A friend (thanks Tanya!!) has hooked me up with some free formula so we have started with that since my supply is well below what the twins drink in a day. I was all worried that they would hate the formula or have upset tummies or constipation, but no. They're fine. Like there was no change at all. Of course I'm glad that they are transitioning well but there is this part of me that wished they cared, or maybe even noticed, that this is not mommy's milk.
On the flip side, I have lots more spare time with less pumping and less cleaning of pump parts. This will also give me a bit more flexibility with being out during the day. I think that the twins could withstand a bit of disruption to their nap schedule every once in a while. Maybe Grammy and I can plan a fun day trip with S and C - suggestions??
Unrelated but still noteworthy, I (unofficially) have abdominal separation, or diastasis recti. There has been an active thread on our twin mom listserv on this topic and I asked how to tell if you have it. Well, I do. It's the width of three of my fingers (going across) so about 2-3 inches. Apparently, you have to do special exercises to fix it and a PT can show you how. Or you can get a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck is out of the question at this point. So, I'm thinking about contacting a PT but I don't know when I will see this person. Billy's Fridays have been very busy and no one in the world works on weekends anymore. It's times like these when I really wish I had trained a sitter so I could call her up and have her cover me for silly things like doctor's appointments. Training someone just always seemed like a big investment and I rarely need a sitter so I didn't think it was worth it. I know everyone is going to yell at me and say "GET A SITTER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!" but for me, its not so easy. I have irrational control/money hang ups that make relinquishing my parenting duties and forking over $15-20/hour really difficult. And I know, I need to get over it. Perhaps this PT business will get me going. *doubtful*
I am so happy that your making such great progress and that the kiddies are doing well with the formula! Kind of similar story: The first night that Jackson slept in his crib in his own room, I was so sad that he just slept all night and didn't wake up and cry for me! It's a normal reaction, I found weaning to be similar to the "baby blues" emotionally.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the weaning is going well, even if there are some mixed feelings.
ReplyDeleteI do hear you on both the money and the control issues. I have both of them! Could you maybe dip your toe into the childcare waters with a mother's helper? You could have a middle schooler come by two afternoons a week and play with the kids while you're still in the house. And maybe, if you need to go to a short doctor's appointment and had to bring the kids, you could bring the mother's helper with you?
That way, you retain a lot of control and spend less money (think $5/hr). It's a start. :-)
I've found that the best sitters are college kids who work at daycare centers. They're used to young children, usually CPR certified, genuinely enjoy kids, and have lots of ideas for activities. If you're looking. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've had some doctors welcome the girls to my appointments. I elected not to bring the girls to therapy (no matter how young, they understand more than we think!), but my therapist was open to the idea. Perhaps you could find a physical therapist who's kid-friendly?
Good luck dealing with the abdominal separation. I recently decided to check on myself ... nope, no separation. I'm just fat. :)
Almost every mom of multiples gets some degree of diatasis, and yours at three finger widths is not that big. You can close the gap with the proper exercises. Step one is to build strength in your deepest abdominal muscle, your Transverse Abdominis. Then you need to train the muscle to function as a stabilizer so that you can maintain a flat, rather than bulging, abdominal wall as you exercise.
ReplyDeleteWomen with diastasis should not perform any crunch type exercises where the upper body is lifted off the floor against the force of gravity.
Wow ... I've never heard of abdominal separation. I learned a lot in this post.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you'll make your goal! Congrats on that!
Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com
Another option is to "trade" babysitting services with another mom. (preferably a mom of twins so it feels "equal" LOL)
ReplyDeleteWe've been talking of starting one of those types of services up with the group ...
Congrats on most likely making your goal!! Have you thought about a trip to the zoo or the aquarium? They might be a LITTLE bit young, but not much. We took my kids to the Aquarium on their 1st birthday and they could barely contain their excitement (Burke squealed the *entire* time :) )
Wow! I have learn a lot from your post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all that info =)
Have a Beautiful♥ Day!