Thursday, December 22, 2016
Warning! Nursing Mamas Go Easy: Holiday Tummy Trouble
The holidays can wreak havoc on parents and babies alike.
This week, I have been working on my holiday goodie basket gifts & have sampled a few too many of the cookies I made. Find the recipe's here, BUT let your hubby, boyfriend or whoever else test them for you!!
Now- most nursing moms (myself included) know their child is essentially 'eating what I eat', so we try to make health conscious choices. I for one am a proponent for making my own lactation cookies, drinking almond milk and eating hummus and carrots as snacks. Mostly because I know all of these choices have been excellent for my body, for my baby's health and have helped with my lactation needs.
Nursing moms- heed the warning in this post's subject line and steer clear of taste testing each flavor of your cookies.
Now I will share with all of you my own personal trauma...
Despite knowing babies can be sensitive, I didn't think twice about scarfing down a few too many homemade peanut butter kiss cookies (flour-less) & cake batter cookies. The amount of egg, sugar and peanut butter consumed was enough to make even the strongest stomach sick. But truly, the thought that 'testing' the cookies would make my little one's tummy rumble didn't even cross my mind. That was until my little started grunting and groaning. This is usually a tell tale sign that something is causing baby some trouble.
I thought that maybe I consumed too much sugar and felt like absolute crap! "How could I do this to my baby", "I'm so selfish!", "I did not need those cookies!" were all things I yelled at my internal self. If you have this internal conflict with yourself, know that it's normal. We all have done it and will do it on many more occasions as our babies grow. Embrace and accept it! ;)
So after a few wet diapers, few being only a bit dirty with liquid- mucous like doodie- I noticed my little one was still grunting and straining while trying to pass a #2. Her behavior remained the same; happy, smiling & having fun while we played with her.
On a trip to run some errands, it came time to change my little's diaper. When changing her- I noticed a little bit of blood in her poo.
If this happens to your little: CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN! Change the baby's diaper, avoid irritating the bottom with wipes or prodding. In the event it is outside of your ped's office hours- continue to call & leave a message. Go to the E.R. if your little one is showing signs of illness, ex: fever, vomitting, lethargy or won't eat.
If the amount of blood is excessive and not just a few little spots: GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. Large amounts of blood could be indicative of something much more concerning than the following.
Now- as there were only speckles (not lessening the concern we all have), I called my daughter's pediatrician. I was told the following scenario's can cause speckles/ small amounts of blood in baby's stool:
- Nursing mother has consumed too much dairy, egg or nut product
- Crack or damage to nursing mother's nipple, leading baby to consume small amount of blood
- Small tear on baby's anus. * My pediatrician advised to just ensure there was no visible abrasions on or near baby's sensitive area.
Once we ruled out any damage to mine or my little one's body- it was pretty clear that my issue was my over-consumption of the holiday cookies.
Take this as a lesson learned for Tiffany...I will not be doing this again.
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
Quick Cookies
It is rare for me to have enough time to prep and bake a batch of cookies. However- the following two recipe's were great! One is only a three ingredient cookie, while the other is an actual cookie recipe that can be done with baby in tow.
Peanut Butter Cookies (3 Ingredients):
1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup Granulated White Sugar
1 Egg
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine ingredients and drop spoonfuls of batter onto foil lined un-greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 6-8 minutes.
Cookies will be a bit sticky. Let them cool entirely before trying to remove.
** If you want to add a chocolate kiss, add when outside edges of cookie has cooled, but center is still slightly warm. Too hot & your kiss will melt.
Snicker*Doodle Cookie:
1 Cup Butter or Margerine at room temperature
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Granulated White Sugar
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar (not packed)
1 Egg
1 Egg YOLK
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder (I elected NOT to use cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp salt
Cinnamon & Sugar Dusting:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream together your butter and sugars until combined. Add in egg & egg yolk, vanilla and cinnamon.
3. Add in baking soda, powder(or CoT if you have), 1/4 cup of flour, mixing with cake mixer on low to medium speed. Add in 1/4 cup of flour at a time and mix until full incorporated.
4. Using a spoon, scoop 1-2 tbsp batter and roll into ball. Toss into sugar dusting and place on cookie sheet. I elected to spray my cookie sheet with a little coconut oil non-stick spray.
5. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes. Middle will be soft, but fully cooked. Let sit until cool.
Happy Baking, Mamas!
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
Peanut Butter Cookies (3 Ingredients):
1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup Granulated White Sugar
1 Egg
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine ingredients and drop spoonfuls of batter onto foil lined un-greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 6-8 minutes.
Cookies will be a bit sticky. Let them cool entirely before trying to remove.
** If you want to add a chocolate kiss, add when outside edges of cookie has cooled, but center is still slightly warm. Too hot & your kiss will melt.
Snicker*Doodle Cookie:
1 Cup Butter or Margerine at room temperature
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Granulated White Sugar
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar (not packed)
1 Egg
1 Egg YOLK
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder (I elected NOT to use cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp salt
Cinnamon & Sugar Dusting:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream together your butter and sugars until combined. Add in egg & egg yolk, vanilla and cinnamon.
3. Add in baking soda, powder(or CoT if you have), 1/4 cup of flour, mixing with cake mixer on low to medium speed. Add in 1/4 cup of flour at a time and mix until full incorporated.
4. Using a spoon, scoop 1-2 tbsp batter and roll into ball. Toss into sugar dusting and place on cookie sheet. I elected to spray my cookie sheet with a little coconut oil non-stick spray.
5. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes. Middle will be soft, but fully cooked. Let sit until cool.
Happy Baking, Mamas!
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
My Top 5 Baby Prep Suggestions!
Baby Prep...
(I will give my suggested list summarized at the end of this post!)
Ladies, please do not be shocked if your boyfriend or husband does not feel the urgency as much as you do. We go into nesting mode at various points of pregnancy & our significant others just do NOT seem to fully understand. ha!
I found putting together baby furniture to be such a stress reliever. I would come home after a cruddy day, park my butt on the floor- screwdriver in hand- and start assembling a changing table or bouncy chair. It brought me peace and a refreshing sense of excitement. It really helped me. So for those who craft when they are stressed (I am one of these people)- put that energy and use of your hands to work and get to it!
Give yourself adequate time to do all the assembly for your nursery. I cannot tell you how important this is! Being home with the little one will not allow you much time to shower, eat or brush your own teeth- so please do not delay assembly. You will be stressed and panicked when your munchkin begins to grow out of that bassinet.
My first few days home, after delivering my little LAMM, we spent a large part of the days sleeping. Your body will be tired whether you had a natural/drug-free birth, epidural, or cesarean. As far as I am concerned, we have all just birthed a child, are up every few hours to wipe dirty booties & feed our babies (if our worrisome minds aren't keeping us up ALL night), and are exhausted! Do not feel bad about this!!
I had no desire or intention to cook for the first week or two. It was excellent that family came and tended to us those first few weeks. HOWEVER, what was even better was that we had so many frozen pasta dishes, veggies and meats, that all we needed to do was set the oven. Once family had gone and we had to fend for ourselves- those frozen meals were a saving grace.
Now, as with any human- big or small: food = digestion
I would only do diaper changes in the nursery for the few weeks. Eventually I found it more taxing to walk up and down to the nursery. After running to the nursery every time LAMM pooped, out of fear we had a blow out diaper- we set up our pack N play with the attached napper/changer and had changing pads and a diaper caddy ready to go as needed. This made things much easier and saved many outfits from the damage of diaper explosions.
Back to food- do your best in the weeks leading up to your due date to have your refrigerator stocked with groceries. Whether you plan to eat raw fruits and veggies or prefer cook & eat frozen goods--- stock up because you won't want/be able to make a fast trip to the store.
Lastly, have a cleaning party, hire a service or buckle down...but make sure your house is clean. I cannot tell you what a bummer it is to come home to a sink of dirty dishes after having your baby... You will be up at night while your baby sleeps- trying to catch up on housework. Been there!
Top 5:
1. Assemble your nursery in the earlier weeks of your 3rd Tri.
2. Prep a few freezer meals ::suggestions::
3. Have multiple changing stations set-up
4. Have your refrigerator stocked
5. Clean House top to bottom
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
(I will give my suggested list summarized at the end of this post!)
Ladies, please do not be shocked if your boyfriend or husband does not feel the urgency as much as you do. We go into nesting mode at various points of pregnancy & our significant others just do NOT seem to fully understand. ha!
I found putting together baby furniture to be such a stress reliever. I would come home after a cruddy day, park my butt on the floor- screwdriver in hand- and start assembling a changing table or bouncy chair. It brought me peace and a refreshing sense of excitement. It really helped me. So for those who craft when they are stressed (I am one of these people)- put that energy and use of your hands to work and get to it!
Give yourself adequate time to do all the assembly for your nursery. I cannot tell you how important this is! Being home with the little one will not allow you much time to shower, eat or brush your own teeth- so please do not delay assembly. You will be stressed and panicked when your munchkin begins to grow out of that bassinet.
My first few days home, after delivering my little LAMM, we spent a large part of the days sleeping. Your body will be tired whether you had a natural/drug-free birth, epidural, or cesarean. As far as I am concerned, we have all just birthed a child, are up every few hours to wipe dirty booties & feed our babies (if our worrisome minds aren't keeping us up ALL night), and are exhausted! Do not feel bad about this!!
I had no desire or intention to cook for the first week or two. It was excellent that family came and tended to us those first few weeks. HOWEVER, what was even better was that we had so many frozen pasta dishes, veggies and meats, that all we needed to do was set the oven. Once family had gone and we had to fend for ourselves- those frozen meals were a saving grace.
Now, as with any human- big or small: food = digestion
I would only do diaper changes in the nursery for the few weeks. Eventually I found it more taxing to walk up and down to the nursery. After running to the nursery every time LAMM pooped, out of fear we had a blow out diaper- we set up our pack N play with the attached napper/changer and had changing pads and a diaper caddy ready to go as needed. This made things much easier and saved many outfits from the damage of diaper explosions.
Back to food- do your best in the weeks leading up to your due date to have your refrigerator stocked with groceries. Whether you plan to eat raw fruits and veggies or prefer cook & eat frozen goods--- stock up because you won't want/be able to make a fast trip to the store.
Lastly, have a cleaning party, hire a service or buckle down...but make sure your house is clean. I cannot tell you what a bummer it is to come home to a sink of dirty dishes after having your baby... You will be up at night while your baby sleeps- trying to catch up on housework. Been there!
Top 5:
1. Assemble your nursery in the earlier weeks of your 3rd Tri.
2. Prep a few freezer meals ::suggestions::
3. Have multiple changing stations set-up
4. Have your refrigerator stocked
5. Clean House top to bottom
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
Freezer Meal
Now, I do not speak on behalf of all mothers out there- but I found these to be the best options for us. I had the meats on hand and the pastas ready made and frozen.
1. Penne Ala Vodka: whole grain pasta, choice ala vodka sauce, salt & pepper.
add in: chunks of grilled chicken or ground turkey meatballs.
2. Lasagna: ready to bake lasagna noodles, browned ground turkey, choice red sauce, spinach, cottage cheese, part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese. Season it to your liking- I'm a garlic and pepper person with a touch of cracked red pepper here and there.
3. Grilled chicken & veggies: seasoned to your liking (parsley supposedly can cause a decrease in milk supply if you are nursing).
add in: low sodium cream of mushroom soup
4. Sausage with peppers and onions: we always have turkey sausage as well as italian sausage in our freezer, so we would use either.
If freezing, I recommend double wrapping in foil and using a freezer bag. These precautions will prevent freezer burn!
My best & only suggestion for freezer meals, or cooking fresh, is to keep it simple.
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
1. Penne Ala Vodka: whole grain pasta, choice ala vodka sauce, salt & pepper.
add in: chunks of grilled chicken or ground turkey meatballs.
2. Lasagna: ready to bake lasagna noodles, browned ground turkey, choice red sauce, spinach, cottage cheese, part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese. Season it to your liking- I'm a garlic and pepper person with a touch of cracked red pepper here and there.
3. Grilled chicken & veggies: seasoned to your liking (parsley supposedly can cause a decrease in milk supply if you are nursing).
add in: low sodium cream of mushroom soup
4. Sausage with peppers and onions: we always have turkey sausage as well as italian sausage in our freezer, so we would use either.
If freezing, I recommend double wrapping in foil and using a freezer bag. These precautions will prevent freezer burn!
My best & only suggestion for freezer meals, or cooking fresh, is to keep it simple.
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
Welcome to the beautiful madness...
As I sit here, typing with one hand and holding my little girl with the other, I've decided to put my new found experience to use.
If you are also a new mom, or a mom just looking for a different perspective than your own- WELCOME and please feel free to share your experiences (in relation to the respective blog post, of course) in the comments!
A bit about myself:
My name is Tiffany! I am a first time mama to my little LAMM, who turned 5 months old yesterday. I share two dogs and three kitties with my love, Giovanni. Hailing from Ohio, Gio & I met at college in Long Island and I stuck around. I love social media, country music and Christmas playlists on Pandora, browsing Pinterest [find me here] & singing in the shower!
Last November we found out we were expecting our first little one. Here I am, nearly 500 miles from my family, my hometown, starting a family with my boyfriend of 8 years. There have been so many things we wanted to accomplish before taking this step- but as life would have it- here we were.
I can say that nothing has ever brought me as much happiness as this beautiful tiny princess.
As I am sure many moms/mums/mothers/mama's can relate; I look forward to and also dread the 19th [insert the date of your child/children's birth] of every month. This day means my little one is learning and doing new things, but also that she get is getting older- further away from the little baby I welcomed in July 2016.
So, as I make my way on this journey into motherhood, I'm going to record what is happening along with the tricks/tips/opinions of how to face it all.
I hope to be helpful to anyone who happens to read or stumble upon this. I also look forward to seeing any of the comments coming in from mama's with their advice!
Here we go...
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
If you are also a new mom, or a mom just looking for a different perspective than your own- WELCOME and please feel free to share your experiences (in relation to the respective blog post, of course) in the comments!
A bit about myself:
My name is Tiffany! I am a first time mama to my little LAMM, who turned 5 months old yesterday. I share two dogs and three kitties with my love, Giovanni. Hailing from Ohio, Gio & I met at college in Long Island and I stuck around. I love social media, country music and Christmas playlists on Pandora, browsing Pinterest [find me here] & singing in the shower!
Last November we found out we were expecting our first little one. Here I am, nearly 500 miles from my family, my hometown, starting a family with my boyfriend of 8 years. There have been so many things we wanted to accomplish before taking this step- but as life would have it- here we were.
I can say that nothing has ever brought me as much happiness as this beautiful tiny princess.
As I am sure many moms/mums/mothers/mama's can relate; I look forward to and also dread the 19th [insert the date of your child/children's birth] of every month. This day means my little one is learning and doing new things, but also that she get is getting older- further away from the little baby I welcomed in July 2016.
So, as I make my way on this journey into motherhood, I'm going to record what is happening along with the tricks/tips/opinions of how to face it all.
I hope to be helpful to anyone who happens to read or stumble upon this. I also look forward to seeing any of the comments coming in from mama's with their advice!
Here we go...
Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!
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About Me
- Tiffany
- Glen Cove, New York, United States
- I am 29 years old and a new mommy, to my little LAMM. Layla Aria-Marie. I love my little family & our little zoo! I'd love to share my tips & tricks in regard to having a new baby, still showing love to my 5 fur-babies and just all-around life!