Thank you so much for all the wonderful questions you sent my way. I ended up getting so many that I’m having to split it into separate posts, but I promise I’ll get to all of them.
Like I mentioned before, I’m no expert, but am happy to share what has been working for Hailey and me 🙂
I’ve been wondering what you do if your out with Hailey and she gets hungry…do you nurse in public? Also, when you pump at night, is that instead of nursing her, so you save the pumped milk for later? Or do you give it to her by bottle instead of her nursing from the breast?
I have not gotten comfortable enough yet to nurse in public, and I’m not sure if I ever will. However, there have been many times when running errands takes longer than I imagined and I nurse her in the backseat of the car. I’ll just park in the back of an obscure parking lot, to minimize the number of people that walk by.
When I pump at night, I give her that milk from a bottle, just so she stays comfortable with getting a bottle (since she doesn’t very often). Usually there is leftovers (she only eats about 3.5oz and I pump close to 8oz, so I save that). If I nurse her before bed, sometimes I will still pump just to empty out the girls before bed, so I have a better chance of sleeping longer.
Have you tried using a white noise machine or downloading a white noise app to your phone instead of using a hairdryer? Might be safer?
Oddly enough, the hairdryer seems to have lost it’s touch. It still will calm her down, but won’t put her to sleep. So we just use the sleep sheep now at night. However, when we did use the hairdryer, we set it on low and cool and only had it running for about 10 minutes… on a small piece of plywood, so it wasn’t resting on the carpet.
As an about to be first time time mom, just curious as to when you started pumping / using a bottle?
Everything I read said to start a bottle between 3-4 weeks, once breastfeeding was well established. Supposedly waiting much longer than that increases the odds that they won’t take the bottle? Anyways, at about 3.5 weeks I pumped for the first time and Hubbs fed her from a bottle. She did great with it! …though even the ‘slow flow’ nipples seem to flow more quickly than they should.
I’m curious about Koda. How is she taking not being the center of attention anymore?
First of all, Koda is jumping around like crazy knowing that someone remembered her, so thanks! 😉 Koda is actually doing great. She is very curious about her new little sis, but since Koda is a giant wuss gentle sweetheart, I never worried about any aggression issues. I do think she is happy we are exercising again, though. Especially after someone mentioned the other day that Koda was packing on the lbs. Poor pup.
Did you work before you had Hailey? Are you going back to work or will you be a stay-at- home mom?
I own a nutrition company, N.E.W. Lifestyles, that I manage from home, so I guess I would be considered a work at home mom? I feel so fortunate that I am able to be home to take care of Hailey, and am trying to learn as quickly as possible how to juggle my baby girl, the blog, the company and the housework… I’ll let you know when I figure it out 😉
Neck cheese…?!? Eewww! What is that?
Possibly my favorite question- haha! Neck cheese is as gross as it sounds. When milk runs out from the side of the baby’s mouth, do your best to wipe it all up before it hits their neck rolls, because that’s how you end up with neck cheese. Since babies don’t have a neck, (instead they have a lot of little rolls that connect their head to their body) and when milk gets in the creases and stays there, it only takes a couple of hours before it’s congealed into a smelly cheesy substance. It’s amazing how such a stink can come from something so darned cute!
Feel free to send questions if you have any- Round two is coming up next week 🙂
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Loved this Q and A session! I am interested in all things baby, so this was fun to read!
blackhuff says
Wow! I did not know that you own your own company (too much “own”) 🙂 Impressive is an understatement.
Love the Q&A you had here regarding your baby girl.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
The picture of Koda + Hailey is the most adoable thing I’ve ever seen 🙂
Shari says
Agreed! 🙂
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
I love hearing how & why you’re doing things. 🙂
Jen says
Loved this! And I am very thankful for the neck cheese warning! 🙂
Jane Preston says
Love the pictures, especially the one of Hailey and Koda!!!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
I love the pics! She’s adorable, and I really like the one of her with Koda. It’s great that Koda has done so well with her. I don’t think cats are ever too much of an issue with new babies, but the fear has crossed my mind. I hope my kitties don’t mind sharing the attention!
Brooklyn @ Veggie Table says
Aww – how cute are Koda and Hailey together?!!! Love it!
Questions: did you always know you wanted kids? and will Hailey have any siblings? 🙂
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
I am laughing about the neck cheese! That is hilarious.
And the picture of Hailey and Koda together is so precious!
Brittany says
That is the cutest picture I’ve ever seen with the puppy ad baby! Too adorable 🙂
chandana says
Thanks ! for the such an informative post.
Cute n Lovely pics of Hailey.
I am expectiong our first in feb so these kind of posts will be very healpful. Hailey looks so content and happy. so more tips on what you are doing to keep her that way. Plzz.
it would be of great help if you could do a post exclusively on breastfeeding, the books you felt were helpful. the pump you use etc.
Thanks once again.
Lauren B says
Oh my goodness… the thought of neck cheese totally grosses me out. Thanks for the warning though- I may be securing a towel or something absorbent around my (someday) baby’s throat to catch any milk run-off! 🙂
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
the neck cheese question cracked me up.
love seeing koda and hailey together.
Kat says
I have been reading your blog since you started baking baby d…aka Hailey (this is my first comment). Since then I too have become pregnant (due in Feb too… chandana 🙂 First I have to say thank you for introducing me to LaCroix during my first 4 months of all day/all night sickness! It totally saved me. Also I know you just recently did a post on breastfeeding (it was great), but I was wondering along with chandana if you recommend a certain type of bottle and breast pump? Thanks!
Heather says
LOVE the pic of Koda and Hailey! That is one of my biggest fears with one day having kids..my two very jealous toy poodles!
marci says
You seem to be an expert at the newborn stage now! I am 21 weeks pregnant and am starting to wonder how I’ll learn about everything. Did you learn just from books and classes and asking friends? That is my plan. For example–currently wondering how to decide which weight carseat to get–22, 30, 35? Leaning towards 30. But curious how you came to decisions.
Donna @ Life of a Happy Blonde says
Love the Q&A, i’m one of those bloggers who loves to read about babies/pregnancy from other bloggers even though i’m not at that point in my life yet 🙂
Oh and that picture of Koda and Hailey is freakin adorable!!!
Natalie says
i love that picture of koda and hailey – koda sneaking in a little lick is just precious! i’m sure they’ll grow up to be the best of friends. and if you ever need another vizsla to wear out koda, i think i know one that would be up for the job. 🙂
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
I love that you got a question about neck cheese. LOL
And totally agree on the 3-4 weeks introducing a bottle thing.
Michaela says
nothing beats the experience of a new mum!
Heather says
I love all of the pics and all of the Q & A’s. Since I just got engaged all of this is starting to become very real to me since I hope to be starting a family in the next year.
Verna says
I breastfed my son for 10 months before my milk dried up and never had to “nurse in public”. I wasn’t very comfortable with it either, and we always found somewhere quiet to do it.