Tag Archives: breast feeding

December 30, 2010 · 4:56 pm

Needing a Little Motivation!

This pumping is really starting to get old.  Blisters, sore nipples, over sleeping and waking up in so much pain!  So, for a little motivation, I thought I’d do some research on how much money we were actually saving.

Each baby drinks 3oz at each feeding, every 3 hours.  That’s 8 times a day for a total of 72 oz a day (3oz x 3 babies x 8 times a day).

A 19.8 oz can of Enfamil formula makes about 139 oz of formula and costs $29.69.  That means we would go thru approximately a can of formula every other day.  That works out to:

  • $14.85 a day
  • $103.92 a week
  • $467.62 a month!

I can be motivated by over $450 a month!  Now how much do I make an hour?

I pump for about 20 mins every 3 hours.  20 mins x 8 times a day = 2 hours and 40 mins of pumping a day.  Take the $14.85 a day and divide by hours means I make about $5.57 per hour pumping milk.  Is that even minimum wage these days?  So that means I could be a cashier at Wal-Mart part-time and make up for the money we’d use on formula?  Come on!  Not feeling as motivated now.

Since being a cashier at Wal-Mart is not really an option … I wonder how much money I’ve already saved for the family by pumping.

The kids are 7 weeks old today.  So … 7 weeks x $103.92 = $727.44!!  In another week or so I’ll have saved about $1000!  Ok .. that’s a better number than making less than minimum wage :)

That’s all the math I have time for today.  Not only do my brain muscles hurt a little, but it’s time to pump again.  Oh the irony!

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December 12, 2010 · 2:14 am

1 Month Baby Update

Interesting story about Jaden.  On the bus ride back from Willow Springs, Jaden got really hot.  So he decided to take off his snow pants … however more than just his snow pants came off!  Jaden found himself down to his undies!  My little Jaden didn’t seem phased …  He just said “but Mom I was hot!  I had to take them off!”  Not the least bit embarrassed.  Oh my…

He also made a Family Portrait at school.  I love how I’m a blonde and have no pants.  Ok I think it’s a dress … but it’s officially short!

Triplets had their check up on Friday.  Owen is still the chunky monkey of the group and Weston is my little runt.  We can start to increase their feedings during the day and just let them sleep at night.  Before we were having to feed them every 4 hours religiously.  Last night was pretty good.  They slept for 6 hours straight!  I get a good hunk of sleep.  The only issue is my tatas pay for it when I wake up!  I pumped over 15 oz when I woke up!  A normal pump these days is 7 oz.  Getting the three of these babes to the doc is an accomplishment!  The stroller takes up the entire room!  I don’t know how I’d do it on my own.  But the thought of not being able to do it alone, makes me really want to find a way!  Just my independence speaking up.

Doug and I go down the line undressing each baby and getting them on the scale.  Then we wrap them in a blankie and put them in their car seat until Dr. Pikna comes in.  When we put Logan down … he was calling someone or something … HEEELLLLLLLOOOOOO!!

My tatas are doing much better these days.  Tomorrow is my last day of the antibiotics.  I’m a little nervous but hope that the infection doesn’t come back or start again.  I just need to massage a lot and regularly.  I do feel weird about massaging under my hooter hider.  Looks like someone is going to town underneath my cover up!

I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner…ok 2 weeks but it seems like it’s coming fast.  It feels like Thanksgiving was just last week!  I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies last night.  Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow cookies.  They turned out pretty good … but really big!  We could have made them smaller.  I know what you’re thinking Sarah!  But the recipe called for a tablespoon of dough!  haha

Photo shoot on Thursday went REALLY well.  Jen was great with the babes and the boys really cooperated.  I now have to narrow down 212 photos to just 30.  I haven’t started my list but I think I should start … it might take me a while!  For more images by Jen see her website:  http://jwfotography.net The photo shoot made me really excited to buy my digital SLR camera!  I started more research and I’m really hoping to have one picked out by Christmas!

And for your viewing pleasure … here are some photos from the first bath session at home!  Don’t worry I left the “parts” pictures out!  Figured the boys would never forgive me for that :)   During our photo shoot Jen had a hard time hiding Mr Winkie … just kept poking out!  I think Doug is secretly pretty proud of that!

Logan

Owen – foot strategically placed

Weston

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December 2, 2010 · 1:18 am

My Own Remedies

So I’ve been trying to clear up the mastitis and clogged milk ducts since Sunday.  So far only my fever has gone away.  My milk is still WAY clogged.  I get 5-7 oz on the left and only 2 oz on the right.  I have tried everything!

  • Warm, wet compresses
  • Massages
  • Cabbage leaves in my bra (I felt like a walking salad … afraid of being attached by hungry rabbits)
  • Taking Lecithin supplements (have no idea what it is but the lactation specialist recommended it)
  • Upgrading my pump to the hospital brand
  • Pumping more frequently

Nothing is working!!!  So I’ve come up with a few remedies of my own.

  • She-ot-zoo massage
  • One of those ultrasonic things they use to break up kidney stones
  • Boobie Drain-o – Just start an IV and let it run!

Anyone else have any ideas for a fix?  I’m getting all flustered.  It was working out so well and now I’m all bent out of shape that I might be going down the same path I did with Jaden.  For now I’ll just keep praying to the TaTa Gods.  I wonder if they take offerings or bribes …

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November 26, 2010 · 4:27 pm

Thanksgiving 2010

We had A LOT to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!  Jake & Rachael are in NY for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We watched the Northstar Band on TV yesterday morning.  Weston is on the mend and should be back to feeding today!  Logan and Owen made their trip home yesterday (Thanksgiving Day).

The pick up was probably the most stressful pick up in the history of Waukesha Memorial Hospital!  Doug and I were nervous about hearing all of the discharge paperwork and Jaden didn’t have a nap.  Jaden was climbing on stools to see in the bassists and grabbing stethoscopes.  Clearly this didn’t go over well with Doug.  We all went out to the car to install the car seat bases and Jaden was goofing off again and gave Doug a blood blister.  Oh man … that was NOT pretty!  We all took really big deep breaths and re-set.  Things went a little better after that.  The minivan is really packed with just two car seats.  This is going to be NUTS with all three car seats in there!  I could barely get into the back bench I’m not sure how I’m going to snap them in.

Mom and Dad brought over a wonderful steak dinner.  We all spent the night together, celebrating two of the triplets being home!

The babes eat every four hours so that gives us “a lot” of down time.  We gave them a feeding at 9pm so that meant the next one was at 1am.  Doug said he would take that feeding on his own and I said I would take the one after that so we both could get a chunk of sleep.  At 2:30am Logan was up screaming again.  I got up to give him his nook  and pump.  Well, apparently when it was time for their 4am feeding, I told Doug in my sleep that it was his turn since I just pumped.  Whoops!  I felt bad when I heard that this morning.  Looks like I need to switch to baby night time mode.

Thank you to everyone who helped keep our babies safe and helped get Owen and Logan home safe!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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November 23, 2010 · 4:35 am

2 Boys Become Men!

First off, Weston is doing much better today!  The antibiotics seem to be working as his scan didn’t show any signs of infection today.  They are going to keep him on the IV for another 4-5 days to give his tummy a rest.  They’ll start him on what’s called TPN – basically it’s a meal in a bag.  Gives him the nutrients he needs and helps him to continue to gain weight.  He seemed a whole lot happier today when I was visiting.

My other two boys became little men today.  Their wieners were whacked.  They were circumcised.  Just another step closer to coming home!  They are still on track to come home soon … yikes!  They didn’t circumcise Weston since he’s already having a hard enough time.  They’ll give him a break and do his when he’s feeling better.

Owen has gone over 36 hours without a gavage feeding!  He doesn’t have the tube in his nose anymore.  Ok – he ripped it out.  But the nurses didn’t put it back in since he’s doing so well.  Logan has gone about 24 hours without a gavage feeding.  Should he be a little rascal and rip his out too, they most likely wouldn’t put it back in either.  Little stinkers are getting so big and so smart.  I’m so happy they are doing so well!

Milk Update:  I’ve now got 5 trays of frozen bottles!!  The picture below shows what one of them looks like.  And it’s only been just under two weeks.  Aye karumba!  Can you imagine what it would be like if I was only feeding ONE baby?

Love, Mel

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