Great Tips To Make Breastfeeding Less Stressful

- Davianna Parker 15 Comments

I was definitely one of the moms who wanted to give up the first time I tried breastfeeding my firstborn. He absolutely would not latch on to my breast for anything… I wish the first time around I knew what I know now after exclusively breastfeeding 3 children up until the age of two… So I’d like to share some neat tips to help you continue the awesome journey of breastfeeding. At the beginning it’s a struggle,Once you get the hang of it you will do great, I Promise You That!!!

After giving birth you just want to keep your baby close to build that connection. Get to know each other because that is so essential for your scent to be known to the baby. At the hospital,they educate you on skin to skin which is awesome. That is the beginning of successful breastfeeding adventure. Don’t ever take that for granted any chance during your hospital stay.

1.In order to produce milk,you need to make sure you’re eating enough food. And drinking plenty of liquids to make an efficient amount of milk for your little one to eat. Sometimes it can be difficult in the beginning to keep up with meals, especially when your busy taking care of other people. Even a fruit or a snack will do the trick or even small portions of food is a great start, Mama.

2.Sleep, make sure when baby naps your running to the pillow for a shut-eye. I don’t care if it’s only a half an hour, get your sleep in when you are able too. An over exhausted mommy can’t stay up long enough to enjoy the breastfeeding experience with baby. There will be cries for hunger constantly so you have to be ready to supply babies demand at any time. Relax, put your feet up and comfortably hold your little angel back to dreamland.

3.A breast pump will make your life so much better. Please make sure you have one if you’re going to breastfeed. The convenience of creating a session for releasing your milk is incredible. This creates flexibility for you to give your breast a break and freeze, milk for a later date.There will be times where you need to leave the baby to handle business. Having your stored milk will relieve the stress of taking the baby with you or wondering if they are being fed during a quick run to the store. Don’t forget the breastfeeding storage bags, they will save your life. I fell in love with the spectra pump, which is also a night light.

4.Breast pads are a game changer for a leaky breast. Believe it or not when a baby is hungry you breast leak like a faucet. That can be really embarrassing if you have a milk spot as display out in public. I know, I was that girl when I didn’t know better. I constantly make sure I have a stock of breast pads waiting for daily use. If it leaks it drains right on your pad. You won’t even be able to feel the leakage because it absorbed within the pad. A great company I would suggest is Lanisoh pads.

5.Now let’s talk about nursing bras, I didn’t know they existed until the first pregnancy. A must have under your clothes. Wearing a regular bra and trying to breastfeeding is down right a task. You’ll realize that if you ever have to try it out. When you have your nursing bra on your basically just releasing two straps down and you’re ready to feed the baby. Yes, that’s it, all you have to do to make baby happy. Don’t deprive yourself of a nursing bra you definitely need this, especially if you’re exclusively breastfeeding.

6.The greatest gift someone gave to me was a boppy classic pillow. Instant success in my house for my kids. I used the same pillow for 4 kids and it’s held up. That speaks volumes to me I shall say to anyone. It’s also pretty comfortable for baby too. Saved me plenty of nights so I didn’t have to use standard pillows to elevate my babies head. It doesn’t have to be used just as a newborn but afterward as they grow it can still be utilized. I enjoy every minute of my boppy pillow. This pillow has lasted through 4 kids, during a 7 year period. You would love it!

7.Ever have raw nips because the baby may be latching on too long or frequently sometimes. I’ve enjoyed using lanisoh cream to relieve any pain you’re experiencing during your sessions. It’s also safe for baby to latch on while you applied it to your breast. Also, a product that gave me plenty of relief when times were rough. I don’t think I would have lasted if I didn’t have that as a source to help me. Mamas make sure you have this ready in your cabinet to help you out when needed.

8.Oh my, how can I forget some sort of colic free bottles. There is a big difference because the regular bottle doesn’t help reduce gas bottles in babies tummy. If you buy one that relieves the air bubbles that create gas for your baby. That is a way for smoother feeding sessions, once the baby has to be burped. Trust me, colic is not fun at all. So please try and avoid that experience by simply using a colic-free bottle. I myself used tommie, Avent and Dr. Brown Bottles.

I hope this information was able to help someone interested in breastfeeding, but not sure where the heck to start. Happy Breastfeeding Mamas!!!

Dear Heartbroken Mama

- Davianna Parker Leave a comment

Definitely, understand the empty pit in your stomach some mornings.
The tears that run down your cheeks at night.
Your heart aches for what seemed to be perfect before that beautiful belly started to grow.
The questions why consumes your every move
I hear your fears of losing that someone who became your entire world.
You’re unsure of how to assemble these broken pieces back together.
Confused and ashamed to let all your feelings show because of what people will think of you.
Definitely doubting this man that stands in your presence with such sad excuses.
I do understand.
Doesn’t comprehend everything he sacrificing
He is selfishly in love with the excitement of this moment.
Your stuck living in future plans that bonded you both as one.
Beautiful, Something I wish I heard during tough times during my pregnancy.
Mourning to be his center of attention.
When his eyes and soul have been lurking.
This forbidden topic no one likes to address.
Every woman nurturing should use this as building blocks to set your soul free
You are more than these insecurities
This situation is absolutely not your fault at all.
So please don’t wreck your brain
Trying to understand this situation
Cheating is simply a choice
Don’t let yourself be a player in this chess game.
Take you strength back, Mama

Was Getting My Tubes Tied Even Worth It?

- Davianna Parker 2 Comments

A year ago you could not have convinced me to get my tubes tied. No, Seriously, it’s never crossed my mind before, ever. Honestly, it took me getting pregnant with my fourth child to make such a huge decision. It wasn’t the spare of the moment either at all. For months I prayed about it and did my own personal research. I had a lot of personal things going on in my life around this time.

Here are some things I took into consideration during this process. Was it really something I wanted in the first place. Here I am 30 years old and 4 kids within a 7-year span. I love my kids dearly but it definitely gets rough sometimes. It seemed like every time I got ready to uplift myself I was pregnant. Yes, there are many contraceptives to avoid this but I was with someone who I believed was my soulmate.
He was very supportive every step of the way. My age and the circumstances at the time I wasn’t ready to make that decision. The previous year my significant other kept bringing up the idea but I refused!!!

A couple months into my pregnancy I started to have a change of heart. I was unsure if I wanted to try any birth control due to various side effects. I understand many people have different outcomes but I was very skeptical. I ended up going in for a routine visit and the doctor and I had a serious conversation. I was curious about the tubal ligation and asked a million questions regarding the process. She was very honest and clear about everything and gave me 30 days to come up with a permanent decision. The docter also looks at how many children you have,age, and history to give advice reguarding, if its a good decision for you. They say, woman tend to have 2nd thoughts afterwards.

The simple fact that I have 4, the decision became a no-brainer. I’m not gonna lie, I was always hung up on the fact. Maybe down the line, I’ll meet a charming man who actually wanted a marriage and maybe a child. I wanted to be able to give such a precious gift to him. Why, should I be the one to make such an impact on my body. I compared my situation to others and that’s the worse thing you can do.

Everyone circumstances are very much different. People will not always be as honest as you assume. I decided in 2018, I’m becoming completely candid. So after much thought, I ended up proceeding with the surgery 30 days after giving birth. Which was crazy, should have signed papers before so I could do it right after delivery. There was no turning back because I was ready to get it done. Now, many people tried to change my mind but I was just over being pregnant every two years.

When I woke up for surgery that morning, I was so scared. It definitely didn’t hit me until I was wheeled into the surgery room. A sense of fear and sadness started to set in, I continued to wipe my eyes and take a deep breath. After all, I have been through this past couple of years. I knew this was something I needed to do. Not just for myself, but to focus on the children I already have at this moment.

They proceeded to strap me down and administer the anesthesia. I didn’t even realize I was drifting into a deep sleep until I woke up in the recovery room. I was shivering for some reason. I overheard the nurse say she shivering pretty bad. I realized that was a part of the effects of the anesthesia. I felt like I was suffocating with the air mask on, I couldn’t wait to become stable again.

For a couple of hours I couldn’t really eat anything but crackers and ginger ale, which just wasn’t enough food. I can’t lie the best part was seeing my support team, Kids Father. He was there every step of the way even though we were going through rocky times. He knew I was starving and made sure he fed me anything I desired. I will always be appreciative of his support.

Anyone who considering tubal ligationas an option. The recovery for me wasn’t too bad actually. You know, different people have various experiences after surgery. I looked up tons of google searches for surgery and recovery. I couldn’t find much about those topics so I wanted to share my personal twist on it. The doctor went through my belly button and you can’t even tell I had surgery.

I absolutely don’t regret my tubal ligation at this point. It’s been 8 months and my body feels great. I haven’t really noticed a huge change in my menstrual cycles. I would recommend this procedure to any woman who is sure she doesn’t want any more children. Make this decision on your terms and no one elses.

What I Learned My First Year Of Co-Parenting

- admin 1 Comment

Co-parenting, that awkward word that was the hardest thing to accept on this earth. No one wants to admit that they’ve been through a failed relationship and how it leads to co-parenting. What the hell does this mean? Is there a stop button because I didn’t sign up for this. Let me decide how this whole parenting thing is going to go.

Then reality hits you, and you realize co-parenting has to be your new normal. Honestly, I initially didn’t want to accept that process. I felt like I was forced into having to be ok with this. I absolutely was not ok with having to learn how to be civilized adults. We didn’t have to be friends but we had to learn how to communicate without adding personal feelings into this situation. I was still battling past issues which can alter your decisions. Make things between you both so damn complicated.

Ladies, there was so much learning I had to do within this first year of trial and error. First, moving forward I had to become a better listener. There was always an issue between us talking at each other. That basically causes both parties not hearing each other equally. If you both can’t listen to each other concerns without yelling. How will you be able to talk regarding kids needs? This is something both of you need to work on if it’s a big issue. It definitely doesn’t resolve itself overnight, so don’t force it.

Arguing in front of the kids is a big No. Sometimes you don’t even see this argument starting to happen. It’s been the greatest battle ever in my life. Talking when the kids are not in the room is so much better. Screaming in front of them leaves wounds you don’t even recognize at the time. I candidly remember my five-year-old repeating everything from a previous conversation. My whole mind was blown by the questions she asked me at her tender age. Kids soak up so many memories that they experience in life. Please try and talk it out when their ears aren’t listening.

I’m not gonna lie and say that we ended things smoothly. Honestly, it ended like a sunken ship on a stormy day. I try to keep remain civil as possible because at the end of the day we have children in common. We’re not best friends but we have been able to talk regarding our children. That itself is so important for me to keep their relationship with their Dad secure. Regardless of my personal issues towards their father at anytime. This is something that I work on daily because it can be challenging at times.

As long as both parents are fighting to maintain one goal. The passion that you once shared with each other can be used to benefit your children. I always say to myself on rough days. “Kids don’t ask to be here, so try your hardest to keep things civil.”

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