37 weeks

I am getting ready for my newest daughter to be here. As of yesterday I am 2.5 centimeters. I guess I am getting closer.

35 weeks....

I guess I am not as far along in this pregnancy than I thought. Instead of being 38 weeks pregnant I am 35 weeks. Oh well.... I still had a lotto do. I need to find my breast pump and get it ready for a new baby. It just needs to hold out (if I even need it) till the baby is 4 weeks old before WIC will give me a new pump. I have to prove that I don't need formula. I need to find all of my storage bottles and clean them. They are somewhere in the garage. I am sure some of them won't be salvageable. With any luck I should be able to have plenty of milk for little one and pump some to donate....

Getting closer....

I am getting closer to delivery. I am confident that the new baby will be a good nurser but who knows... I am committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure a good supply and a good latch. I need to get into the garage (OK, send Dad in there) to find my breast pump and all of my storage bottles. I need to do an inventory check and see what I need. Hopefully I will be able to pump some milk to donate as well as have some to store for emergencies. Since I won't be working full time I shouldn't have to pump for daily use.....

Spring is here and I am getting ready for baby number 8....

The kids and I hung out at a local part to help celebrate Spring. I cannot believe how big my big kids are. Since weaning Ben in November I have had time to rest and not feel so touched out. I recognize that for me breastfeeding is a wonderful experience but I do like to "own" my boobies again for a while. Ben surprises me though. In the morning when we snuggle he pats my breasts and pokes at some moles (I know tat sounds a bit weird) on my chest but even a week or two past weaning he hasn't really tried to nurse or anything. Now I am looking forward to starting over with a new baby. I know it is a bit coincidental but my girls (new baby is a girl too) haven't had much trouble with latching or beginning nursing. Annika, even with being in the NICU so long and on tube feedings and bottles of breastmilk latched fine when she came home. I don't even stress anymore about latches at the beginning. I know what to do to help a baby learn to latch eventually.... It took Ben 3 months to learn. I think the pump I used with him has lost a lot of its umph. I just found out though that the local WIC office gives new electric Medella pumps to moms who do not use any formula for 4 weeks. I am so signing up for that!!

And it begins again....

I am pregnant. Yes I have 7 children and yes I am pregnant again. Since Ben weaned in November this is the first pregnancy I have had while I was still nursing for part of it. I fully support moms who nurse throughout their pregnancies but I can see how it can be daunting too. Usually the first sign of pregnancy I have is breast tenderness and some breast changes. Since Ben was nursing strong when I got pregnant I did not have all of my regular changes. Now I am beginning to have a few. I am 23 weeks pregnant give or take. I argue with the medical professionals. I was there they were not..... They say I am only 20 weeks. We will let little girl decide when to be born. Yes, we are having a girl. Statistically that is what I should be having. All my kids alternate boy, girl, boy, girl.... We have a name left over from Ben's pregnancy and I think Dad is 70% on board with it. This is the first time I will be working part time instead of full time when I give birth. We will see how the new breastfeeding relationship starts out form the beginning. I can't wait.

Almost 23 months old....

Ben is almost 23 months old. He has not nursed for about 2 weeks now. My big boy is weaned. the first 4 days or so were the hardest. I just could not cut back on sessions. We had to go cold turkey. I thought that would be too hard on him but it worked better. The surprise thing is that since he has stopped breastfeeding he is so much more of a hugger and snuggler with everyone including me. He will just climb in bed and lay on me and love on me. He is such a sweet boy!!!

Two days!!!

Ben has not nursed for two days. I am so proud of my big boy. He has whined some and asked to nurse but he is making the adjustment OK. I wanted to let him lead his own weaning experience but this mom is tired!!! I was willing to let him wait till he was 2 years old but here we go with weaning......