Breastfeeding- Yay or Nay?

Our next 'decision' is "to breastfeed or not". I don't know a darn thing about it.  I'm a planner, I need to have things planned well in advance so that when the time comes, I already know what's going to happen.

We've all heard it a million times that breast is best, and it's pretty much rammed down your throat when you are pregnant. I didn't breastfeed Tyler and Kallie for a few reasons- some of them selfish, some of them not. With Tyler I had planned to formula feed from the beginning. I had an awful pregnancy and delivery was equally as awful. I don't remember much from his hospital stay so me being able to breastfeed from the get go was not an option. I was on heavy duty pain meds, I was throwing up all over, and I was so out of it. My milk never came in anyway so I considered that a blessing- one less bit of pain to deal with. With Kallie, I was a single parent when she was born and I didn't have the time or patience to learn to breastfeed while still trying to chase a 2 year old around. It would have been more of a stress for me and probably her, than what I felt was worth it. This time might be different. I still have a few hang ups to work through. I've made a list of the pros and cons for us (this will not apply to all families)-if anyone has any words of encouragement or suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Pros:

• It's FREE! I'm not going to be getting paid for the 12 weeks that I am on maternity leave, so not having to buy formula would be a blessing. 
• It's healthy. Everyone knows breastmilk supplies baby with immunity and the perfect balance of nourishment.

Cons:

• Pain! I don't do well with pain and between engrogement, horror stories of plugged ducts, etc. I'm petrified. 
• Not having any help with feedings. After a c-section the last thing I typically feel like doing is struggling with something, and it's going to fall all on me to feed the little guy. Can you even pump the colostrum the first few days to give Chop the chance to help out while I'm recovering? And if I do pump, I'll end up with the next con on my list.
• Nipple confusion. I know that I won't make it without pumping the first few weeks- I know I'm going to need help with late night feedings. And if I give him a bottle during those weeks, I'm going to end up having to continue with a bottle forever, right?
• My diet isn't always what it should be. A least 2 nights a week I end up with a bowl of cereal because what I've made for dinner isn't appealing to me. If I'm not eating properly it will decrease my supply as well as not provide nourishment that baby needs. I'm also a super picky eater which compounds the issue.
• This one isn't really MY issue, it's more an issue of finding someone who will comply. Most daycares around here prefer to give formula because it doesn't need to be stored in a fridge. I do have to go back to work at 12 weeks so I'm going to need to pump if we are to continue with breastfeeding.

I've been reading all kinds of things on the internet to try to prepare myself for this. Things like this are why I think many first time Mom's don't even attempt to breastfeed because the whole thing seems very stressful. 

It's A ______!

Our anatomy scan was on January 5, 2015 at 20w4d. Baby was very very uncooperative during the whole thing. He was laying face down (spine at my ribs) which made it very hard to get pictures of his heart. The tech was trying so hard to be able to determine boy or girl, but he just wasn't having it.She got the measurements that she could and then had me lay on my left side. Finally, he moved but his legs were still sealed shut. Of course they were, this is my child and my children never cooperate. Finally, he opened them for about 3 seconds. She managed to snap a picture, but it wasn't a very good one. She was able to tell us that we'll be having a little boy. I WAS FINALLY RIGHT! With T & K, I was wrong- I thought they were the exact opposite, but for this one, I was finally right! Introducing J.R. Sweitzer (his name is not really J.R., we aren't sharing the name quite yet)

                                           

Next, we had an appointment with the doctor. She said that everything looks perfect. I gained 6lbs so far in 21 weeks. I think a pound of that is probably because I had shoes on and clothes- but whatever, it's a good estimate. Baby is weighing in at 15oz which is a decent size compared to the 'average 10oz' that most babies are at 20 weeks. Chop was 9lbs when he was born, so we could just be in for a big baby. I'm having a c-section so I don't mind either way- but I don't think I'll be walking if he ends up being 9lbs! The second best news (next to hearing that everything looks perfect) was that the placenta has moved. I no longer have to worry about bleeding from previa or be on pelvis rest. WOOHOO!

We are now debating whether or not to switch doctors. The hospital that I will be going to now is about 20 minutes from home and the biggest in the county. I've heard some horror stories from some of Chop's family and a good story from a girl I work with. The local hospital is smaller and 2 of his cousins have had their babies there. Without the risk of placenta previa and issues that may come along with it- I don't need to be at a huge hospital. The perk of being at the smaller hospital is that it's a mile from the house which would give Chop some time to come home and shower in his own house, grab something to eat, etc. It's such a hard decision. I think we're going to schedule a tour of the hospital by our house because I've never been there and they don't have a tour online like the bigger hospital. I don't want to wait to long to switch because I want to get to know the new doc if that's the way I'm going.

21 week belly pic--I took another because I think my shirt kind of blends in with the bed, but I hate that my khaki pants make me look fatter than I really am. The joy of maternity clothes. :)

Halfway there!

Wow, 20 weeks already. The weeks seem to drag by as we anxiously wait to see what "fruit" baby is for the week, but when I sit and realize that I'm more than halfway there. Knowing I only have to go to 39 weeks helps, LOL. For those wondering, typically at this time baby is the size of a banana  (6.5 inches) from head to rump and 10 inches when he stretches his legs out. He also weighs about 10 ounces, which is a little less than a can of Campbell's soup. We'll get our little ones measurements at our next ultrasound.

Not much going on right now. Just quite a bit of pain when walking. It's a bummer really because I absolutely love to shop and find deals. This requires that I stand on my feet and do a decent amount of walking around many different stores. That joy has been taken away. At about 18 weeks I started having trouble walking. I'd make it through 2-3 stores and then the pain would set in. I asked my doc about it thinking that it's way to early for SPD to be starting- and she said the ligaments have stretched with each pregnancy and gone back to normal. This time, they are so relaxed that they don't do a great job with support and comfort and they don't hold the pubic bone together as they should. I wasn't really surprised because I have a problem with loose ligaments all over my body. It's been the cause of all my knee and wrist issues- it's in every joint. As far as the pain, it's only going to get worse as the weeks go by. (Real encouraging right?)Yesterday, I made it about halfway through Walmart and couldn't stand it anymore. I walked like my grandmother used to, veeerrrryyy verrrryyy slow with my thighs as close together as I could get them so that we could get back to the car.

When I last wrote I was waiting for undeniable bumps to get rid of my doppler. That day has come. About a week and a half ago I started with definite movement. There's squirms when I'm hunched over and baby is in that area, bumps when I'm laying still or trying to fall asleep, and every once in a while that bladder/cervix kick that reminds you there's someone in there. On New Year's Eve at about 1120pm (yes, I checked- I'm that sentimental)- Chop was finally able to feel the little one. We were laying in bed and baby decided he was going to ring in the new year a little bit early with his antics.Tyler and Kallie were never this active but it's nice and reassuring to feel this much movement. Remind me that I said that when every kick hurts in a few months.

We find out the sex of the baby on Monday. With Tyler and Kallie, we didn't know until birth day, but this time I am super excited to find out. Praying for a cooperative baby. Also praying that the placenta has moved away from my cervix so I can come off pelvic rest and not worry so much about a bleed or earlier than 39 week delivery so that I don't go into labor.