Tag: nursing

My Top 5 Tips for Postpartum Recovery

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I’ve officially done it twice now. The first time hit me like a ton of bricks. The second time, I was more prepared, but had a different experience balancing being a toddler mom at the same time. I’m no expert, but I have definitely learned a few things about the postpartum stage along the way. Here, I am sharing my personal tips for everything postpartum. I hope they will help you as you prepare for this emotional and vulnerable period.

Disclosure: Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products I truly find helpful and have used myself. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

5. Set Boundaries Early

Before you give birth, take some time to think about what kind of space and support you’ll need in those first few weeks. Who makes you feel calm? Who adds stress? It’s okay to be intentional about who enters your home and space during such a vulnerable time.

Well-meaning visitors can easily overwhelm you. It’s okay to say, “We’re not ready for visitors yet,” or “Please text before dropping by.” The most important things at this time are bonding with baby, and prioritizing your healing.

Express your boundaries clearly if you can. If you’re uncomfortable doing so, have your partner take the lead in communicating them. Boundaries aren’t walls; they’re gentle reminders of what you need to feel safe, rested, and supported.

4. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

With my first, I spent so much time creating the perfect baby registry. I researched every piece of baby gear, compared reviews, and had everything ready months before my due date. But what I didn’t do was put that same energy into preparing for myself — for postpartum.

I was stocked up on pads, Epsom salts, and nursing supplies, but I wasn’t nearly as organized or informed as I could’ve been. I didn’t realize how much recovery, rest, and emotional adjustment were waiting on the other side of birth.

Read up as much as you can about the transition your body is about to go through. Set up your nursing station with the same care you set up your baby’s changing station. If possible, designate one bathroom as your “postpartum washroom,” with all your recovery items in easy reach.

For my personal product recommendations, check out my list of Postpartum Essentials on Amazon (affiliate link).

A little preparation goes a long way, and future you will be so thankful you thought ahead.

3. Ask For and Accept Help

If someone offers to bring a meal, hold the baby while you shower, or fold a basket of laundry, say yes. You don’t get extra credit for doing it all on your own. Let people love you through action.

Sometimes it helps to be specific: “We’d love soup or freezer meals,” or “Can you walk the dog while I feed the baby?” Most people genuinely want to help, and they will gladly accept when you ask for something specific.

Better yet, set up help in advance. If there is someone you trust (a close friend or family member), have them come over at a set time once a week to give you a hand. Sign up for a grocery delivery service and/or a prepared meal delivery. I used Voila and Factor religiously for the first few months with my second baby. Hire a cleaner if you can afford to do so, even if it’s once a month. Think about what it is you will need, and be proactive with setting it up.

Fresh fruit was my biggest post-birth craving.

2. Fuel Your Body, Feed Your Mind

You’re still recovering, and maybe even feeding another human. Your body needs nourishment just as much as your baby does. Prioritize real food, hydration, and gentle movement over restriction.

Keep easy snacks where you nurse or rest (think protein bars, trail mix, fruit, energy bites, and anything else easy to grab). Drink lots of water, and honor your hunger cues. Now is not the time for cutting back or dieting. I remember feeling SO hungry postpartum (both times) especially while exclusively breastfeeding. Embrace it and allow your body to have what it needs. When you nourish yourself physically, it can help you feel better mentally.

For your mind, try incorporating something that feels natural to you. For me, it was 5 minute morning meditations using an app. It really allowed me to start the day with good vibes, no matter how tough the night was. Some other ideas are journaling, practicing gratitude, or FaceTiming a loved one.

1. Trust Your Instincts

Becoming a mom expanded me in so many ways. I felt as if my senses were heightened and my gut developed a sixth sense. It is true that a mom’s brain actually does change after birth, and I felt this. I can sense when something is off with my kids, even before there are obvious signs.

I’ve learned to trust my inner voice; it rarely steers me wrong. Even if I am wrong, the worst I can do is overreact and that doesn’t bother me one bit. You’ll get advice from everywhere (and everyone), but no one knows your baby like you do.

Bottom Line

The postpartum stage is raw, beautiful, and transformative. However it unfolds for you, please remember that you’re doing an incredible job.

If you want a little extra support, I created a Postpartum Recovery Checklist you can download and print at home — it’s everything I wish I’d known to have on hand the first time around. You can download and print it from my Etsy shop below. It’s a small resource made with a lot of love for new moms who want things to feel a bit easier. 🤍
→ Get the Postpartum Checklist on Etsy

Be gentle with yourself, mama. You’re growing right alongside your baby.

With love and realness,
Maya 🤍

Otto’s Baby-Led Weaning Journey

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I started researching Baby-Led Weaning when I was pregnant, and Carlo and I knew right away it was something we wanted to do with Otto. Turns out it was one of the best decisions we ever made for our son! 

What is Baby-Led Weaning?

Baby-Led Weaning is simply the idea that your baby will start eating whole foods when they start solids, and that they will self-feed. There is a lot more to it, and I encourage you to do your own research, whether that is reading books or checking out websites devoted to it. But essentially, it’s the idea that babies do not need to be spoon fed purees. To me, baby-led weaning makes perfect sense and is very natural. But I do understand why some parents might be hesitant to try it. For years, we have been told to spoon feed our babies and start with only purees. But there is really no reasoning behind it, besides the fact that it might be considered easier and less stressful for some. When I started learning about the benefits of baby-led weaning, it really made my decision for me.

Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning

There are honestly so many benefits, and too many to list. I can’t stress enough how positive of an experience this has been with our little guy.

Firstly, exposing your baby to different textures of foods helps them learn to use their mouth/gums/tongue to move food around in their mouth and chew. Babies will get messy, but this is just a part of the process. Letting them play with and explore their foods helps them become independent with their eating, and it also will lead to less texture aversions in the future. It also allows for babies to be and feel in control of their eating, and they will learn to start trusting their hunger cues (and other instincts). They get a chance to eat as little or as much as they please, and know when they are full. It is also a great way to expose babies to allergens, and contrary to old beliefs, exposure is key (not avoidance)! Babies also get a chance to build their fine motor skills, like palm gripping spoons and foods, as well as developing their (adorable) pincer grasp. The process of picking up and moving food to their mouths is such a great way for them to develop coordination. So, you can see that BLW goes way beyond just the food aspect.

Where to Start?

I would recommend starting with doing some basic research on BLW. If you find that you want to consider it, I would then suggest taking a Baby-Led Weaning course or something like a Starting Solids/First Foods course with a BLW focus. There are tons out there by reputable dietitians, and they are available to do online at your own convenience. A great time to do it is when you are pregnant! I would look for a registered dietitian and/or nutritionist who specializes in baby and/or childhood nutrition. Go browse on Instagram and TikTok and look for someone whose content you enjoy. Most of these content creators will offer some sort of course, and they are very reasonably priced for what you are getting. I took a course with The Baby Dietitian and it was awesome; I learned so much and it made me feel SO much more confident when starting solids with Otto.

I would also recommend taking a Baby First Aid/CPR course. This will give you the confidence you need when watching and supervising your baby eat pieces of food. Besides this, it is critical knowledge for any parent to have. These courses are easy to find online, and your local hospital may even offer them for free!

Finally, let family know this is the route you are going – especially family members who will be taking care of your baby or taking part in their feeding journey. If you have family coming to take care of your baby, you want to make sure they are on the same page and keep your feeding routine consistent.

An easy BLW dinner – baked salmon, steamed broccoli, steamed carrots

Otto’s BLW Journey

We started Otto on solids one week before he turned 6 months old as recommended by our paediatrician. It was exciting, nerve-wracking, messy, and hilarious all at the same time. Some of his first foods were steamed broccoli with butter and nutritional yeast, slices of and mashed avocado seasoned with lime and garlic powder, sweet potatoes, whole grain toast, scrambled eggs, and yogurt mixed with peanut butter. At first, there was a lot of play involved and not a whole lot of consuming. It got better and better every time though. For the first couple of months Bailey ended up eating probably 50% or more of what I actually prepared for Otto. Between what he dropped and what he just didn’t eat, she was a lucky dog (she still is – to this day she lies by his high chair for every meal). 

One thing I learned while cooking and prepping for Otto was not to be afraid of spices and seasonings. The only things I really avoided were added salt and sugar, and of course honey before he was 12 months old (it can cause botulism in infants under one year). A common misconception people have is that baby food has to be bland. This could not be further from the truth! Why shouldn’t babies try new flavours? From the start, I cooked for Otto with garlic, onions, tons of herbs (such as basil and cilantro) and other spices like cumin, ginger and smoked paprika. I think this really helped him develop his palette for a variety of foods!

We started off with one meal and gradually worked our way up by adding meals and snacks over time. Two meals turned into two meals and a snack, which eventually turned into three meals and two snacks. You might wonder how you will know when to transition or introduce more food, but truthfully it becomes very intuitive. Your baby will give you signals that they are ready for more food (like finishing all their meals when they didn’t before, or making gestures or sounds for food). The beauty of BLW is they learn to honour their hunger cues, so they will naturally assist you in this process!

OK, I’m convinced… but what about the mess?!

Honestly, coming from me, a clean freak, I can tell you that it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be. We bought one of those splash mats to put under the high chair but never ended up using it – we found it easier to just wipe the hardwood floor right after. And, having a dog definitely helps with clean up. Seriously though.😅

I am not going to say it’s not messy. But I will say things are going to get messy no matter what when you have a baby. You can really only control the mess for so long until you just give in. At some points, they are going to grow into kids and be messy eaters… so really you are just prolonging the inevitable. My advice is to think about the benefits your baby is getting out of it and allow them to enjoy their meal, then deal with the clean up immediately after. It’s when things pile up that it’s not easy to clean. And in all honesty, every single meal is not going to be disgusting. A few will be, but most will be manageable. Yes, your toddler is going to throw pasta with sauce all over the place. Yes, at times the wall is going to be splattered. But it all washes off. And it’s all part of the fun. It makes for funny photos and memories too!😁

BLW is messy but worth it, something you will hear all BLW parents say!

What We Noticed With Otto

As I said before, there are countless benefits. With Otto, he really is not a picky toddler like everyone said he would be. Yes, he definitely has more “preferences” these days, and some things he used to love are useless at this point, but that is also just part of normal toddler development. Otto has always been open to trying new foods, and for the most part has a wonderful and healthy appetite. Family and friends are often impressed when we go over to their places or go out to eat!

We also notice him honouring his hunger cues… pretty much all the time. If he wants more, he says “more” very enthusiastically. If he is not feeling particularly hungry, he pushes food away or leaves it. Now he is even starting to tell us “all done” and hands us his bowl or plate (or tells us to give it to Bailey). Otto will run to the fridge or kitchen when he wants a snack. I love this for him, because I know intuitive eating is such a healthy habit to have as he grows up. I want him to learn he can trust himself to make decisions for his own body, and I really believe BLW is a great entry point for that.

Lunch: Homemade chicken quesadilla, homemade hummus (actually super easy to make) and strawberries

Many Different Approaches

I want to stress that BLW is not a one size fits all approach. Like most decisions we make for our babies, there is a wide spectrum of options to choose from. The thing is, you can make BLW work for your family without having to check every single box. If you want to ease into it, that’s an option. If you want to take aspects of it and incorporate them into your feeding plan, that works too. If you want to start with a mix of purees and BLW, so be it! I love that this approach is not all or nothing and your baby can still reap the benefits even if you are not “all in”. I do think knowledge is power, and the more educated you are on something, the more confident you will feel going into it. As I lead with this post, start researching and see what you think!

For more inspiration…

I also have an entire TikTok playlist devoted to BLW with tips, amazing recipes, and more!

My Breastfeeding Journey

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As I am currently weaning my 16 month old, I have been reflecting a lot lately on my breastfeeding experience. I figured now would be a good time to write about the ups and downs and what these 16 months have been like for me as a first time mom. It has by no means been easy, but I am grateful for and amazed by what my body has done for my son.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I personally recommend and use in my own motherhood journey. As an Amazon Associate I earn commission on qualifying purchases.

The First Few Hours

After giving birth, everything is such a blur. I remember thinking how natural it would be, holding my little newborn and having him breastfeed for the first time. Boy was I wrong! My first experience with breastfeeding was with the postpartum nurse guiding me. She roughly grabbed my boob and started massaging it, and I was not expecting that😅 – it HURT! She pushed Otto onto my nipple and said that I really have to “shove him” onto it. She wasn’t wrong of course, but I was surprised. It didn’t feel all that natural. In the hospital I ended up hand expressing colostrum and feeding it to Otto because I wasn’t all that confident in my latch yet.

The First Few Days

At home, I started getting the hang of it. I think having privacy and the time to bond with Otto was really helpful for me. He was latching well and I was happy! It was definitely something to get used to though. I couldn’t believe I was now a mom, let alone a breastfeeding mom. My body had just gone through so many changes and this was yet another one.

The first couple of days my body was of course producing colostrum (a.k.a. liquid gold). After two days my milk started coming in, first on my right side and a couple of days later on my left. This was unexpectedly uncomfortable and to be honest quite painful. I felt like my boobs were carrying a bag of rocks.

I fed on demand which ended up being every 1-2 hours, and even though I knew this going into it, the reality of it absolutely rocked me. Nothing prepares you for being someone’s lifeline 24/7. The days were long and hard but the nights were complete insanity.

I still can’t believe how
tiny he was here!

The First Few Weeks

I became pretty obsessed with making sure Otto was fed properly. I kept a note in my phone with the timings of all his feeds. I set alarms throughout the night for every 2 hours in case he didn’t wake me up (though he always did, and it was usually before the 2 hour mark).

I heard to avoid offering bottles for the first month while exclusively breastfeeding so baby doesn’t get confused and then only prefers bottles. So I stuck it out, and it was all me for three weeks. After this I would pump once a day so Carlo could use that milk to do at least one or two feeds. I also started a nice freezer stash this way which became really handy. I didn’t love pumping – the feeling of it was unnatural to me and I hated having all those cords attached. That’s when I started doing some research and I found out about the Haakaa(#ad). It’s a silicone pump that attaches so one breast while you feed baby on the other one. It catches all the milk that naturally comes out and it really relieved the feeling of constant engorgement that I had.

I’m not going to lie, breastfeeding, for me, was painful at the beginning. I remember crying every time Otto would latch and I would feel the milk come out. My nipples were in so much pain. I bought nipple shields to help with this, and they did provide a little relief. The pain only lasted a few weeks thankfully and went away naturally. Had it lasted any longer, I would have reached out to a lactation consultant.

Daddy giving Otto a bottle. This gave me a break, and allowed them to have extra bonding time.

Cluster-feeding (WHAT THE ACTUAL ****?!)

Cluster-feeding is when baby feeds multiple times within a short time period. So, instead of every 1-2 hours it can be every 30 minutes or even more often. It can last for a few hours or more (my first time this happened it lasted a full day). I had no idea what it was and I was confused, exhausted, and overall in shock.

The first time my baby decided to cluster-feed, my sister was over spending time with us. I kept thinking we would all be able to hang out, she could hold the baby, maybe I could get some rest. But… it just never happened. She ended up bringing me water and food all day while I was in bed feeding my hungry monster. TGFS (Thank Goodness For Sisters)! We laugh about it now, but it was really a WTF moment for us.

After it happened once, I Googled it and realized it was totally natural and normal. I dreaded the next occurrence but of course it continued randomly over the next little while. He was a growing boy after all!

Mastitis

It took me a few months but I did get into a good rhythm with breastfeeding and slowly started feeling more comfortable with it. Feeding was still on demand, but every 2-3 hours instead of 1-2 (yes, still often but the one hour made a huge difference). I was finally starting to get the hang of things and feel good about breastfeeding! That is, until mastitis happened.

Mastitis came out of nowhere and I feel like I have said this so many times, but I was not prepared for it! I had read about it while pregnant but for some reason I just figured it would never happen to me. After all, I was careful to do everything right while breastfeeding – like keeping clean, sterilizing pump parts, and feeding often and on both sides. Unfortunately I still got mastitis. I was in a lot of pain and had a high fever for days. Having to take care of a baby and breastfeed through this was truly one of the most difficult things I have done. If you want to read more about my experience, I go into more details in my blog post about it.

After I got better, I really considered stopping breastfeeding. I had to really think about the pros and cons but in the end I decided to continue on.

We’re Finally on a Set Schedule

After months of feeding on demand, we FINALLY reached a point where feedings were timed. Let me tell you, this made things so much easier. This was around when Otto was about 9-10 months old. I had been told that once baby starts eating solids (at 6 months) he would naturally stop breastfeeding as much. This was not the case for me. I had been looking forward to this magical moment that didn’t come until months later! When he did start dropping feeds, I was ecstatic. That’s when I decided to create a set schedule and it surprisingly worked really well for us. I thought Otto might be upset that I wasn’t feeding on demand, but he adapted to the schedule. I could finally leave the house feeling less anxious about being away from him. I knew I had to be back at certain times, so I was still restricted in a sense, but this was far better than wondering if he was okay without me.

A bedtime feeding.

Getting Easier… But I Want My Body Back!

I made it to the year mark. I was so proud of myself. My goal going into breastfeeding was 2 years, but after I started I changed my goal to 1 year. (Setting a goal without knowing what I was getting into was not realistic😅)!

I loved what my body was doing for Otto but I missed my freedom. I was often “touched out” and I know a lot of it had to do with breastfeeding. I also wanted to stop constantly thinking about my diet, caffeine intake, not being able to enjoy a drink, having to wear nursing friendly clothes, etc.

Starting to Wean

I really started making a conscious effort to wean once Otto turned a year old. Even though it was gradually and naturally happening, I wanted to move things along. 12 months was the magic number for me… I could finally relax knowing that after this age, breastfeeding isn’t necessary anymore. I felt so much relief knowing this, and that anything above this age was just a bonus.

After speaking to our paediatrician, I was told to cut one feed a week mainly so I could avoid discomfort or even mastitis. Nope, I did not want that again! I think this was also helpful in the sense that it didn’t shock Otto.

We tried substituting 3% cow’s milk with each feeding that was cut, but he rejected it for quite some time, until one day he didn’t. Now he drinks it just fine! I did notice he was grumpy for a few days with each reduced feeding, so I would distract him with snacks and extra cuddles.

Almost The End

Fast forward to today, Otto is 16 months old and he is down to simply one breastfeeding session per day. It’s always at 7pm, right before bed time. While it still does keep me “hostage” a bit, it’s a vast difference to what I was doing just a few months ago. I decided I can handle once every 24 hours. I am able to do whatever I want during the day and that is so liberating for me.

I don’t know how long I will continue to do this evening feed, but for now it’s working for us. Maybe Otto will naturally grow out of it, or maybe things will change in the next few months. Whatever happens, I am so proud of myself for how much I have accomplished and been through with breastfeeding!

For My Personalized Recommendations:

Check out my full list of recommended Nursing Products (#CommisionsEarned).

I also created this TikTok playlist about my Breastfeeding Journey! ☺️

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Otto’s Routine – 14 Month Old Edition

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The last routine I blogged about was Otto’s 9 month old routine, and to be honest not much had changed with it until he turned 13-14 months old. We were really getting used to it, but like everything with babies, it was just a season.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I truly love and use.

Having Otto on a routine has been amazing and challenging at the same time. On the one hand, we know what to expect and can plan around it. Bedtime is set, and I think the established routine helps with his sleep (he is finally sleeping through the night)! On the other hand, I sometimes feel like a prisoner to his schedule. I find it hard to be spontaneous and break out of naps and wake windows. Overall though, I think the positives of having a routine outweigh any negatives.

HERE IS OUR TYPICAL DAY…

6:30am-7:15am Wake Up – Otto wakes up like clockwork around this time. Sometimes he will wake up crying but a few times recently he’s woken up babbling and singing – it’s super cute. Daddy gets him and changes him, then brings him to me so I can breastfeed him in bed. After he’s done he will go into his crib again for some independent play. Some days it lasts longer than others, but generally he plays about 15-30 minutes. This means Carlo and I can shut are eyes for this little bit of extra time (every minute counts)!

7:45am/8am Breakfast – Breakfast comes a little earlier these days as Otto seems to wake up ravenous. I’ve noticed his appetite has definitely increased and I feel somehow our whole day revolves around food. I’ve stuck to my meal prep and always have tons of options in the freezer, especially for breakfast when we have little energy. Some of his favourite breakfast foods include: whole wheat toast with butter, scrambled eggs, fruit, homemade oatmeal mini muffins, English muffins with peanut butter, pumpkin pancakes… the list goes on!

8:30am-9:15am Get Ready/Play – After breakfast I clean Otto up and get him dressed and ready for the day. I try to keep things calm in the morning and have him play in his room with me (rather than running around the condo like he does the rest of the time😅). If you haven’t heard of Lovevery (#CommissionsEarned), I highly recommend their Play Kits – these are truly some of Otto’s favourite toys. They keep him focused and engaged and allow him to learn rather than become overstimulated too quickly.

Morning Playtime!

9:15am-10:30am Morning Walk – I love to get us out for some fresh air every day. We used to use this walk for Otto’s morning nap, but he has transitioned down to only one midday nap a day instead of two, so now these walks are purely for leisure. He loves to look at the squirrels, birds, and passing dogs! I also like getting my steps in, and of course, stopping by Starbucks. Some days I will take him to the grocery store or nearby shops, but usually we just walk through the neighbourhood parks.

10:30am Snack – After we get home Otto has a small snack. Like I said, our day kind of revolves around food. Some snacks he loves include: bananas and berries, unsweetened applesauce, crackers and hummus, Babybel cheese, and Love Child Organic Oaty Chomps.

Snack time!

10:45am-12pm Play (Home or Library) – Depending on how we’re feeling, we will either head back out and go to the library or stay home and play. We are so lucky to have such an amazing library just steps away from us, with a huge section for babies and kids to roam around and explore. I try to take advantage of this and go at least 4 times a week. It’s a great change of scenery for me too, plus Otto gets to meet and interact with other toddlers.

The library is one of our favourite places.

12pm Lunch – For lunch I will either heat up some leftovers from last night’s dinner, or prepare something simple. Some of my go to lunch foods for Otto include: chickpea pasta with sauce, chopped up cucumber with a splash of vinegar, homemade chicken broccoli fingers, smoothie bowls, toast with Swiss cheese… what can I say, he has great taste!👌🏻

12:30pm-2:30pm Nap – As I mentioned earlier, we are down to just one nap a day. It wasn’t the easiest transition but we are happy with how it is working out now. Ever since Otto turned one, he began refusing at least one of his naps every couple of days. It got to the point where it was exhausting trying to keep him on a two nap schedule when it just wasn’t working. Nap refusal can be very stressful because while you want your baby to rest, you can’t force them to sleep. So, we ended up extending our morning wake window to around 5 hours and doing one long midday nap. If you have read my blog post on Otto’s sleep, you’ll know he has only stroller or contact napped since he was 4 months old. This is still the case!

We have been contact napping for a very long time 😴

2:30pm Snack – Yup…another snack! I mean, who isn’t hungry after a long snooze? I also try to give him a bit of whole milk at this time (I say try because he doesn’t love it). You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned breastfeeding since the 7am feed, and that’s because I am gradually trying to wean Otto off of it. Breastfeeding has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done longterm and I am so relieved to be down to two feeds a day.

2:45pm-4pm Play (Home or Library) – If I haven’t taken Otto to the library yet, we usually go during this window of time. Otherwise, I will basically just follow him around the condo while he explores, moves objects into random places, and uses his Skip Hop walker/scooter. It’s a lot of running around for me!

4pm Prep Dinner – I will either put Otto in his playpen or have him sit on the kitchen floor with some “high value” items (safe kitchen utensils) while I prepare some food for the evening. He hates being in the playpen so I tend to have him in the kitchen with me, even though it ends up taking three times longer to do everything (picture him wandering off every few minutes and me having to grab him).

The potato masher is his favourite ☺️

5pm Dinner – Though we’ve tried to prioritize family meals, more often than not dinner ends up being either me or Carlo sitting with Otto while he eats. I find that we aren’t hungry at this time and there’s also something so relaxing about eating in peace, on the couch, after Otto is asleep. Eventually this will change as he goes to bed later, but for now this is what works. He’s also extremely hangry by this point so 5pm dinner for him it is! Side note, if you’ve never seen a hangry toddler… well I wouldn’t recommend it!

5:30pm-6:30pm Family Walk – After dinner we usually take a long walk to wind down before the end of the day. It’s often hard in the winter months to do this because it’s so dark and freezing, but in the spring we have definitely been taking advantage of the mild evenings.

I love our fam❣️

6:30pm-7:00pm Bath/Nurse/Bed – We’ve continued our nightly baths since Otto was a newborn and he absolutely loves them. He really enjoys the water which I credit Carlo for; he’s been taking him swimming in our condo pool every couple of weeks since he was a few months old. We also recently enrolled Otto in Guardian Swim at our local city pool and he is really loving those classes too! So it’s no wonder he loves the bath! After the bath Daddy will pass him off to me to feed him and put him to bed. He generally goes down pretty quickly and easily (unless he’s teething or something else is bugging him). After he’s in his crib, it’s Mom and Dad’s time to chill out and relax (or work out, or do more work, or do laundry…)!

Days with an “infant-toddler-hybrid” are long and exhausting but they are hilarious and exciting as well. Though I am tired, I do enjoy this stage. I find it so fascinating to watch Otto learn and grow. Every day I feel like he wakes up a little different and with something new about him.

xx Maya

The Dreaded Mastitis

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I was just over 3 months postpartum and finally – TRULY – starting to feel more myself and like things were becoming somewhat manageable. I was starting to exercise again, get out more, and feel less stressed out being at home alone with the baby. Things were looking up!

Enter mastitis. Just when things were getting good, they got really bad, really fast. And I say really fast because one of the characteristics of mastitis is that it can come on very suddenly, and for me it certainly did.

Exhausted, in pain, with a high fever… and feeding through it.

If you don’t know what mastitis is, it is an infection of the breast tissue which causes pain in the breast as well as flu-like symptoms. If you google it, you’ll find that about 10% of breastfeeding women will develop it at some point, but I suspect that number is on the low end. When I posted about my struggle with mastitis on my personal social media account, almost every single mom I knew reached out saying they had suffered from it at some point. (This is why 10% seems low to me). The doctor who I saw when I suspected it said it is extremely common amongst breastfeeding women. Apparently, simply because we are lactating, we are more susceptible to getting these types of infections.

Another important thing this doctor told me was that it was not my fault. If you google it, you will find all sorts of ways moms are shamed and blamed into thinking they somehow caused themselves to welcome this infection. From poor latching to not feeding or pumping often enough, the potential causes listed are numerous. This made me feel like a failure at breastfeeding and a bad mom for putting my baby through me being sick. Which is why I cried at the doctor’s office when he said it was absolutely not my fault, and he tells all women the same thing. Again – simply because we are lactating, means we are more susceptible to bacteria somehow entering our breasts, which can lead to infection.

Anyway, it was Wednesday morning when I noticed the smallest most insignificant pain in my left breast. The kind of pain that reminded me of doing one too many push-ups. I had recently started working out again so this could very well have been the reason. While the tiny pain lingered all day, I ignored it. It wasn’t until 8:30pm that night, while I was sitting on the couch watching TV, that I started shivering excessively and felt like I had the flu all of a sudden. I instinctually went to bed and just covered myself in as many blankets as I could. I could not stop shaking – it reminded me of the shakes I had while in labour. That night I sweat through the sheets, was freezing cold, literally could not get up (fiancé had to bring the baby to me for feedings), and my entire body ached. I could feel my left breast becoming harder and it felt hot to the touch. It got more and more painful throughout the night.

The next morning I self-diagnosed myself with mastitis after googling it and realizing I had every symptom. I went to see the doctor and he confirmed it was in fact mastitis. I was prescribed antibiotics, and I was so grateful for that. I’ve heard of women treating it naturally but I honestly don’t think I could have. It actually got so bad I didn’t think the antibiotics were working, but they do take 2-3 days to kick in. Mine took 3 days to show any signs of improvement. Actually, it did get a little worse before it got better. By day two of antibiotics I still had quite a high fever and the lump in my breast felt massive.

I was also very anxious because my milk supply seemed to be dwindling, especially on the infected side. I kept feeding my baby through it and I could tell he was sucking longer than normal to get the amount of milk he needed. Apparently nursing is the best cure, because it really works out the lump. I remember one night waking up with my nipple so engorged (it reminded me of a roasted marshmallow) and nothing relieved the pain. I tried pumping, a hot cloth, using a haaka… nothing worked. Finally my son woke up for a feeding and as soon as he was done, I felt so much better.

Have you heard of using cabbage leaves for relief?

I also tried cabbage leaves for temporary pain relief. They are also used for weaning so you have to be careful not to overuse them. Twenty minutes on, 3 times a day, is the most that is recommended while breastfeeding. I washed and dried a few leaves each time, and kept them super cold in the fridge. They were actually very relieving. I could feel the excess fluid sweating out of my breast, if that makes any sense. I envisioned the leaf pulling the infection out of me. I know it sounds crazy but this type of thinking is so important!

After 5 days I finally started feeling better. I had 7 days of antibiotics total so I gave myself that entire time to rest and heal even though I was feeling good. I wasn’t jumping straight back into exercising or doing too much.

If anything, mastitis reminded me to slow down. As a breastfeeding mom of a 3 month old, I am already so busy and usually physically exhausted. Breastfeeding (literally) takes a lot out of you! I think I was pushing myself too hard to do too much (counting my daily steps, doing HIIT rides on the Peloton 5 days a week, errands, cleaning…) – I sound nuts just writing this!

I was fortunate to have my Mother-In-Law come over for a couple days to watch the baby while I was sick. She kept the baby occupied in the other room while I napped and rested, and she brought him to me for feedings. She was a literal Godsend, because taking care of a baby while that sick is almost impossible. I know not everyone is as fortunate to have help on demand, but if you do have the offer, just take it. Whether it’s a mother, sister, friend or neighbour, just say yes and go to bed. It will make a huge difference in your recovery.

If you are suffering from mastitis, know you are not alone. Many have experienced it and have made it through, stronger on the other end. Seriously, there was a point where I felt like I was never going to get better. It’s really awful and it can be scary, but you WILL make it through after a tough few days. Take care of yourself ❤