Podcast #69: And Then There Were Two

This week we welcome back new mother of two Nath who is having a hard time eating enough to nurse baby number two. Tips welcome! We also talk about how to love your baby without losing yourself, how not to feel guilty about your mothering choices, and whether of not you should spank your child! 

Listen to the podcast here.

Looking for Calories

I’ve been battling to get Nic to eat enough for years, and it’s already started with Baby Z. However, this time, it’s more my fault than his. My little man doesn’t shy away from the boob, in fact, he’s voracious. The problem is, I’m just not giving him enough.Pancakes, bacon, egss, OJ. If this isn't a high enough calorie breakfast, I don't know what is!

I know this because his weight gain has been paltry. Between our last doctor appointments, he should have gained about a pound. Instead, he gained 5 ounces. At our first visit, our pediatrician told me to beef up the calories (he had gained a little less than expected between being released from the hospital and his first visit). I complied and took second helpings at dinner and added in more snacks, but it’s just not enough.

I should also note that I'm an eater. I'm not one of those girls who picks at a salad. I order a burger and fries, and I finish it. To tell me to eat more calories is to tell me to eat like a 250 pound man. It's actually kind of hard.

The way I see it, I have three complicating factors that are making it really difficult to get enough calories: 

1. Baby Z has a milk protein sensitivity. This means I can’t eat cheese, milk or other dairy products. Dairy products have traditionally been a huge calorie source for me. Cutting these out has left me scrambling for ways to beef up my food intake. (You have no idea how bad I just want to drink milkshakes all day.)
2. We’ve been moving. With Nic, I sat on the couch with My Breastfriend strapped around me for hours on end. I just can’t do that this time—I’m always on the go (and burning calories).
3. I’m chasing a toddler. To echo, point #2, I’m always up and about. Plus, just making time to eat a hearty meal is hard. I make myself a sandwich, sit down to eat it, and someone cries!

Sure, it feels nice to fit into a pair of jeans (note: not quite my regular jeans) or to have someone tell me that I look great. But when that happens, I also feel this pang of guilt that I’m cheating my baby. I’m really not trying to lose the baby weight quickly, I just can’t keep up. And I feel like my little man is suffering in the process.

So, if you have tips for high calorie snacks/meals that are easy to prepare and dairy-free, I’m happy to hear them in the comments!

Special Guest! Amber Mac, Working Mommy Extraordinaire!

We have a special guest on this week's MommyBeta podcast! My friend Amber MacArthur tells us about nursing for 2 years (!! go her!!), being a tech baby and working mommy, and more! 

Listen to the podcast here.

Boobies On Aisle 5

Yep, I had my boob hanging out the entire time I was at the grocery store. What did you do today? 

My father-in-law (FIL) and I went to do some grocery shopping with Baby Ava today. After a trip to the Dollar Store for some goodies for Miles' upcoming birthday party, we stopped in a coffee shop because Ava needed to nurse. 

I pulled out my Bebe au Lait and my FIL got a coffee. When Ava was finished, I pulled my jean jacket together, pinned up my nursing bra, and decided to put a sweater and beanie on Ava because it was a little chilly. And we left. 

Next stop, grocery store where I picked up milk and bread and did NOT notice that I had not pulled my dress back up after nursing. I had my bra pinned up thankfully and my jacket on but had anyone taken a closer look, they would see that my dress was peeled down to reveal my bra. 

I didn't notice until I was taking the groceries in the house. Maybe it was the breeze. Anyone have any embarrassing motherhood stories to rival mine today? 

Just hang loose, everybody! 

Win It! Bébé Au Lait Nursing Cover

In honor of World Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we are giving away a Bébé Au Lait nursing cover. 

These things are great! They help you nurse in public without the fear of perverted or prying eyes. Even though I am finished nursing, I still carry mine in my diaper bag. It works great as a quick blanket or towel in a pinch.

The whackiest place I ever used my nursing cover was in The Louvre. I pumped my way through a trip to France with my husband when Baby Mo was 6 months old so that my milk wouldn't dry up. We had to ocassionally stop so that I didn't explode and half way through our visit to the famous museum, I decided to pump on a bench right outside the room that holds the Mona Lisa. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do! 

If you would like a Hooter Hider, or know a mommy who would, here is what to do: 

• Like us on Facebook
• Post a comment in the comments section of this post (not on Facebook) about the whackiest place that you have nursed or seen someone nursing. 
• NOTE: you must leave your email when you comment. It will be kept private and not shared with anyone. We need it to alert the winner. Entries without emails will be disqualified.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. EDT, Thursday, August 18. Rules and regulations found here.