Napkins. My child. Lots of nudity.

I finally get to post again! My husband wanted to cuddle one night while I was using the laptop ANNDDD the laptop fell on the ground and the screen broke.

So much has happened since I last posted. The gym thing? Yeah, that's not working like I thought it would.
Don't get me wrong, I still want to go...I just haven't. Plus when I went to the gyno, I had gained three pounds. What a drag.

Speaking of the gyno, here's a story I hope you like.

Picture this.

I have Connor dressed and I am dressed and we are ready to get this visit over with. We walk into the building, Connor still strapped in his seat, and he's being great. He's quiet, looking around, everything is going smoothly.

I get back to my doctor's bay and the nurse asks me if I want to go ahead and give a urine sample. I said yes and lugged Connor into the restroom.

Here's where things get tricky.

I have my pants down and a cup at my vagina, trying to pee in it. Connor is starting to fuss. The whole time, I'm saying, "It's OK, Mommy is right here. I'm almost done. Just give me a second."

My six month old didn't understand.

I finish peeing and at this point, he's screaming. I know everyone can hear him, so I hurry and pull my pants up, dispose of the cleaning pads, wash my hands and try to get out of that confined space.

Then the nurse wants to weigh me. Connor was quiet for about half a second while I wallowed in self pity and wanted nothing more than a giant chocolate chip cookie.

We get in the room. I sit Connor's seat in front of me while I sit in the chair beside the nurse's desk. I'm trying to answer her questions and tell her my concerns all while Connor screams like we have no idea he's sitting right in front of me.

I get Connor out of his seat and sit him in my lap. The nurse tells me to undress and that the doctor will be in in a few minutes.

So here I am, holding Connor and taking my clothes off at the same time. Now the kid is pretty chunky, so this wasn't an easy feat. I sat him on the table and put one hand on him (because I could not deal with him falling off) while I take the rest of my clothes off.

Then, I pick him up, get on the table myself, wrap my body in two oversized napkins and wait.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

He decides he wants to play with the giant napkin over my boobs. Go ahead Connor, have at it.

So now one side of the napkin is ripped and my left breast is exposed. It isn't exposed for long though, because Connor lunges at it with his face. Whatever. So I'm laying on this table, naked, with my legs in stirrups and Connor is latched onto me like a leech.

Then the doctor comes in. At this point, the napkins are merely just there. They aren't covering me up. They aren't doing anything.

"Oh, you're nursing. I'll come back," said the doctor.
"No, it's fine. Really." I say.
"No, I don't mind coming back if you want to finish," she said, clearly OK with waiting on me.
"He's not eating. He's not even hungry. He's just there." I say, ready for this ordeal to be over with.

So now, the doctor starts examining me while my son is still on top of me. As she examines my right breast, I move him over to the left side, and move him to the right when she examines my left. Then I hold him on the side of the bed while she presses on my stomach.

Now is the fun part.

I just have him. I have him on top of me, with a boob in his mouth, while she looks at all my lady parts. As uncomfortable as an annual exam is, it was so much better with 18 pounds laying on my stomach/chest area. I didn't even feel the duck beal.

When the whole thing is over and I ask about the issues I was concerned with, I lay Connor in his seat and let him scream while I hurriedly put my clothes on.

After I strap him in and we leave the room, heading to the check-out, he's great! Everyone commented on how cute he was and how good he was.

Yeah. OK.

I have never been so happy to leave the OBGYN and get into my minivan.

What a day.

What. A. Day.

 

One hot mama

I was at work a couple weeks ago and a lady asked me if I was pregnant.

So that was a slap in the face.

I decided that since a gym membership is included in our rent, I might want to consider using it. I have worked out four days and none this week.
I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but for me, it is. I have never liked anything physical (except GETTING physical, which I've found to be pretty darn good at). But I started running on the treadmill and lifting (small) weights, and it's actually really fun. I look forward to it and I'm disappointed when I can't make time to go.

Don't worry, this isn't about me talking about how super hot I look when I pump iron.

Along with my whoppin' four days at the gym, I've also tried to eat healthier. By healthier, I mean I eat cookies with oatmeal instead of normal cookies. I eat whole grain cereal rather than sugary cereal.

I get stuff with lettuce on it at McD's instead of a big, fat juicy burger that I really want. Believe me, it's a struggle.

Anyway, this post is about how, if you want to lose weight, you can do it and not affect your milk supply. After all, who cares how you look if your baby is angry because you ran out of milk!

For starters, from what I've read, it's best to start out easy. Don't start going fitness crazy right after you give birth, just do it gradually (VERY SLOWLY).

Also, don't take this advice as professional. This is ONLY what I am doing and you are more than welcome to follow. However, I do not take any responsibility for how well or terrible you do, so don't try to sue me. Please and thanks.

One of the most important things about losing weight and breastfeeding is to make sure that you're not cutting down on your meals or food. Just cut out the junk and sweets, or in my case, cut down on them. Make sure to keep meat (unless you're a vegetarian, and in that case, I am not the person to talk to) in your diet, because your bebe needs protein.

Don't cut out carbs. Not only does your body need them for energy, but so does your baby. Plus, if your body has no energy, it's not going to make milk.

Which leads me to remind you that breastfeeding burns calories, so make sure to continue to consume your extra 500 calories than normal, just make sure they're the good calories.

Well Lauren, what are good calories?

That's a great question!

Good calories are those found in fruits (which are also high in fiber so you poop more) and veggies. I'm not a huge eater of either of those, but I do like yogurt and fruit is in yogurt, AND you can buy the "light" kind so that it's not as high in fat. Greek yogurt is always good and it's high in protein too. Plus yogurt tastes good.

Make sure you have fiber in your diet, which you can get from whole grains, wheat, fruit, green veggies and some juices.

In a nutshell (nuts are good sources of protein and are great for snacking), don't change your diet unless it's to cut out those bad calories.

Exercise to the extent that you're sore the next day, but that you're not forcing your body to "over-do" (my mother's favorite word) it. If you get to carried away and hurt yourself, then who's going to take care of that sweet little person of yours?!

I don't know how this gym thing is going to go, but I'll be sure to keep you updated.

OK and just as a side note, I have to go to the gyno tomorrow (because APPARENTLY GIVING BIRTH ISN'T AN EXAM ENOUGH) and I'm hoping my four days will have paid off on the scale. I'll tell you all about it in a week or so, don't worry.

Kelly Mom website, lots of different help topics

Choose my plate.gov It's a government site, so it's legit

Baby Fit, I just really liked this site so maybe you will too

Most importantly, don't give up on breastfeeding. You are doing a terrific job.