Wellness Wednesday- Postpartum Depression

Mixed emotions, depression and anxiety are a part of giving birth for most women. Of course there are those that say they never felt sad but whatever to them. This post is not for you. 

Postpartum depression (PPD) is mild to severe depression occurring after a woman gives birth. It typically occurs within the first three months postpartum, but can happen right after delivery and up to one year after birth. PPD is different from the baby blues as it is long lasting. Baby blues are natural reaction to such a major life change and the symptoms usually fade within two weeks.. 

While there is no single cause for PPD there are several factors involved. After having a baby there is a significant drop and change in your hormones. Other factors contributing to PPD include financial strain, life stress, difficulty feeding the baby (for breast feeders), a baby with colic, and lack of support. Also of note those suffering with depression or having suffered with depression in the past are at greater risk for PPD.

 Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Intense irritability and anger
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Loss of interest in sex
• Lack of joy in life
• Feelings of shame, guilt or inadequacy
• Severe mood swings
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks or begin to interfere with your ability to care for your baby it is time to seek help. You may start by calling your OBGYN and they may make necessary referrals.

Postpartum depression is a REAL thing. If you happen to be one of the women who has/had this struggle SEEK HELP. There is no shame. Never let anyone make you feel like a bad mother for having this disorder. I would say it takes a better and stronger mom to admit to having PPD and seek help. Remember you can not be the best for your family if you are not well.

Super Woman is a Cartoon- Lets Be Real

Lately I have been having a ton of mixed unexplained emotions. This is to be expected because I had a baby on November 5 sending my emotions on a roller coaster.  I have been having some extreme mommy and wife guilt mixed with mild depression and anxiety that is on steroids. I have been feeling as if I should be doing more despite all that I am doing. Then it hit me whose standards was I using to determine how well I was doing anyway? superwoman?

Photo cred- http://illumistrations.tumblr.com/

 That chick doesn't exist. So in an effort to self soothe and help other women I came up with these 4 things that all new moms and women in general need to remember:

1. Appreciate that you cant do it all all the time. If your feeding the baby (or working on a project for the non moms) then in that moment your not doing anything else. So laundry, dinner, and calling your friend back all have to wait. Don't try to multi task unless you have to while the baby is so young.  You have plenty of time to become a multi tasking master.

2. Accidents happen!- They are inevitable and no one but Jesus is perfect. You will poke your baby in the cheek trying to get that onesie on. You will warm the milk to much and have to wait for it to cool as your baby screams bloody murder. You will use the breast pump and then spill the liquid gold you drained from your sore boob. Learn to laugh and move forward.

3. Do something for you even if it is small- Lets be honest sometimes getting out of bed to shower and make sure you change your pajamas is a whole task especially when you have a new baby and your always tired. However fresh pajamas and combing your hair does wonders for you. You feel a little more human and little less dairy-cow/robot if you keep up on your hygiene.  If you are a makeup lady put some on. For me its singing loudly in the shower and taking my scarf off and combing my hair. Its small but it keeps me sane.

4.Lower the bar.- This does not mean be a loser or be complacent but Pinterest, Facebook, movies and magazines will have you feeling bad because the other moms "have it all together". They craft, cook, organize all while wearing heels and a full face of make up making it look super easy. Well let me just tell you They lied!!!! They put their best foot forward on social media for the likes and other numbers and we all know tv land and magazine world is not real. Half the chicks in the magazine don't even have children that is why they don't have stretch marks.

The way I see it if you are juggling all your responsibilities and meeting deadlines in life and work you are the real super woman. Give yourself a pat on the back... too bad we dont have capes!

What are your tips for time management?
How do you stay sane when it seems you have so much to do?

Big sister Gifts from Baby

While scrolling Pinterest looking for gift ideas for my oldest child during the birth of baby Jaden I saw that parents were giving gifts to the older children from the baby. I want my oldest child to feel loved and secure and I thought this is such a cute idea I will do it for her,

So I went to Target and stalked the dollar deal isle,then hit up Dollar Tree for the bag and here is what we have.

Obviously Jaden did not do this but it is the thought that counts, and I know she will appreciate the gesture.

These items are very appropriate to my daughter and what she likes, plus I paid no more $5 for anything in this bag #winning!!! We love dry erase boards at my house, they are really everywhere. So this travel size one will do well for car trips.

As you can tell she is really into writing, office supplies and Monster high. She recently told me she wanted beats by Dre (she is totally my child) well that was not happening in my budget so these headphones will have to do. I know it may be cheesy to some but I think the idea of her getting a gift at the hospital when every one will be oogling the baby is genius!

Baby Bump Update 38 Weeks!!!

How I'm feeling: I am excited because this will be my last baby bump update. I am very tired ALL THE TIME!!!

How I'm changing: I am super full all the time. My skin is very itchy. I itch all the time. All it takes is one strand of hair or piece of lint and my whole body itches. Also I sweat EVERYWHERE now...

What I’m Eating/What I’m Not Eating: Contrary to popular belief pregnant women do not sit around and eat all day, there is no room. I get heart burn from water. They tell you to eat and not lie down for 30 minutes. It is more like 2-3 hours for me. Seriously one meal will have me full all day, I eat because I know there is a little human that is relying on me to feed him.

Total Weight Gained: Currently I am 240 for a total weight gain of 17 pounds!!!! I am so happy with this gain. It is not like I was thin before hand so I would be lying if I said weight wasn't a factor for me. Stay tuned for the weight loss story and the snap back LOL. For now I am just enjoying the "glow"

Sleep: Same ole Same ole. Once I'm sleep its all good. It is just finding my zone.

Most Exciting Moment: Having an induction date!!! I have also enjoyed bonding with my husband during this time. We developed a birth plan, and have been taking daily walks to help with labor and just talk.

Fun Fact: Jaden weighs 7 pounds!!!!

What I Packed in My Hospital Bag

You guys do know that mini me is almost ten right? So packing a baby bag, and a hospital bag is all foreign territory for me. So I did what any sane mom would do and I searched Pinterest (how did we ever survive without it). Honey there are list on top of list on top more list. It can be quite overwhelming. So here are links to a few of my faves here, here, here, of and here. If those don't give you enough options check out my baby board here.

Personally I either over pack or under pack I can never seem to get it just right. I have usually gone with over packing but eh its the hospital I am bringing home new life I would rather not be bogged down (read: force my hubby to carry more than needed). I decided on the bare minimums. The hospital gave me a list of what they will have including  diapers, wipes, granny mesh panties with pads, blah blah. Plus I wanted room in my bag to take all the goodies, read free stuff, that my insurance has already paid for (diapers, wipes, nasal bulb, alcohol pads).

So here is what I decided to take with me to have baby Jaden.

Toiletries (duh) are a must. I am also taking my own wash cloth because  have heard the hospital's are thin and hard. Also I just feel better about my own wash cloth being on all my body parts. If your like me and need eye wear be sure to pack both contacts and glasses because you never know what is going to happen.

Not pictured: robe, lots of hair ties, cell phone and charger, gowns, snacks, and mints, change for vending machine, undies, and a nursing pillow, a book, and laptop (the hospital has WIFI)

Side note I am fortunate and the hospital is like 10 minutes away. I am packing super light because I know I can send hubby back out for what I may have forgotten... Also I am doing a separate post on what I am packing for the baby.

What did you pack? Am I missing any essentials???

I have a third grader!!!!!

Time really flies... it seems like yesterday I was telling my mom I was preggers and she was less than pleased HA! In her defense I was 19, scared, unemployed, in college, and had NO PLAN!!! However I truly believe that God never makes a mistake and I had my angel right when I was supposed to. If you know me than you know I refer to my mini me as the hip-hop that saved my life. (This is a reference to a song by Lupe Fiasco ... you should check it out I LOVE IT!!! )

People give us young moms (am I still a young mom? LOL) or us who started our parenting journey early a bad rep but we are not all bad or dumb. We are all not triflin and living off the government, and allowing grandma to raise our kids, we just started young! It is really sad that some older people look down and judge our age when really they should be asking if we need a baby sitter to go to class, and finish our education. Anyway that is not the focus of this post...*climbs off soap box*

If you read my blog you know that I am now engaged and have been a single parent all her life. I cannot count the fears or tears but God is real and He has kept us thus far. It has not always been easy and I question my parenting daily, suffer from  mommy guilt, and the whole 9. Still my child is happy, healthy and in the THIRD grade!!!!

That's my girl!!!

Monday and we have a DATE!!!!!

Welcome back!!!! LOL just kidding I'm the one that has been gone... ITS MONDAY!!!! So honestly it was tie between Mr. Monday and I. Work was ok, the scale gods were merciful, and work was uneventful for the most part. So lets see what have I been up to aside from sucking at my goals... Oh yea I HAVE A WEDDING DATE!!! The ceremony and reception venues have been booked and I will be married on November 30, 2013. *pops it and drops it like its hot, and flips my hair* ok Im back!!! LOL... So ready for some randomness and updates sure you are that's why you are still reading, oh and WELCOME to my new followers!!!

I woke up a little late and this was breakfast!

May just make this breakfast so I will be sure to have something

So yes I slipped up and had one of these the other days... I should have just gone for liquor because this thing while delicious is FULL of sugar!!!

December 1 was mini me's birthday. We had a small family thing and it went well! I am obsessed with We love princess Tiana so I had to have this cake that's the cake we chose! 

Recently we looked at old pictures and she saw her first birthday and decided she wanted to recreate the look!... Im on a never ending diet so I said go for it!!!

8 years ago God saw fit to send me an Angel!!! Love this Diva

I became lazy and just stopped trying the holidays and traveling for the wedding got in my way and I didn't exercise as much but, I managed to control my eating and make healthy choices so my weight did not go up! the one pound I did gain left. I guess all the water drinking does work! Here are some meals I took pictures of...

My fiance makes the best Salmon ever!!!!

Lunch was catered at work one day

12.45 mile! the time is slowing going down!!!

Today I worked out and was in a grove and at 9 minutes I had completed .77 of a mile and because I'm huge, run weird and was trying to stay focused and keep running then I hit the emergency stop and my information was lost. I was SOOOOO pissed and I'm sure I could have beat my time. Oh well that is just motivation for tomorrow!!! 

So how have you all been since I been gone? How was your holiday?

Its a new week!!!!!!

Let me start by saying GO VOTE!!!!!!... this is not a political blog so I don't care you who vote for but OBAMA is Amazing!!!!!!

Hello out there! Here we are on a Tuesday and I am doing my Monday post so I know you are thinking Monday won this week. Buuuuuuuut that's not true. It was a definite tie LOL. It was my first day back at work and that went ok.... A bunch of clients did not show so I did some paperwork. I had two OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) clients so I scattered my desk intentionally.... Cruel huh? NOOOO its to help with the compulsions LOL.

Me wanting to be at home LOL

My desk... Drives them and sometimes me crazy!!!!!

So I stayed at work later than usual which tears my schedule up because of traffic and getting mini me and blah blah so I did not make it to the gym. No worries though Chalene is always there!!!! I did Turbo Jam even though I really did NOT want to. She can be a bit cheesy when you really don't want to work out... "Now pump it" LOL... Its all good because I sweated and I was moving which is always the goal....

Cardio Party 3... and look who made an appearance  "Ms. Bling" lol

Me before I pressed play

Those are me after the workout... I tried to smile and look all happy because too often my workout pictures look like I want to do bodily harm to someone LOL. Working out is fun, or at least that is what I am telling myself!!!!

 The family and I went to Chattanooga for the weekend and here are some pictures...

I dont think Babe enjoyed my impromptu photo session while he was driving LOL

Thats better babe!

My mini Me!!!! Love her

Just so you can understand my hair struggle here is a before and after. I washed my hair and blow dried it then flat ironed it. I have to do this at least twice a week, and more when I am working out daily or I am forced into a pony tail.... The struggle is real!!!!

So as far as my mini goals... I sucked at water intake, and over indulged on Chic-fil-a at work on Monday but I worked out, and spent 15 minutes studying for the big test!

How have you guys been? Whats new?

*sips tea and thinks about doing homework* LOL