Falling Asleep while Nursing

The sweet sighs that Adelyn makes while falling alseep, I hope I never forget them. They are the sweetest most precious sounds. <3

Nursing at the Pumpkin Shanny

Some of my favorite things about being a mommy...

I love when my children are asleep surrounding me. I put Clayton down for naps while rocking Adelyn and she falls asleep, too. I love that I can comfort them and that they know that they are safe in my care and can shut their eyes and be sleeping so peacefully. I love the look of serenity on their faces. There is nothing more beautiful than sleeping babies. I rock her holding her, patting her tiny bum, and Clayton wants Mama to hold his foot while he lays in his bed beside the rocking chair. I hold his foot and just that small of a gesture and he knows I am there for him. I will be sad when they don't need me so much. I know all I think about it how nice it will be when they sleep better, yada yada, but truly it is a blessing to be needed. I will miss them dearly when they don't need my motherly comfort and snuggling. I try to soak up every moment I can with them, knowing it is all to fleeting. I wish I could make the time stand still. I wish my babies wouldn't have to grow older. I know that they have to, I know that being a good mom and letting them grow is what needs to happen. But the selfishness in me wants to keep my babies small, all wrapped up close to me, where the outside world can never harm them. The biggest blessing of my life are my two children. They are so beautiful inside and out and I just hope I can continue to do good for them.

Milky Mouth

This is one of my favorite things when I look down at my babies nursing. I love the milk all around their mouths. It's just nice to see that they are getting lots of mommy milk and are getting all the nutrients that they need from me.

Her first minutes of life

Adelyn Belle Burns was born on July 23rd 2009 8 lbs 9 oz, 19 1/2 inches, in a wonderful, natural, pain medication free birth. I was an amazing journey! Here is her birth story.

On Thursday July 23rd at 2:30am Clayton woke up, and I went in and layed down with him to get him back to sleep. That is when I noticed that I was having contractions. They were fairly regular, probably between 3, 5, and even sometimes 10 minutes apart. I was starving and couldn’t fall back to sleep in my bed, so I got up and made a sandwich. Then layed back down, for Clayton to wake up again at 3:30, which wasn’t like him. He was crying for Dada and I told him, Dada was sleeping and needed to get rested up because Mama thought we were going to have a baby today. He fell back asleep and I went back to bed. I couldn’t sleep for the contractions, so got online for a little while then got in and out of bed a million times. I started needing to sway with the contractions. At around 5 I texted Dad to see if he would be able to take of work, or not, and then at 5:30 woke Brian to tell him I was pretty sure I was in labor. Got in the shower because resting wasn’t working and I wanted to get a shower before heading to the hospital. Got out and called the doula because they were getting more consistant. She ended up being little help and was busy from 8-3 that day.

I labored at home til around 7 or so and Dad came to watch Clayton and Brian and I headed to the hospital. We went in and registered, and they set me up on the monitors and did an internal. I was 3 cm, which I was thrilled about as the contractions in the car were every 5 min and getting stronger. I also got a dose of the antibiotic for the Strep B. It took them both hands to get the IV in right. We got off the monitors and started to walk the halls, trying to keep the labor going and keep it consistant. It was working, because I barely made it from one end to another without having to stop and sway with Brian. We were slow dancing with every contraction. I got to the point were swaying wasn’t enough, so we headed back to my room. I got on the birthing ball and put on my calming cd, and labored there for awhile. Then when I couldn’t stand that anymore, we got an internal check before I headed into the shower. I was 7 cm. I told Brian I couldn’t celebrate yet I was having a contraction! LOL I got in the shower and used the shower head on my belly and Brian rubbed my back with soap, and I would stand during contractions and hold the shower, and sit on the seat in between resting. I would moan and actually sang some while contracting. Amazing Grace, and Brian even joined in at times when I could hardly sing it. I got really hot so got out, and went to the bed so they could give my the second dose of antibiotic. When she checked I was 8 cm.

I layed there and labored while listening to my nature cd and they kept me on the monitors. I finally got to the point where I was panicky and couldn’t take the pain. I remembered hearing of woman who go silent and kind of go into themselves and I just flipped myself over and held the back of the bed. I held the headboard while I was on my knees, butt in the air. Brian kept rubbing my back. At this point I lost the monitors, and could have cared less. I stopped listening to the cd. I just concentrated on what I was feeling. The baby had got the hiccups and Brian said that he thought my water had broke. I told him to call a nurse in. When she came in, she took the monitor and held it to my belly to hear the baby’s heartbeat. Brian used his finger to write I *heart* U on my back and I gave him the number 2 sign back. I couldn’t speak, all I could do was nod yes or no. It was so intense and the only way I could keep control was to stay as centered as possible. I just kept breathing. It was to the point were I couldn’t be silent anymore so I started to moan again. Deep guteral moans. At this point I could feel the baby coming down and I just felt like I had to push. The nurse heard me from the hall when I said “I’m pushing”. She came in and I got flipped around so that she could check me. I was a 9. She called the Dr in and when I pushed it was a 10. So they gave me the go ahead to start pushing. I couldn’t stop. I felt like I just had to get the baby out. The nurse and Brian told me to stop and rest, it was so hard to do, but I did. They every contraction I pushed, and it was only a handful of contractions and the head was there. I did feel him cutting me, and ended up with a small episiotomies that only needed 3 stitches. I can’t even describe what it felt like to push her out. I felt so much burning and then the shoulders hurt really bad, and then she was out. And Brian told me, “It’s a GIRL”!!! Adelyn Belle was finally here! He and I were both crying. We did it, we had a girl. He told me “you did it Laura, just like you wanted, no medicine!” It was such a rush and such a surreal experience. After delivering the placenta, I started to bleed really bad and fast. They had waited to give my the pitocin, like I had requested, but I needed it badly. So I ended up with 2 shots in my IV of pit, while the Dr had his hand on my uterus. The bleeding stopped as fast as it had started and I was fine.

I got to hold my baby as soon as she came out, and Daddy cut the cord while she was on my belly. They gave her back after she got suctioned and cleaned up a little. We had almost an hour of skin to skin and she nursed on both sides right away. It was amazing and Brian and I were in such awe of our new baby girl. The nurse had to push really hard on my belly to get some clots of blood out after they took Adelyn to the nursery. Everything went so wonderfully. I really had the birth that I had always envisioned. I didn’t get it with Clayton’s, but I got a second chance and it happened. I am still in a state of wonder and am just amazed at what a body can do. It’s such a miracle.

Nursing in the Open Air

Here I am nursing Clayton while we were outside at my Mom's. He must have gotten hungry from all the swimming! My mom was the bubble blower and photographer! :D

Thanks Mama! Yummy!

Love his content face, must have quenched his thirst! Wasn't he the cutest!

Happiness

I took all these pictures myself. I was sitting at the computer in my chair and Clayton wanted some snuggle/snack time. I just love these pictures because it is the view I get. I also love the pictures of him smiling with my breast in his mouth. He used to nurse and night with me sitting on the recliner with him. I would tickle his foot because he'd put it up in my face and he would make that same face, smiling and giggling with a mouth full! These are some of my last pictures of Clayton nursing. We both were good with how we weaned. As he approached one year of age, I cut back his nursing sessions and added in whole milk in a sippy. I would only nurse before nap and bed, then cut out naptime. Only bedtime was left. He would nurse very quickly of both breasts never really relaxing, and he'd just pop on and off. My milk was about dried up, and I just didn't see the point in it anymore. He wasn't getting enough milk for any benefits, and he wasn't being comforted by it because he was on and off so much. So the night of November 1st 2008 was the last time he nursed. He was 15 months and I felt that we had a great nursing relationship. He would ask to nurse by pointing to my chest and signing more for a few days after when I would put him to bed, but soon forgot all about it. I think it was the best for both of us, and soon found out I was pregnant with #2 anyway. It all worked out well. I hope Adelyn's journey is the same.

My lil man nursing away

Clayton and I had a rough time nursing at the beginning. He had a terrible latch and I ended up using a nipple shield. I think he was about 9 months before I completely could ditch the shield. I am thankful though that I had it so Clayton and I got all the benefits of nursing. He was such a sweet little guy, my how time has flown.

Leaking ;)

When I stood up, I had a huge spot of milk on my shirt. I leaked all the way back to Dubious were I nursed Clayton in a parking lot.
Funny how much my outlook has changed since then. If my child is hungry, I am gonna feed them where ever I may be, and thanks to my nursing covers, that's just what I do, while still being discreet. No need for bottles if I am there, and no running off, I am staying put! ;)

Camp 07

Was too shy and it was too hard with being new to everything and needing the shield, I used bottles of my milk up at camp. I think this was a bigger pain though.

Nursing Clayton in the Early Days

Nursing Adelyn at Sears in the Mall

Enjoying the lawn furniture section of Sears!! I have become a lot more confident in breastfeeding this time around.

Nursing Miss Adelyn at Home

Enjoying the recliner and boppy set up. Both my babies I need a burp cloth under their chins for all the milk running down their cheeks. This is my favorite way to nurse them, because it's the comfiest place! :)