Body After Baby

I've had a lot of requests to post about my body after having Harper.  I gained about 32 pounds when I was pregnant and about a week and a half postpartum I was 12 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight.   I haven't weighed myself since then, but I imagine I've lost a few more.

I took this photo a couple of days before I went into labor

Currently I can fit into all of my pre-pregnancy clothing (last Saturday was the first time I tried on my jeans again), but of course my body isn't the same as before, when I was working out regularly and hadn't yet carried an 8 pound, 3 ounce baby inside of me.

I would describe my post-pregnancy body as looking like I haven't worked out in a year (which is basically the case since I didn't work out for my entire pregnancy).  I'm still thin, but I lack the muscle tone and definition my body had when I was weight training. 

I had a few people ask what my "secret" is or what diet I'm following to try to get my pre-pregnancy body back, and the truth is, there isn't one. I've always said that I believe genetics play a large role in your pregnancy/postpartum body and things like whether or not you get stretch marks.  I didn't get any stretch marks and my body seems to have bounced back fairly quickly and I know my mom was the same way. It's just the luck of the draw.

I'm also breastfeeding and pumping, so that burns a lot of calories and thus I have to eat a lot to make sure I'm making up those calories. I still eat the same way I did before and during pregnancy. I eat every 2-3 hours and if I want pizza or ice cream, I have it---everything is okay in moderation as long as the rest of your diet is balanced. 

In terms of my stomach, which is the area most people are curious about post-baby,  I've actually been pleasantly surprised with how quickly it went down.  It started to go down right after giving birth and has gotten flatter since then. It's not the exact same as before, but honestly, I expected it to be much worse so I'm happy with it.  I still have my linea negra which I know takes time to go away, so right now my stomach looks better from the profile view than the front view. 

I took this photo within 24 hours of giving birth

About 2 weeks postpartum

The picture on the left was taken right before I found out I was pregnant, 

the picture on the right was taken today, at 3 weeks 1 day postpartum.

While I'm on leave (and medically cleared) I could probably squeeze in a workout during one of Harper's naps...but I have no idea how I'll have the time (or energy) to work out once I go back to work.  I want to spend every moment after work with my baby and not at the gym, so I may have to get creative. If you have any tips on how you incorporate fitness into your life as a mom, let me know.  I know that weekends I could fit in a class or go for a nice long walk with the stroller, but during the week it seems tough.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my postpartum body. I feel like women are kind of taught that it's not okay to say that, but I don't care.  I think the media pushes the message that women can't be okay with their postpartum bodies until they're back to exactly the way they were before (see: all of the tabloid covers featuring celebrities who are back down to their regular bodies weeks or months after giving birth), but I'm just going to say that I feel okay with my body right now. I would still love to tone up and get back to pre-pregnancy shape, but realistically, it takes time to build that much muscle mass so I'm just going to take it one step at a time and enjoy my newborn. 

How did you feel about your postpartum body? Leave me a comment below!

Happy First Father's Day!

Today, I feel lucky to be married to a man who is already an outstanding father and I'm excited to celebrate him on his first-ever father's day!

Harper's Father's Day Outfit- Baby Gap (buy it here)

Major thanks to my co-worker Angela who got her the adorable dress!

I touched on this when I posted Harper's birth story--- but it's true what they say about falling more in love with your husband when you see him become a father.

I always knew my husband would be a good dad, but I was absolutely blown away when Harper was born at just how amazing he was--- both as a partner, helping me through recovery and the emotional highs and lows, and of course as a dad to Harper---he was a total natural.

When we were in the hospital Kevin cared for me in ways I never imagined---he was so loving, compassionate and tender towards me.  He helped me every time I had to go to the bathroom (not a pretty situation after giving birth), helped me shower the morning after I gave birth, held one of the pumps in place every time I was pumping colostrum for Harper in the NICU...and so much more.  He was so encouraging about breastfeeding and was there for me every time I worked with lactation consultants at the hospital. Overall he was just more incredible than I ever imagined. The day we left the hospital I had a total ugly-cry meltdown telling him how much I loved and appreciated him and how I couldn't have gotten through it all without him, especially the stress of having Harper in the NICU.

Now that we're settled in at home, I love when he comes home from work and snuggles with Harper. I love that every morning before he leaves for work, he washes and sanitizes all of my pumping parts and bottles and that before bed and creates a kit with bottles and pumping supplies for me to use at night. I love that he wakes up in the middle of the night and volunteers to get whatever the baby needs if we forget to bring something upstairs. I love that I don't have to ask him to do things---he just does them because he wants to. Most of all, I love how much he loves her.

Some of my favorite shots from the past couple of weeks...

I didn't have the kind of father I hoped for growing up, so seeing how much my husband loves and is devoted to Harper and our family is truly heartwarming for me.  I'm so thankful for him, not just today, but everyday. I can't wait to see his relationship with Harper blossom as she grows older. 

Today we celebrated Kevin's first father's day with his parents. We ordered in food to the house from a local restaurant and then we enjoyed cake and Cold Stone ice cream. It was such a wonderful day and a memory I'll forever cherish.

(she's not always happy!)

Happy first Father's Day to the most incredible husband and father!  We love you so much!

Upgrades Worth Making- Schick Hydro Silk® Razor Review & Sweepstakes!

Midway through my pregnancy when I was busy researching all of the latest and greatest baby products (because there are about 100 choices for everything) one of the things I was really excited to purchase was a diaper bag.  

My online search left me without many options because I wasn't into the typical diaper bags with cartoonish prints and designs because to me, a diaper bag should be functional but also represent the tastes of the woman carrying it.  

I wanted a diaper bag that looked more classic and simple---but that was also practical for baby (i.e.: washable) so I started to check out some diaper bags at some of my favorite retailers like Nordstrom to see if I could find that perfect balance.

I instantly loved Marc by Marc Jacob's 'Pretty Nylon Eliz-A-Baby' diaper bag. It's functional, with lots of big pockets to organize everything baby needs, but it's also stylish and easy to clean because it's made with nylon. It's a bit of a splurge for a diaper bag, but mommas carry their diaper bags everywhere, so I think it's one upgrade worth making. I also love that it has a subtle quilted design on the outside and is large enough to hold everything momma and baby need. 

Though Harper is just two weeks old today, I've already been to the pediatrician with her three times so I've been using my Marc by Marc Jacobs diaper bag as my own purse too---adding my wallet, sunglasses, keys and a few other essentials.  Because it's black and has just a small logo on the front, I enjoy carrying it because it doesn't scream "diaper bag" to me.

I was fortunate to receive my diaper bag as a gift from my mother-in-law and consider it to be a the perfect little "mommy upgrade."  

Speaking of upgrades, I recently got a chance to test out the Schick Hydro Silk® razor. It promises to hydrate longer than any other razor, moisturizing for up to 2 hours after shaving, which is a bonus since these days I'm so busy caring for Harper that applying lotion after my shower isn't a priority---but I still want to have soft and smooth skin!

Schick's Hydro Silk® razor has 5 blades (yes, please!) and gives a super smooth shave. The moisture strip is activated by water so you just shave and you're done---no need for shaving cream or other products (the less steps something takes these days, the better!) The best part? The moisture continues even 2 hours after shaving so you enjoy the benefits of using the product with no further effort on your end! I also have super sensitive skin so I have to be careful when I shave because it can really aggravate it. The Schick Hydro Silk® razor actually has skin guards to protect you from irritation---and so far, so good.

Schick Hydro Silk® razor is announcing their Razorvention™ Revamp™ campaign. Upgrade your shave with a Schick Hydro Silk® razor and while you're at it, enter to win fabulous summer prizes so you can upgrade other things in your life too.

What upgrade have you made in your life recently?  Take a tour of the Schick Hydro Silk® luxury suite and submit your own photos to the contest/sweepstakes. There will be a series of fabulous summer prizes in beauty, fashion, fitness and home decor. Schick is also giving you a chance to win amazing experiences – from a luxurious spa retreat to a $3000 shopping spree – each time you enter to win one of their daily upgrades. There are 28 daily prizes in total – everything from a designer beach tote to a glass chandelier to yoga gear.

At the end of each day, Schick Hydro Silk® will select a winner. At the end of each week, there will be an additional Grand Prize sweepstakes. Facebook fans receive one entry into the Grand Prize giveaway for each daily prize you enter to win.  Fans can receive one extra entry into the Grand Prize sweepstakes if you share your daily entry via Facebook, Twitter or Google+. 

As a bonus, to help your start your Razorvention™ Revamp™, you will receive a link to a digital coupon for $4.00 off a Schick Hydro Silk® razor or refill after entering for your first daily prize. You can enter right here.

Essentials for Momma & Baby's First Few Weeks

The first few weeks of life at home with your newborn are all about survival. Suddenly your entire existence is about making sure your baby has enough to eat, has her diaper changed, is getting enough sleep, is content, etc.

Everyone tells you how hard it is but you don't quite understand until you experience it yourself. Fortunately, it gets better each day as you fall into a routine and have more time to connect with your baby and understand how to respond to her needs.

These are the items that have been essential for these first few weeks of Harper's life and I hope this list is helpful for soon-to-be mammas! 

Baby Connect App- available in the App Store for iPhone and Android
The first few days at home were a whirlwind. I was an emotional wreck and cried several times a day (which after talking to my mom friends I learned was completely normal). I was sleep deprived and everything was a haze.  When she did last have a diaper change? When did she last eat?  I was using a notebook to write things down but I found that to be inefficient. Then, my friend Brooke, a mamma to a one and a half year old little boy told me to buy the Baby Connect app for my iPhone.  I now record everything using this app---wet and poopy diapers, feedings (nursing, expressed milk and formula) and pumping sessions.  It helps me keep track of all of the important things and I can even reference things like how many wet diapers she has on average when my pediatrician asks.  I highly recommend this app to any new mom. I also bought another app called "BabyNursing" but I didn't like it as much and found it more confusing to use.

BabyGanics Foaming Hand Sanitizer (unscented)
I keep bottles of this around the house and also travel size ones in our diaper bag.  I love that is is foaming and unscented so there's no harsh smell.  It's great to have a bottle on our coffee table so visitors can use it too before handling the baby.  Love this product!

Aquaphor Healing Ointment
My friend and co-worker Elizabeth who had twins about a week before I had Harper recommended that I use Aquaphor's healing ointment on my nipples after breastfeeding. I absolutely love it.  I am also using Lanolin but I love the texture of the Aquaphor.  

Zoli Buzz B Baby Nail Trimmer
During nearly every ultrasound, Harper had her hands near or on her face. She was the same way when she arrived.  We've had to have her in baby mittens a lot because she scratches her face like crazy.  The Zoli Buzz B has been a lifesaver. It's a battery-operated tool with a circular spinning disc that safely and effectively files down baby's nails.  I use it while she sleeps and she doesn't even wake up.  It's super easy to use and comes with discs that are rougher so you can use it as baby's nails get stronger too.  A must-buy for new parents (especially because a lot of people are afraid to use nail clippers or have accidentally nicked their baby's skin while trying to trim their nails).  

Mother's Milk Tea
Kristen over at Love, Lipstick and Pearls and I had our babies just days apart and we text constantly.  She recommended Mother's Milk Organic Tea to me and I love it. I try to drink two cups a day. It tastes like black licorice (I love that taste!) so it's really easy for me to drink and enjoy it. I'm not sure if it's actually impacted my milk supply or if my supply is increasing based on her needs---but I like it and it can't hurt!

Medela Pump in Style Advanced
This breast pump has been my saving grace. Harper had latch issues from the start and being able to pump and provide her with my milk has been wonderful.  This pump is easy to use and it is very effective.  I love that is comes in an easy-to-carry bag since I keep it downstairs during the day and bring it to our bedroom at night so I can pump a bottle for her while she sleeps.  I am also breastfeeding, but this pump allows me to supplement with expressed breast milk when needed. I also plan to use it when I return to work.

Cake Nursing Bra
I absolutely love the Cake nursing bra I purchased from Nordstrom. It is so comfy and the stretchy fabric is awesome.  I also continue to wear my GAP racerback bras.  I actually purchased a hands-free pumping bra (that I never used) and I'm returning it because guess what---all you need to do when wearing a stretchy shelf or nursing bra is to pull it down a bit, stick the pumping parts on and pump away! It will hold the pump parts in place on your breasts perfectly, no need to use a special bra at all. I had even cut holes into an old sports bra to use as a hands-free pumping bra, but you don't need the holes. The stretchy bra will hold the pump parts in place perfectly.

Nap Nanny Chill
I know this product was recalled due to parents using it irresponsibly (like placing it in a crib or on a high countertop, which is explicitly advised against on the actual product) but it has honestly been one of my most-used baby items. Harper sleeps in it all the time (supervised, obviously) and she is so comfy in it.  So many bloggers included it on their must-have lists when I was doing my research and now I know why. It really is an incredible product (when used correctly and in accordance with the safety standards outlined by the manufacturer). It's a shame it was recalled because people were using it irresponsibly. 

Fisher Price Snuggabunny Bouncer
You'll often see moms in the online world talking about how once they had a baby they didn't have time to shower anymore. I just put Harper in the snuggabunny bouncer in the morning and she sleeps in there while I hop in the shower for 5 minutes. I keep it in my walk-in closet and just pull it out whenever I need to have her in the bathroom with me.  I don't wear makeup most days when I'm home with her, but sometimes I do and I keep her in the bouncy while I apply it.

Footed PJ's- Baby Gap
I have ones from Old Navy and Baby Gap and they are awesome---especially the ones with the zippers. Makes diaper changes a cinch and you know their little feet aren't cold.

The Miracle Blanket
This baby likes to be swaddled. We use the miracle blanket at night (and also sometimes the Halo Sleep Sack) and it helps her sleep better and longer. I also ordered a Woombie and I'm curious to see how it will compare!

Aiden & Anais Swaddle Blankets
I love these swaddle blankets. They are so multi-purpose and a must-have for every mamma. I have the regular ones as well as the bamboo ones.  Remember to keep one in your diaper bag---we always cover her carseat with one at the pediatrician's office (they have a separate area for newborns but you can never be too careful!)

Avent Microwave Sterilizer
We go through a lot of pump parts and bottles.  The Avent sterilizer is easy to use and effective. I was going to get the kind that plugs in, but I didn't want another item on my countertop and I liked that this one was at a great price point at $25.

Medela Quick Clean Steam Bags
We are also a fan of these quick steam bags by Medela.  I say we because my husband does 99% of the sterilizing in this house. He has a great routine going with it. These are easy to use and one bag can be used 20 times so a pack of bags will give you 100 cleanings.

Boon Lawn Drying Rack
We keep this adorable drying rack on our countertop to dry bottles we've washed and to hold items we've sterilized.  It's cute and holds so much. We also have one of the flower accessories for it. It's just so sweet looking and best of all---effective.

Graco Pack n' Play
Harper sleeps in our room in her Graco Pack n' Play right now and we like it.  I like the comfort of having her right next to me so I can check on her.  It also has a little side attachment for diaper changes, but I actually use it to hold extra diapers and all of my bottles and pumping supplies. I just change her in the actual Pack n' Play using a waterproof liner.

Waterproof Changing pad liners
You need these-period. Baby diapers are messy and babies pee as you're changing them. Using these waterproof pads will ensure you don't have to wash your actual changing pad cover every single day. They also allow you to change baby in the middle of the night in her Pack n' Play without having to use a normal changing pad. Buy these in bulk!

Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers and wipes
My husband and I both have sensitive skin so I wanted to try these out since they're designed for sensitive skin. We've been really pleased with both the diapers and the wipes. No leaks or irritation so far.

That's all I can think of right now, but I will continue to update favorites as Harper grows.  Thank you for reading and thank you for your patience as I'm trying to get back to regular blogging.  Thank goodness the little one sleeps for several hour stretches...though how long that will last is anyone's guess!

Harper Reese- A Birth Story, Part I

From the very beginning of my pregnancy, I always had the same attitude about the birth of our daughter---as long as we are both safe and healthy at the end of it all, that would be my ideal birth experience. I didn't have any kind of "plan" going in, and this is a story about the day our lives changed forever.

On Saturday, May 25th, Candice and I went to the spa at Hotel ZaZa to enjoy pedicures and some relaxing pool time.  Since we were just a few days out from my 30th birthday, I figured it would be the perfect day to just sit back, relax and get in my last pedicure before our little girl arrived.  I felt completely fine that day, save the normal discomforts of being 39 weeks and some days pregnant.

The next morning, Sunday May 26th, I woke up to use the bathroom and had some bleeding (sorry, TMI, but anyone who has had a baby knows the deal).  I woke up my husband and told him what was up. I wasn't feeling any pain and maybe had a few dull cramps throughout the day. Nothing intense.  My husband and I met a friend for Thai food at lunch time and I continued to eat copious amounts of pineapple hoping to jump-start my labor (totally an old wive's tale).  I had seen my OB on Thursday that week and once again, no progress, so I was convinced our baby would be born the first week of June instead of on or before my May 29th due date.

Sunday night I was experiencing some lower back pain (but it wasn't constant), cramping down low (again, not constant) and a lot of pressure in my behind area (which I later learned was due to the fact that the baby's head was SO low). I also had some Braxton Hicks contractions.

Before we went to bed, I told my husband that if I start to have actual contractions, no matter what time of night/early morning it is, that he should tell me to get in the shower and wash my hair.  I was rocking some 4th day hair and all I could think was if I went into labor and was in the hospital for a few days it would just be a mess. I wanted to have clean hair if I was going to be in the hospital for several days, haha.

I woke up on Monday, May 27th at 4 a.m. with a little more bleeding and this is when I first started to feel contractions. I woke up my H and he downloaded an app on my iPhone while we were in bed to monitor how far apart the contractions were. In the beginning they were about 10 minutes apart and then quickly progressed to 8 and then 7 minutes apart.  Remembering that I really wanted to wash my hair, I got in the shower at around 5 a.m. Thirty minutes later my hair was washed, blow-dried and set in velcro rollers (I just did my normal hair routine, nothing out of the ordinary).  My contractions started to get more intense (painful) and closer together as I was blow drying my hair so I had to stop many times to lay on my side in bed and get through each contraction.  By the time my hair was done I decided I wanted to put some makeup on and began applying it.  This is when the contractions got really bad. There was some cursing, tears and repeated cries "why is this happening to meeeeee" and "it's hurts SOOOO bad."  Those were my two most used lines throughout early labor.

It was kind of hilarious applying makeup between contractions.  Judge all you want, but I wanted to look nice in the photos and didn't know how long I'd be in labor.  At this point, my contractions were a good 3-5 minutes apart, lasting about a minute every time.  I applied my makeup pretty quickly, stopping between contractions.

I had called my OB at about 7 a.m. and learned that she was away for the Memorial Day long weekend. The OB on call told me I should come to the hospital and get checked out since my contractions were so intense/close together.  My husband and I got into the car with all of our hospital bags and on the way to the hospital I had about 4 contractions so intense that I was just crying through them (and yelling PLEASE DRIVE FASTER...okay maybe I didn't say "please"). We arrived at the hospital and I got into a wheelchair, still having contractions and my husband took us up to the assessment floor where I was immediately admitted.  I was checked when I got there and was already 3-4 cm dilated. The baby's head was super low and the OB told me that is likely what is causing me to have so much pain/pressure in addition to the contractions.  

I'm going to be completely honest---the pain from the contractions was the most horrible, awful pain I have ever experienced in my life.  It was so intense I honestly didn't know how I would make it through each one and I just kept praying and praying that the pain would lessen (um, no.)  

After being assessed they immediately admitted me to labor and delivery and we were moved to our room there.  I asked for the epidural pretty much as soon as I got to the hospital so they called anesthesiology as soon as I got to L & D.  I was checked again and was dilated to 5 c.m. with super close contractions. At this point they were so close together that I felt I hardly got a break from the pain and I just wondered how I would survive it if the anesthesiologist didn't walk through the door within the next minute. 

Fortunately, the team soon arrived and they asked me a bunch of questions and explained the epidural to me and I signed the consent forms---I had to have them stop explaining things between contractions because the pain was so intense at that point that I literally couldn't hold any focus until one was over.  Finally just 15 or so minutes later the anesthesiologist had me sitting on the side of the bed and was administering my epidural. In my pain-filled haze I kept telling him how he was my favorite person that day and how thankful I was for him and his profession.  The nurses were all cracking up because they said usually patients are just swearing and going crazy and I was actually making them laugh (with me...at me? ha, who knows---but my L&D nurse was awesome---nurse Jackie!).

The epidural did not hurt AT ALL.  I felt a little sting when the lidocaine went in and a little pressure with the actual epi but it did not hurt one bit. In fact, I'd argue that getting an IV in your arm or hand is more uncomfortable (but again, not painful). I'm not afraid of needles though so maybe it was just easy for me in that regard. I was in so much pain I wouldn't have even cared if the epidural did hurt---as long as it worked.

And work it did.  Oh my gosh it was the sweetest relief I've ever felt in my life.  Suddenly, a sense of calm came over me and I was a normal person again. I could have conversations and actually enjoy the anticipation of meeting our baby girl without feeling like I was going to die if I had just one more contraction. Maybe that's a bit dramatic, but my labor had progressed quite quickly and it was all so intense and painful that it was the best feeling in the entire world to be numb from feeling that pain.

The OB on call came to visit and check on me and at this point (after the epi) I had progressed to 6 c.m.  She told me she called my OB and that my OB was in Galveston for the long weekend. I told her that I love my OB and of course I would love for her to deliver our baby but that I totally understood it was a holiday long weekend and I didn't want to take away from her family time.  She came back 30 minutes later and told me my OB was on her way back, driving to the hospital to deliver our baby. I was so taken aback by the fact that she would drive back just for our baby. That is why I love her so much, she's a wonderful physician.

About an hour or so after I got the epi, my labor had stalled a bit at 6 c.m.  They broke my water and waited and then when I hadn't progressed after that they started me on a very low dose of Pitocin to speed things along and it worked.  I kept getting checked and was continuing to make progress.  My OB was still on her way to the hospital and the nurse was instructed to try some "practice pushes" with me. I was so shocked at how fast it all went that I couldn't believe I would be delivering our baby soon. I know I use this word all the time, but it felt surreal.

My OB arrived and the team got ready for me to push.  Pushing was intense because once you have the epi you can't really "feel" where to push so I tried my best to just focus and breathe and listen to my OB and labor nurse (there was also a resident there).  I pushed for about an hour or so and the entire time my OB would tell me how low her head was and how close we were. At one point they told me to reach down so I could feel her head and I will admit that it did encourage me to really persevere and motivated my pushing. I had a blanket over my chest/belly area but towards my last few pushing cycles I watched her head progressively coming out and once again, it just felt really surreal that she would come out and be handed to me. 

My husband was awesome the entire time too---he was a huge cheerleader for me and really made the experience even better. Now I know why they always say having a baby will make you fall in love with your husband all over again and more intensely than ever before.

During my final push, she came out, crying really loud and HUGE (8 lbs. 3 ounces)!  I always imagined myself having an emotional breakdown when she was born but I was just all smiles and kept saying "oh my gosh she's so cute" and just enjoying those first few moments meeting her for the first time. As soon as they placed her on my chest she immediately grasped my finger with her hand. It was so incredible. I couldn't believe she came out of me and I couldn't believe she was ours. After some cuddling, Harper was taken to the warmer to get her vitals checked (she had an Apgar score of 9!) and then Kevin got to hold her as they stitched me up.  Without getting too TMI, let's just say there were some tears...and they still hurt as I write this post.

On May 27th at 6:23 p.m., our lives were changed forever. We became parents to the beautiful, adorable, tiny life that we created. I feel so privileged that God made this plan for us.  

Overall, I feel really great about my birth experience---there were some ups and downs when Harper was in the NICU and like any new mom I was full of worry---but all of her tests came back negative and she needed some brief phototherapy like a lot of babies do for jaundice.  I'm glad I went in without a birth plan---I feel like I just listened to my body and the doctors and nurses and when my sweet baby girl was placed in my arms nothing else mattered. She was finally here.

I'm going to write a part II to this birth story including details about Harper's brief NICU stay and recovering at the hospital. I will also be talking about breastfeeding and pumping and how that has been going for us.

Thank you for reading and thank you to all of my readers who have been so incredibly supportive throughout my entire pregnancy. I am blessed to have so many people who I consider to be friends in the blogging community.