get over that.

Hubby goes back to work tomorrow, so I am home alone. I am looking forward to it in a way, but really do wish he was home this next week too. My parents are coming Feb 1st, his are coming the end of Feb. They are all so excited to see her!

Rachel is still adorable ... she is sleeping a lot, but starting to have more "awake" periods where she is just awake and looking around. She is now making all kinds of little noises and faces. She is funny. She took her first "sponge bath" today and was really good about it. I am pumping breast milk - since she stopped taking from the breast and still won't. I amfreezing some, and using the rest. She is getting mostly breastmilk, but I am still supplementing with formula (mostly at night) until the Pediatrician says to stop. She goes back to the doctor Tuesday night for another checkup.

I feel good, still sore, and I believe I have misplaced my ab muscles. They are totally missing in action, so my low back is very sore. I am not supposed to do ab work for 6 weeks, but I might start doing some pilates next week. I am also going to start taking short walks this week. It is going to be really hard to get back into the swing of working out - I am so flabby and soft, and get tired very easily. Plus, my hormones are still outta whack. It will be a long journey ....

But I cannot really complain - I feel good and am totally in heaven. I love this little girl!

What a beautiful baby! Congratulations! Isin't being a Mom a whole new level of love!!

For what it's worth, (and you probably already know most of this), you may want to rethink Pilates until at least 8 weeks post-partum, and then take a post- natal class. Returning too soon on the core will only due damage to the membrane that connects your abs together down the middle of your tummy. It can actually create a buldge and could lead to an abdominal hernia..(pregnancy splits your abdominal muscles down the middle). It is important to make sure your muscles and membrane have healed before you begin any abdominal work. You can feel the gap if lay on your back with one hand on your abdomen, fingers in the middle. Breathe out, lift your head and shoulders off the floor, and clench your tummy. Feel for the gap in between your abdominal muscles. You can guage the progress of closure weekly by performing this test.

I bet you're chomping at the bit to do something, of course walking is GREAT. Another thing you can do is just lay on your back, knees bent feet on the floor, and try to locate your Pelvic Floor Muscles, hold them for ten seconds, (similar to kegals) let go and do 10 sets, you'll be one step ahead when you do start Pilates. You can also safely "find" your Glutes, (I know it sounds funny, but it works) same thing, lay on the floor, knees bent feet on floor, imagine you are trying to squish a marshmallow in your back pocket to the floor , one glute at a time (another Pilates fundamental). It's all about control, and it will actually make your glutes work without any stress to your core. You need to also be careful due to the hormone Relaxin which increases the elasticity in your ligaments, your body remains loose for up to 3 months post.
Anyway, I have lots more of safe pre 6 weeks if your interested...

 

[wlmcrae]

Daisy_,

Beautiful baby! (and you'll be back to 'beautiful BABE' soon!)

 

[Daisy_Girl]

What a beautiful baby! Congratulations! Isin't being a Mom a whole new level of love!!

For what it's worth, (and you probably already know most of this), you may want to rethink Pilates until at least 8 weeks post-partum, and then take a post- natal class. Returning too soon on the core will only due damage to the membrane that connects your abs together down the middle of your tummy. It can actually create a buldge and could lead to an abdominal hernia..(pregnancy splits your abdominal muscles down the middle). It is important to make sure your muscles and membrane have healed before you begin any abdominal work. You can feel the gap if lay on your back with one hand on your abdomen, fingers in the middle. Breathe out, lift your head and shoulders off the floor, and clench your tummy. Feel for the gap in between your abdominal muscles. You can guage the progress of closure weekly by performing this test.

I appreciate the info - this is uncharted territory for me. Any things/tips you have are greatly appreciated.

I have no ab separation at all, and even continued to incorporate mild pilates-style movements during end-stage pregnancy. I only gained 27lbs, stayed active, had no complications, etc. I know my abs are stretched out (inevitable) and can tell they need to be "retrained".

The workouts I would do are like 5 minute spurts - not a full-blown workout. Like doing 1-2 sets of basic moves. I am not even sure I have the strength to do even a beginner workout right now! I should have clarified.

 

[Smurfy]

what a precious miracle you have there!

 

[gymmum]

Things are good ... I am tired, I don't get a lot of sleep at all. Longest I have slept in a row is about 3 hours - maybe. Trying to nap and not doing things around the house, but I am not very good at that. I like to do things for myself, hard for me to depend on others. I need to get over that.

Hubby goes back to work tomorrow, so I am home alone. I am looking forward to it in a way, but really do wish he was home this next week too. My parents are coming Feb 1st, his are coming the end of Feb. They are all so excited to see her!

Rachel is still adorable ... she is sleeping a lot, but starting to have more "awake" periods where she is just awake and looking around. She is now making all kinds of little noises and faces. She is funny. She took her first "sponge bath" today and was really good about it. I am pumping breast milk - since she stopped taking from the breast and still won't. I amfreezing some, and using the rest. She is getting mostly breastmilk, but I am still supplementing with formula (mostly at night) until the Pediatrician says to stop. She goes back to the doctor Tuesday night for another checkup.

I feel good, still sore, and I believe I have misplaced my ab muscles. They are totally missing in action, so my low back is very sore. I am not supposed to do ab work for 6 weeks, but I might start doing some pilates next week. I am also going to start taking short walks this week. It is going to be really hard to get back into the swing of working out - I am so flabby and soft, and get tired very easily. Plus, my hormones are still outta whack. It will be a long journey ....

But I cannot really complain - I feel good and am totally in heaven. I love this little girl!

I'm glad to here all is going well DG, and Racheal sounds like she is a good baby, you are very lucky and very blessed to have such a beautiful girl. Keep up with the updates and I promise to let you all know when my little budle arrives. Keep rested DG and again congrats.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I actually napped today. I feel like a slug - I am usually so active, there are a couple errands i need to run, but I need sleep more. It feels good to sleep, but I also want to go do things.

She slept in her crib for the first time last night - and I actually slept in a bed for the first time in 2 weeks ...ahhhhhh.... heaven.

We go back to the Pediatrician today, to see how she is doing, I am hoping she gained a TON of weight.

Not sure if I posted these pics ... but here are more of the cutie.

 

[musclemom]

I actually napped today. I feel like a slug - I am usually so active, there are a couple errands i need to run, but I need sleep more. It feels good to sleep, but I also want to go do things.

She slept in her crib for the first time last night - and I actually slept in a bed for the first time in 2 weeks ...ahhhhhh.... heaven.

We go back to the Pediatrician today, to see how she is doing, I am hoping she gained a TON of weight.

Not sure if I posted these pics ... but here are more of the cutie.

Hey mommy!!!

Don't feel bad for napping, don't steal that time, when the baby is sleeping, to go do laundry or workout or whatever. Look, I'll tell you what happened to me ... I'm stubborn, too I decided that I was gonna be like the women of old, giving birth in the fields and get right back to the household chores and life in general just like nothing had happened ...

Well ... more than a month after the birth the bleeding STILL hadn't stopped (I think it was about six weeks) I was told, in no uncertain terms, to STOP doing things; that my body needed to recover and I wasn't letting it. Climbing stairs carrying the laundry up and down, doing dishes by hand, moving, constantly moving, etc., was not what I needed to be doing.

See, I was thinking of birth is just like a really hard workout (like a mini-iron man thing or something), that you just need a little bit of recovery time, take a couple of days off and you can get back to your old routines. Uh-uh, you really need to think of birth more like a surgical procedure in the effects it has on your body. Be patient, take those naps when you can (guilt free!) rest, recuperate rushing trying to get rid of the baby fat isn't actually GOING to make it move faster. The hormones have to settle out and your body needs to repair before you can get your old physique back.

for the baby

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Hey mommy!!!

Don't feel bad for napping, don't steal that time, when the baby is sleeping, to go do laundry or workout or whatever. Look, I'll tell you what happened to me ... I'm stubborn, too I decided that I was gonna be like the women of old, giving birth in the fields and get right back to the household chores and life in general just like nothing had happened ...

Well ... more than a month after the birth the bleeding STILL hadn't stopped (I think it was about six weeks) I was told, in no uncertain terms, to STOP doing things; that my body needed to recover and I wasn't letting it. Climbing stairs carrying the laundry up and down, doing dishes by hand, moving, constantly moving, etc., was not what I needed to be doing.

See, I was thinking of birth is just like a really hard workout (like a mini-iron man thing or something), that you just need a little bit of recovery time, take a couple of days off and you can get back to your old routines. Uh-uh, you really need to think of birth more like a surgical procedure in the effects it has on your body. Be patient, take those naps when you can (guilt free!) rest, recuperate rushing trying to get rid of the baby fat isn't actually GOING to make it move faster. The hormones have to settle out and your body needs to repair before you can get your old physique back.

for the baby

Thank you for that. I had stopped cramping and even the bleeding had slowed a lot. Then last night, I started cramping and bleeding more, plus my stitches really hurt last night .... I really think it was due to being up all day and doing things. I actually needed my pain meds, when I had been weaning off them for the last couple days.

Sharing the experiences help me understand WHY you need time off post-partum.

 

[musclemom]

Thank you for that. I had stopped cramping and even the bleeding had slowed a lot. Then last night, I started cramping and bleeding more, plus my stitches really hurt last night .... I really think it was due to being up all day and doing things. I actually needed my pain meds, when I had been weaning off them for the last couple days.

Sharing the experiences help me understand WHY you need time off post-partum.

See, you're body is telling you, "chill" you don't want to be needing to take pain medication if you're breastfeeding, you'll get the baby all loopy

(really, you can. I had one large glass of wine at christmas and was still breastfeeding ... man that kid was looped, happy as hell, but loopy )

See, there IS a reason why I'm a walking, talking advice machine

Honey, if even ONE thing I've been through makes it a little easier for you or someone else who's reading this thread, then I'm not sorry I run my mouth nonstop. I didn't appreciate it when I was there myself, and part of it is because I didn't know some of this stuff, and nobody was there telling me, and I'd never seen it first hand, and I made dumb mistakes because I lacked informatoin. A lot of birth/motherhood is stuff you learn FROM another mother. But we don't exactly live in villages anymore, so we turn to our e-village ...

 

[Sassy69]

"Overtraining = under recovery"

It is sort of a mini-ironmom thing --- but just like training for competition, recovery is a critical part of the equation