motherhood

Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts

10 tips for breast care while breastfeeding.

May 27, 2016

Breast is one of the women's part of the body which suffers a lot of changes during pregnancy, and after giving birth, during breastfeeding. That is why, it is so important to take care of your breast during all this period.

Here are some tips, some of them are inspired from literature that I have read, others from my own experience. I hope these tips will help you as well.

1. Use suitable breastfeeding bra, that are comfortable for you.

2. Mantain you normal way of hygiene, wash your breast with pure water. Do not use in excess soap, lotions or cream, these can damage areola.

3. If you need to use a cream, try to use only creams rich in Vitamin E, only these help to prevent stretch marks.

4. Once your baby finished, apply some milk on the nipples, as our milk has different antiinflamatory components. From my experience it works better than any other cream to hydrate your nipples, in the first days of breastfeeding.

5. Alternate the breasts while feeding, try to evit the colapse of the breast. If your baby do not want to eat, it is good to extract milk and to reserve it for later feed.

6. Do not take out your breast promptly from the mouth of your baby, this action can damage your nipples. Use your finger to cut the vacuum that have been created with the mouth of your baby, and only then you can take your breast out.

7. Make regular massage to your breast. This helps from engorgement.

8. Do not expose directly your nipples to the sun.

9. Make some excercise for breast muscles. It is great to swim, yoga or pilates, but before doing this ask your doctor.

10. If you use absorbent discs, try to change them regularly to evit humedity.

Keep breastfeeding, I am sure you are doing a great job.

Going to the dentinst. When it is considered that is the perfect time to brush baby's teeth?

Apr 20, 2016

I do not know why, but from my experience of talking with other parents, a lot of them think that oral hygiene has to begin once baby has all his teeth in the mouth. Well, everybody can think as he wants. But after talking with an expert, I understood that oral hygiene is very important from the very first tooth or even before. It is great to begin oral hygiene from the first day when your baby is teething.

After having a good talk with an expert, I began reading various studies on oral hygiene, and I have found that bacteria which cause carries in our mouth makes it's apparition once teething begins. Most of the times this bacteria comes from mothers' mouth while we kiss our baby or while we give our baby something to eat.

Creating a habit.

From the very first months when baby's food is just breastmilk and from the 6th months when they begin to eat fruit and vegetables it is very important to create a habit of cleaning mouth. It is very important to avoid foods that contain a lot of. and that can remain within the teeth. It is recommended that once first tooth appears, mum or dad to clean baby's mouth with water and gasa. And once there are more teeth it is recommended to use a toothbrush at least twice a day.

And if you have any questions it is better to go to the dentist and consult any of your doubts.

Happy Mama Secrets - about pregnancy and motherhood, my own story

Jun 29, 2015

These days I was invited to share my own story on The Good Mother Project with an article that would better describe my view of motherhood, my fears and my struggles while being a mom; with the topic Secrets. I accepted the invitation to take part in this action and that is why I am here sharing my story. Please do not judge me, if you disagree my point of view it is ok, share it with a comment or with a post, I would appreciate it.

My story.

I was 23 and my husband 24 when we decided to become parents. It was strange, we were worried about the idea to become parents. It was new for us, and we thought that we were too young. Then we thought we were together for almost 7 years, what to wait for? There would never ever be a perfect moment to have children. Always something occurs in life and makes you change the idea to become a parent. Decision was made. I got pregnant, we were happy, but I was feeling aware, feeling undecesive, even with this little human inside me... I was afraid... In my mind there were always a question ¨Are we doing right?¨ This question was struggling inside me during all my pregnancy...

Pregnancy

First 3 months of pregnancy I was literally sleeping everywhere, in public transport, waiting to the doctor, sometimes I was feeling asleep, with eyes opened, looking to the screen while working. I was so tired and to all of these I felt all most inocent smells that could be in the world.

Next 3 months, 4 to 6, I was trying to hide my bump and I weared clothes that visiually would conceal my pregnancy. First reason I was doing that was because of the question that was raising inside me, the second reason was that everybody who seen my bump asked my age, and then where telling me how young I am...I suppose they thought I had forgotten my age. Other reason was the feeling of being fat and everyday somebody told me that I have a very big bump, the last reason got me crazy, as I began to look at pregnant women who were with the same number of weeks. During my 5th month of pregnancy I got a cold and I was coughing so much, as I was afraid for baby´s health.

And the last 3 months, 7 to 9, I felt sooo big and sooo fat and I was afraid that my husband won't love me anymore. I asked him to repeat me daily that he loves me and that I am beautiful.

During all my pregnancy I ate continuously, yes continuously. Then I was always afraid of something. I was afraid about my baby's health, about his developing inside me, I was afraid about my body, about me, about everything. And when I was hearing that pregnancy is the most beautiful period of life, I would say no. I didn´t like to be aware of everything, to eat a lot and to become bigger everyday.

Big Day

The big day. I would say that for me the day when I gave birth was the best day of my life. The question which was continuously in my mind during 9 months, dissapeared. And the big YES came to my mind. We have done the right decision to become parents. Our son was the biggest gift in our lives. We were happy, I was happy. My journey to motherhood began in that day.

First 3 nights in the hospital weren't slept by myself nor by the kid either. I thought if this will happen with other 3 nights I won't resist. I found that I can resist even more nights without sleeping and I was ok. Then I read about oxytocin and how breast feeding helped me with sleepless nights.

With the beautiful world of motherhood came a lot of challenges. I would like to enumerate them all, or maybe some of them:

- first diaper, how to put it correctly...wierd, but I was first time mommy and I didn´t know how to do this. We called the nurse to help us.
- to understand why my baby is crying... and find it quick before I will begin to cry....I cried a lot first months
- to take shower in 1 or 2 minutes
- to manage to be ready in less than 10 minutes
- eat standing
- to get baby falling asleep
- to dress my baby with proper clothes, not too hot nor too cold
- to find 5 minutes to take my decaf coffee
- first day in the nursery

- first time to leave him with somebody he doesn´t know
- first cold
- first everything

Our first year passed so quickly that looking back I realize how much work we've done together. Word motherhood means for me our passion to give all the best we could during his first year. As from 1 year we, me and my husband, became teachers, masters in our son´s world. There were more challenges for him then for us. He had to learn how to walk, to speak, to eat, to do a lot of things alone. It was difficult but I would say that for me this period was easier than first year of his life.

Now our toddler is 2 and a month, just one month before his birthday we had tantrums everyday for everything. I thought that our "terrible" 2 began earlier, but no, it wasn't so. His tantrums last 1 or 2 weeks, no more, and I can firmly tell you that I have never ever enjoyed as much motherhood as I do from his 2nd birthday. I know that there will be more challenges and tough moments, but for sure I will pass them easier.

Thank you!

Have you decided what to see in Barcelona? Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes will be a good choice if you travel with kids

Mar 3, 2015

Today I run a new project: Discover Barcelona. The main idea of this project is to show to my dear readers the prettiest places of Barcelona and not from the tourist view, but from the view of a mum with a toddler. For those who want just to come to visit Barcelona for a weekend, I will do later a post with the most touristy places, just shout when you need this post. But for now, I want to share with you some places that not all of the tourists have time to visit.

Today I will speak about Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes and 22@. Most often known as Glòries(Glorias), is a large square in Barcelona, has started with a big renewal project in 2000s and then in 2007, and the last in 2014. The first installment of this project was the construction of the controversial Torre Agbar skyscraper and finishing last year the park around the Design Museum of Barcelona. When we came for the first time to Barcelona in 2010, there were just Commercial Center Les Glories with its' children attractions and Torre Agbar, now, you can go with your child for a walk, play with a toddler, or run with your kids, all these opportunities were opened to a large public recently. If you, my dear reader do not have children, but want to come to this place you are very welcome, as you can go to Design Museum or just to make picture with one of the biggest skylines of Barcelona. As well there is a lot of space just to lay out and enjoy the sunny wether of Barcelona.

For mums with toddles: just when you go out from the Subway Station Glories L1(red line) , you will see a big open space where toddlers and kids run there and forth. The amazing thing which they can enjoy from staying there are neon lights, right on the ground, these change their colors and amuse children, toddlers skip, run, jump on these lights and you as mum can take a seat and enjoy their happiness.

Below some images from these amazing places.

Where to go when weather outside is wonderful and you do not plan any getaway? We go to the park

Feb 19, 2015

I like outside activities with my toddler, as fresh air always is a good choice for any game and any getaway. As well, I think that it is the easiest way to keep your toddler busy and you a little bit relaxed, because our toddler needs a lot of space to run and play. There is no better activity in-house, than any activity that happens outside the flat. Last week we went out to the park as there were wonderful weather outside and we wanted to entertain our little love. We took our lovely ball, but as usually happen he doesn't want to play with the toy that we took, so Damian found other toys more interesting and it is true. Below some pictures of my beloved.

If they are happy, I am happy as well. Wish you a great week my darlings.

Carnival 2015 - Spanish tradition to disguise for a whole week.

Feb 16, 2015

Last week was a great week for all children who like to disguise, as all week long, each day they had to put them something unusual, like big sockets, or big t-shirt, etc. Each school or nursery has its own rules, so there are a lot of difference from nursery to nursery. The only thing all do the same, that there is a day when all the children from the nursery go out, in a special disguise, Damian was octopus, made by the girls in the nursery, sing songs, and all parents come to see their little pumpkins. What we did on Thursday :D.

Here are some pictures from this special day. LOVE BARCELONA & NURSERY!

Proud of my son. Activities that use to do my toddler in the nursery

Jan 30, 2015

Each parent is proud of his child, I know that :D. Today I want to share with you some of Damian´s works from nursery, all of his paintings during the first month on the new nursery. In previous nursery they were doing different craftings and not just paintings, so every nursery has its own structure and materials to develop the imagination and fine motor skills of the toddlers. If your child stays with you at home, I think it would be a good idea to do some of these activities with your child as well.

First image is: Welcome!