Adventures in Potty Training! - Morning Day 1

We got through it!  4 wet pairs and 1 pooed pair later, we're at nap time.  2 accidents happened after lunch when he was absorbed with colouring, no more than 5 minutes after a previous pee.  Quite a bit of pee at that!

5 underwear down (1 is in the sink), 20 more to go!

He caught one pee after being tucked into bed, then tried to huddle into a corner to poop. That was a bit trickier since we usually give him time to poop on his own, although we do try to get him onto the potty when he's more agreeable.  We let him have this one in the underwear to show how dirty things get (as per Lora's instruction in her e-book) and yep, we had to clean up his legs since the poop hung low and rubbed against his thighs as we walked to the washroom, and then the toilet seat when he sat down on the potty as we took off his pants.  Fun times!  Random sharing: It was the Batman underwear that got the poop.

So far, things are looking positive.  I dare not think about the actual reality of being diaper-free, only because it makes me a bit too giddy to be effective!  Stoic I must be to get us through the next 2 days.  Benny's been really great with the positivity, reminding Derek of what we're aiming for ("Keep the underwear dry!") and not losing his patience.  Thankfully, Derek hasn't been terribly whiny - and Benny's had coffee.  =D

He gets a gold star each time he does the action.  We'll be giving him a reward after his nap for completing at least one line, which is pretty easy since he will always be sitting on the potty!

Adventures in Potty Training! - Prep

Sooooooo we've arrived at Potty Training Weekend!  How fitting that it's during Labour Day weekend because it will definitely be laborious for us parents.  We've decided to try out the 3-day Potty Training by Lora Jensen.  Sounds intense but I figure go big or go home.  We (well, I) decided to download her e-book as an investment to at least help us wrap our minds around this training, even if we don't use her particular method.  I'm fairly convinced it will work, although we have a few factors working against us:

1. Derek had a major constipation problem that resolved only 2 days (Thurs) before our training day.
  We're concerned that his system may be thrown off by this recent bout and it may be another obstacle to deal with.

2. He stayed up really late the night before The Big One came out (Wed night).
  He didn't go to bed will 12:30am because he kept bouncing out to go potty.  He was trying sometimes and with his system so backed up, we couldn't ignore his "Potty!" calls.  Since then he's hopped out of bed for the littlest things, which he's never done before, making nap times and bed times rougher than usual.

3. As a result, he's also sleep-deprived.  =S

4. He had white carbs for dinner last night.
  He gets constipated with white carbs so we've switched everything to whole wheat.  We had pizza with neighbours and I didn't realize that the pie we requested for him wasn't whole wheat!  Benny usually handles his meal but was delayed at work so I was juggling Kristen and Derek and totally missed the non-whole wheat crust.  Boo me!  So Restoralax this morning to pre-emptively keep him regular.

5. We haven't wet-proofed his play area.
  Given the irregular nights we've been having because of his constipation, our plans to take out the foam mats and replace them with a rug got derailed.  Why no mats?  Because cleaning them is a pain and a half, and there are connecting pieces between the squares, and debris underneath.... so we'll have to do that this morning.  Speaking of which, we just finished the switch!  Pictures up soon. =)

Foam mats cleared out!

Rugs in!

Derek misunderstanding and bringing out his bucket of trains to go with his tracks that we put on the sofa during the transition. =P

These are the things we have done in preparation:

1. Buy and wash underwear - 25 pairs!
2. Buy and wash extra pajamas.
3. Fit mattress with absorbent Brolly sheets (http://www.brollysheets.com/; review of these to come after potty training!).
4. Print Thomas potty training reward chart.
5. Figure out which rewards to give when (almost all trains!).

Blue Brolly sheet on, red and green sheets waiting on the sidelines.

Aaaaand time's up.  Kristen needs to nap.  Benny's about to change Derek out of his last diaper.  Wish us luck!

For seriously sleep-deprived parents...

... here is a great post by someone on FaceBook (Laura W.) with information on how to get assistance with your baby so you can get more sleep.

We need sleep to function and there's a lot depending on a new mother in the first few days, weeks and months postpartum.  Getting that sleep is always this issue, especially for those who do not have family nearby or friends able to help out.  Depression and anxiety is around the corner for the sleep-deprived but there are programs to help us get us (a bit more) on track.

I've simply cut and pasted this here rather than re-writing everything.  I wish this was more widely available so that I could make use of it myself but I know my situation isn't a bad one - if anything, it's pretty good, I just want more sleep in general!

Please forward this information to anyone you know, particularly those who are pregnant, especially with their first, or have given birth within the last 3 months.  They'll need this program the most!

I just wanted to post and let the ladies know about a program for those who may need it. In York Region, it's called 'Five Days, Five Nights'. I know that Toronto also offers this program as well. If you are suffering from anxiety, depression etc. or if you have previously experienced PPD/PPA/PPOCD, etc., speak to your Dr. or Midwife about this program.

You can stay in the hospital for five days and five nights to be monitored and to have some *sleep*. The studies show that if you are sleep deprived, isolated and without support, the postpartum time can be extremely difficult.  With sleep, going home doesn't seem as daunting and overwhelming - and in those first few days, it is so important for a new mother to be rested and know that she's alright.

Also, if you need it, a nurse with Public Health will follow you, come to your home to check up on you and baby and make sure you're doing ok. They can meet you outside the house and help you with 'getting out' if you need it.

There is also a program through Public Health that allows for a 'grandmother' type person to come and hold the baby and entertain an older sibling if needed so that you can rest, clean, cook etc once a week for up to two hours.

Please, speak to your health care provider if you are feeling anxious, angry, sad, sleepless for 'no apparent reason' etc. A healthy, happy mom makes great mom. It's a hard time and you don't have to be alone. 

In York Region there is a programme called 'Life With a Baby' that organizes get togethers *daily* if you need to get out and see real life people.

Remember, your baby will sleep again... even though you feel like they will never sleep - especially when you need them to. They will stop crying. They will eat. Just think - they won't be this little forever... and the next stage may not be better - just different. You are doing a great job. And if you need any help... please don't be fearful to let someone - anyone - know.

Big hugs to all the Mammas that need it.

TIme flies, a long weekend goes by...

.... and then I get mastitis, in all its chills, sweats, and tender-areas glory.

And so it's been three weeks since I've posted.  I think that's a record!  Not one that I'm looking to beat, by any means.  In honour of breaking it, here is a post about - what else? - mastitis!

What is is? It is an inflammation of the breast tissue.  It can be bacterial OR non-bacterial.

How does it happen? Most typically it happens amongst breast-feeding moms, or more generally, lactating moms.  I came across a forum where one pregnant lady had it due to her colostrum*!  The milk ducts aren't cleared, the milk (or colostrum) sits there and irritates the breast tissue.

When does it happen? Usually in the first several weeks postpartum when the body is finding its rhythm for supplying milk to the newborn, especially in the first two week after the milk comes in due to engorgement.  It can happen at any time though; my personal experience is when my daughter began nursing less but my breasts were still producing the same volume of milk, so milk sat around and eventually led to irritation and (more!).

How is it prevented? By draining or nearly the breast of milk either with every feed or, if baby is drinking less, by pumping right after a feed.  This is also important to reduce the chances of engorgement.

What are the symptoms? Not all symptoms will appear, nor will they appear at the same time but I'd (unprofessionally) say if you have at least 3 of these, have your breasts checked out.  Those with **'s are ones I experienced.
- Itchy area(s) of the breast**
- Tender area(s) of the breast, likely corresponding with the itchy areas**
-  Redness or red streaks, likely corresponding with itchy/tender area**
- Swelling of the breast(s)
- Foul-smelling milk/change in milk odour
- Thicker texture of milk
- Pus or blood with milk
- Chills and/or sweat**
- Fever**
- Nausea**

How is it treated? Here are some short answers to this:
- REST! Straight to bed, nurse the baby in bed, only get up to clean up yourself, answer nature's call or eat.
- Massage affected area of breasts to encourage milk flow and unplug the milk ducts
- Massages best done in a hot bath or shower, or after/with a warm compress to the breast
- Take Advil to help with the pain and fever
- Use a cold compress after feeding to relieve pain/swelling
- Dress warmly
- If you're experiencing chills, SEE THE DOCTOR A.S.A.P.  This most likely signals a bacterial infection for which you will need antibiotics (that are safe for the baby).  The sooner this is treated, the better, otherwise you may experience an relapse (which I did!).

Now it's getting late and I'm not sure what else to post but I hope that's enough for readers to go on.  For more - and more in-depth - information on mastitis and plugged ducts, please check out this link at KellyMom.  Very useful site on all things breastfeeding!

I will post my experience on mastitis soon.  Stay well mommies!


* Liquid produced by mothers in the first week or so postpartum that is not yet milk but just what the newborn needs.  Don't let older folks tell you it's "water" and not to feed it to the baby!