12 mile runs and closing a chapter

First a running update...

We ran 12 miles on Saturday morning... starting at 5am! Ick!  It took us right at 2 hours and felt WONDERFUL!  One of those runs where you just feel good.  An "all-is-well-with-the-world" kind of run! It was fab.  I feel ready for our race (a half marathon) in another couple weeks.  We will do a tempo run or two during the weekday and weekend runs will taper back to just 8 miles or so.  Once race day is complete it will be time to maintain a good base for the April half marathon!

I turn the big 3-1 on Saturday.  I'm pretty sure that makes me "in my 30's" now instead of just 30.  Is that just my logic or do others do that too?

And finally-- I am officially finished nursing baby boy as of early last week.  I have actually had two cry-fests over that fact.  It amazes me that something that was so hard at first, that I pretty much despised in the early weeks could turn into such an amazing time and bond that I did not see coming.  The blessing of a baby and nursing all took me by surprise!  I'm never good at ending chapters in life but usually future chapters are just as beautiful in their own way.   That's what I have to remember. 

An end to nursing has made the past year flash before my eyes and probably why I couldn't help shedding a few tears.  I have pictured those first days of trying to figure out how to nurse a newborn and be a mom, watching a baby grow and change just a tiny bit as I held him for each new feeding along the way, being around for the littlest of milestones that no one but a mother would know about... it's been amazing and I will miss these days.  I look forward with hope to doing it again with another child.

And I leave you with a photo or two of my little guy at 13 months old!  The first is after eating beets.  Yum!

And playing with his Mama's lens cap...

Whoa Baby!

You have got to check out this article about a Mama giving birth immediately following the Chicago Marathon (that she ran at 39 weeks prego)!

I can guarantee my husband would have vetoed the idea of me running that long at that far along in my pregnancy... I was running at 39 weeks but it was only for about 2-3 miles.  : )  

And in nursing news-- we're still just doing just one nursing a day (most days)... why most days?  Well I've "caved" two times now after my little boy (13 months old) signs "please" and tries to lift up my shirt.  Breaks my heart.  Both times were when we've been reading a book in the chair I usually nursed in so he obviously associates the two.  Sniff.

This weeks Weaning Update

Since I was soooo sick for a couple days last week I decided to extend the "dropping a feeding" out a couple more days.  How's that for justifying?  So as of today we will be down to just a morning and bedtime nursing.  My two favorite cuddle times with the little guy.  Let's talk about my emotions after one or both of those gets dropped.  For now I am feeling ok with things and my big 12-month old boy is nursing for shorter amounts of time anyway.  After a few minutes he signs "all done" and then he wants to eat real lunch or dinner.  He is still trying to get the sippy cup thing but we're sticking with it and he takes a bit more every day.   The kid loves big people food-- he loves him some veggie lasagna and red beans and rice this week! 

Have I mentioned my goal timeframe for weaning... I am taking a solo trip for a few days to Iowa at the beginning of October (for some architect continuing education junk) and thought it would be nice to go to bed and wake up without feeling full and needing to take along pumping stuff.  So that is when (right now) I am shooting to have dropped all feedings.  One month to go. 

Would love to hear what you feed your younger kiddos!  I want to keep him trying lots of stuff so he isn't a kid who will only eat two things when he's older-- but it has to be easy enough to cook for a non-chef person like me!

Supply

Yeah a reader question!

I mean ... Today we are going to answer a reader question... ; )

N.D. wrote-- That's great you made it to the year. I don't know how you did it - I failed both times! 10 months was around when my supply declined. Any tips for when I do this again?

Thanks for the question-- first you made it 10 months!  That is not at all failing!  That's great!

I was never one to make tons and tons of milk so I think this is a good question for me to actually answer... 

A bit of background first... I had a combination of a very content baby who didn't fuss even when he was obviously not eating enough, a little guy who would not nurse all I made and I was not really making enough to feed him.  So he wasn't gaining weight real well in the early weeks.  Thanks to an amazing lactation consultant (which I'd highly recommend at any point in the journey you reach a road block) we worked through early issues with extra pumping to increase my supply. 

At 6 weeks we started letting our son sleep through the night-- so the first thing I did was to keep setting an alarm to wake up and pump and save the milk.  If he has been gaining fine I might not have done that, but it definitely kept my supply up.  I would also pump right after he nursed (again, this was to feed back to him to help him gain weight normally but helped my supply).

Once we were past those hurdles and he was only nursing 4-5 times throughout a 12 hour day (and not any at night) I would just pump after the morning feeding when I was extra full and before I went to bed at night.  Since he goes to bed between 7-7:30 there were lots of hours left before I went to bed and when I'd feed him again.  So I was never going without pumping/nursing for over a 9 hour or so period of time.

I totally think taking Organic Fenugreek (found at your Health Food Stores in a capsule) several times a day was a huge help.  Early on you may smell like maple syrup -- you read that right-- taking this is natural and increases your supply.  I know some people like it in other forms like whole or in teas-- but I recommend this throughout nursing!

Once we started introducing solids I would still nurse first and at his usual times and then feed him solids.  I think that's important for you to keep supply up (and of course for baby).  And the final biggie was staying hydrated and well fed-- especially on running days when my body needed more fuel!  It can be easy to slack on that once nursing and a baby become such a routine.

I hope that helps.  When I put my mind to something I can be a stubborn mule.  I feel blessed this worked out but I also know it was not without a lot of hard work, tears and effort along the way!  Thanks for the question!

Oops How is it Friday?

How is it Friday?

Oh yeah-- I got hit with that HORRIBLE stomach bug for a day and a half and missed one of my runs this week along with being completely out of commission!  That is when working from home with a 12 month old was just not working.  Thankfully I have an easy going kiddo because I literally only picked him up to nap or eat and I laid around and watched him play.  When he had both naps I took naps too.  I don't think I turned on my computer all day Wednesday which is saying a lot.  Very Sick.  I thought it was food poisoning as sick as I got and quickly as it came on but it seems to be going around here after talking to people.

So I shall get back to the grind and hopefully knock out a long run this weekend.  I have missed running and actually am kinda feeling bad about saying I don't feel like a runner... because when I miss running I am reminded that I am a runner regardless of how slow or often I get at it!

Weaning is going ok-- little man is 100% ok with it and actually is nursing for shorter amounts of time when he does nurse.  He kinda likes this people food thing!  One day he did great with the sippy cup and the next few-- not so much.  So we'll see how that continues to go.  So we've heard me say how much I have enjoyed the bonding moments and snuggles that come with nursing... here are a few things I won't miss:

Things I won't miss about no longer nursing:
Being sore when I shower
Wearing nursing bras
Craving sweets and carbs constantly (I honestly see a difference in just a week of tapered feedings in my level of cravings-- hopefully not coincidence!)
Wearing two bras to run
Pumping
Being engorged (... before a run, in the morning, after missing a feeding, traveling... anytime!)
Nursing pads

Weaning

While this blog started to cronicle running while pregnant I also desire to keep it real on life with a baby (ok-- 1 year old) too.  I know breastfeeding unto itself is sometimes a sensative subject... but I am going to kick it up a notch and talk about weaning.
Now that baby boy is a year old and I shared that I am ready for another kiddo (whenever the good Lord would bless us with another) and since Aunt Flo has yet to return onb her own-- we're going to start the weaning process.  (How else can I keep a blog called Running for Two?  Haha!!)  My plan now (sitting at day 1) is to drop a feeding and stay one less feeding for a week or so before dropping another.  Of course replacing the feeding with solids (which he already gets) and whole milk.  I may hang on to the morning and night feeding a bit longer.  The night will definately be the last one I drop because it's such a bonding time to snuggle and be the one to put him to bed.  I could cry thinking about dropping it right now.

Baby boy currently nurses 4 times a day-- when he wakes up in the morning, after his morning nap, after his second nap and before bed for the night... so the first feeding to go will be the one after his second nap. 

The pediatrician gave the okay to start organic whole milk.  I gave him some yesterday when he woke up from a nap and after about an ounce he was signing "please" to nurse instead.  So in today's replacement milk I warmed it up and mixed it with my milk and he did fine with it.  I should also mention that because he has nursed he hasn't really figured out a sippy cup.  And he is going through a stage of being soooo picky with solid foods-- but we're forging on. 

His 1 year stats:
20 lbs (exactly) -- only in the 10-25th percentile
30" tall (exactly) -- 50th percentile

I'll keep you posted on how things go, physically, emotionally, etc.

H.O.T. with a Capital T!

Moly it's HOT out there.  Hence upping my runs to three days a week before the crack-o-dawn.  Yes-- you read that right-- three days a week I actually beat the sun up in order to run outdoors.  I'm a wuss about waking up early but even more of a wuss when it comes to running in heat.  Hate it.  Despise it.  So I will drag my bootie out of bed to be at the park between 5:30-5:45 for lower temperatures.  And I am still pooling sweat when I'm done.  Thankfully I have added to my arsenal an additional running buddy so between my two running buddies I have only had to run solo at that hour once!  Yeah!
And as my hubby reminded me-- you don't get to sleep in anyways-- (with a little guy that wakes up at 7 everyday)-- so whats a bit earlier?!  True, dear.  True. Thanks.

An update on some previous posts-- been working on the first birthday party-- will post some photo's afterwards.  The big day is August 21st and thanks to a sister-in-law who lives in a much nicer neighborhood than us-- we're going to rent out the party room there instead of cramming 30-40 of our closest friends and family into our little house.  And did I mention it's been HOT here, so that would be a whole other factor!

And an update from my last post-- Feeling a bit better in the chest after digging out my creams and trying to make sure he's latching good enough-- still not 100% though-- but also not enough to quit nursing.  This update brings me  to another point-- when I run early in the morning I've done both--pumping first or just running-- lately I've been just running.  It's a bit more tender and a lot more full that way-- but so far it seems to be ok.  I still wear two bras to run to keep everything in place.  Unless anyone comments with some reason that's a bad idea I haven't thought of yet-- I plan to keep that routine going-- it gives me extra sleep time!

Was this post random enough?  Have a great week everyone-- I'll end here!!

OW!

Ow!  You all know I try to share some of the good/bad/ugly of this baby thing.  Here is one for you.  I feel like I am new to breastfeeding again... it is hurting again when the kiddo nurses, especially on my right side.  He's 10 months old now and nurses 4x a day-- we were doing great until a couple days ago.  I was hoping it would go away but it hasn't. 

Going to visit my "doctor" -- aka "Google" it doesn't sound like I have a blocked duct or anything.  Sounds most like the pain people are discribing when they have thrush but I don't see anything different there?  Sounds like others have had this happen when their baby's get teeth too, but he definitely isn't biting or anything.  The pain is such that there are moments when I feel lightheaded again like the first weeks of nursing and I'm not digging it!

Anyone else have this happen around this time?

Breastfeeding Reflections

I just tucked my baby boy in for the night.  His last feeding is my favorite and I hate when I am not home and miss it.  Either hubby or I will put Baby Boy in his jammies and sleep sack with a clean diaper around 7 (to which he is usually a bit fussy).  Then I sit down in the comfy glider arm chair in his room, pull my baby close, begin a natural sway of the chair and nurse him.  He keeps his eyes open for about 3 minutes and then finishes the rest of his feeding with eyes closed as he dozes off to sleep.  I unlatch my limp baby boy and lay him down to sleep in his crib as his mouth moves, still suckling his imaginary milk.

This feeding and the hundreds that have come before it make me so grateful that I endured the first few months of breastfeeding when it was not enjoyable, hurt, made me exhausted, hungry...  When my baby was not getting enough so I had to pump after EVERY feeding and the middle of the night until he was months old.

The reason I include this here is to encourage any new moms to not give up.  Take it one feeding at a time at first.   I had to.  Many days I was saying, I can't do it, I don't want to feed him even one more time.  But just like running, you take the next step and before you know it you take one more... Yeah we all can read health benefits and blah, blah but I am talking about a moment you will cherish when it's a bond only you and your baby can have.

I was sure I wanted to give breastfeeding a whirl but I honestly thought it was a little weird.  After all, we live in a culture that sexualizes a woman's breasts and before a baby-- hey, that's about all they are good for.  I was nervous for reasons that only a woman's brain can think up before I had a baby and totally frustrated early on with nursing.  Everyone tells you it can be tough-- that's true-- but it also is hard when you are only sleeping in spurts, having company, have a kiddo that takes a minimum of 30 minutes to eat, your back hurts, you have nipples that feel incredibly raw (wearing a bra and taking a shower hurts), have a baby that is ready to do it all over again 2 1/2 hours after you started the last feeding.   And about the time mom and baby get the hang of it-- the American work force wants you back and you're told to pump during the 9 hours you'r away.  (Hello mechanical pump and sore breasts!)  It's a wonder we do breastfeed in the modern world.

BUT and I mean and huge and bold BUT... it's worth it!  Once you get over that hump and get past the fact that your breasts are indeed for more than a thrill... and you are tucking your sleeping baby in at night, you're comforting them with a liquid gold only you can give, you're holding them, smelling them, watching them change and transform right under your nose --  it's all worth it!

And you get it.  You understand why women before you have cried when this stage is over.  You get that mom's before you are envious of the stage of life you are now in.  You get why bottle feeding is just not the same experience.  You get it.

Science, health, logic can say what it wants.  You understand in a way only a mom can-- feeling thankful for each feeding you get to spend with your baby.

Nursing/Running Questions Answered

I had some great questions asked from a friend on Facebook and thought they were worth sharing here with others who may have similar questions about running as a nursing mama and running with a new baby!

First-- she had a question about nursing bras and running bras...

For my nursing bras I use hand-me-downs from my sister-- they are pretty much all the sports bra type.  I find them most comfy since I sleep in a bra too-- do other people do that or is it just me??.  After one night of sleeping without a bra and having a milk incident I decided to keep wearing one to sleep in. Anyway-- to handle leakage and just because it feels more comfy I use the disposable pads that stick into your bra (I like the Lansinoh brand the best because they feel the softest on the headlights and have two sticky tabs instead of one so they stay in place in the bra too).

While running I actually wear a normal running sports bra over my nursing bra/pads. This gives me extra support and also means I can feed the kiddo and then quickly get dressed to run.  I didn't have to buy any new sports bras because I had some that fit better than others anyway so I just wear the bigger ones over my nursing bra.


When to find time/motivation to run with a kiddo who spits up a lot and a kiddo on a schedule?
It is really hard to get motivated to run! If you have a kiddo who has a nap where he seems to sleep a bit shorter than another-- use that nap to run.  I would put baby boy in his carseat right before his nap and let him sleep on the run. The side benefit to this is that it motivated me to run long enough for him to get his full nap in.

Help these help others as well!!  Feel free to share if you do something different or have other tips!