So because I feel compelled to do a better job at keeping this up (mostly as an outlet for me and a way to keep record of this journey), I think I need to do some catch up. Since my last post, I've been on a super strict diet, motivated by dietary sensitivities that Simon has. Since May of 2012, I have been off of dairy, soy, and gluten (gluten is for me). Not the most fun diet, but necessary to allow me to nurse Simon. The biggest challenge has been explaining to others and helping them prepare food (when visiting family or eating with friends mostly). Thankfully, Simon is the most easy-going baby and he has never complained. The hope is he'll be off the diet when he turns one. I, on the other hand, may not be going off of the diet. PCOS has presented challenges in areas I didn't expect for the last few months. The most frustrating has been with my milk supply and breastfeeding. I have been so thankful that Simon and I had no issues with nursing from day one. It was natural and relatively easy. Around the time Simon was 9 months old, we started to see issues with his weight gain. He had refused solid food up to that point, so he was still exclusively breastfed. The pediatrician sent us to a specialist because we were still seeing signs of an irritated system in Simon, and the specialist determined that I was not producing enough milk. Lo and behold, insufficient milk supply or a drop off in milk supply is common for some women with PCOS. Here I thought we were past the issues with PCOS for a while. But this stupid condition continues to follow me. God answered our prayers in a big way and I was able to increase my milk supply and Simon also began eating some solids. But we are starting to notice another problem as of late. My doctor told me when Simon was born that women with PCOS tend to be super-fertile after having a baby, before the hormones have a chance to go back to their crazy "normal". Chris and I agreed that we were okay with the idea of having children close together, but my body--so far--does not seem to be behaving in that pattern. Simon is going to be ONE in about 5 weeks (eeek!), but my body isn't showing any signs of fertility. So, I'm going to be seeing my doctor soon to see if he can notice anything I'm missing. I have great hope that things will be fine. I know, I know, it's easy to say that now that we have a baby. And yes, that is a big part of it. I know that my body is capable of conceiving. I know that there are interventions that can work for us. But the emotional side of me isn't ready to ride that rollercoaster again. The waiting and charting and waiting and trying and waiting...it's exhausting. But I take comfort in a truth that a friend reminded me of recently. In the bible, we are told of God opening and closing wombs. God intervened directly and either allowed women to conceive or caused them to wait. And there are so many examples of women who fervently prayed for a baby and God answered their prayers for children. God is actively involved in growing my family and I need to trust Him to grow it in His time.
08 February 2013
I'm back...for real this time
I knew having a baby would significantly change my life. Maybe this was a no-brainer to some, but I had no idea how significantly my day-to-day life would be changed. Before Simon came, I swore to myself that I would not become that mom who goes days between showering or who wears elastic-waisted pants all the time or who never puts makeup on again. For some, that works, but I need to have these things to feel like myself. I stupidly thought that was the extent to which I would have to get creative in scheduling around this babe. I was wrong. So wrong. I am proud to say I have gotten a shower every day. I wear make up every day I want to do so. And I wear pants--real pants. But there are so many other things that I just can't seem to do every day. Like exercise. And eat lunch. And maintain this blog....
So because I feel compelled to do a better job at keeping this up (mostly as an outlet for me and a way to keep record of this journey), I think I need to do some catch up. Since my last post, I've been on a super strict diet, motivated by dietary sensitivities that Simon has. Since May of 2012, I have been off of dairy, soy, and gluten (gluten is for me). Not the most fun diet, but necessary to allow me to nurse Simon. The biggest challenge has been explaining to others and helping them prepare food (when visiting family or eating with friends mostly). Thankfully, Simon is the most easy-going baby and he has never complained. The hope is he'll be off the diet when he turns one. I, on the other hand, may not be going off of the diet. PCOS has presented challenges in areas I didn't expect for the last few months. The most frustrating has been with my milk supply and breastfeeding. I have been so thankful that Simon and I had no issues with nursing from day one. It was natural and relatively easy. Around the time Simon was 9 months old, we started to see issues with his weight gain. He had refused solid food up to that point, so he was still exclusively breastfed. The pediatrician sent us to a specialist because we were still seeing signs of an irritated system in Simon, and the specialist determined that I was not producing enough milk. Lo and behold, insufficient milk supply or a drop off in milk supply is common for some women with PCOS. Here I thought we were past the issues with PCOS for a while. But this stupid condition continues to follow me. God answered our prayers in a big way and I was able to increase my milk supply and Simon also began eating some solids. But we are starting to notice another problem as of late. My doctor told me when Simon was born that women with PCOS tend to be super-fertile after having a baby, before the hormones have a chance to go back to their crazy "normal". Chris and I agreed that we were okay with the idea of having children close together, but my body--so far--does not seem to be behaving in that pattern. Simon is going to be ONE in about 5 weeks (eeek!), but my body isn't showing any signs of fertility. So, I'm going to be seeing my doctor soon to see if he can notice anything I'm missing. I have great hope that things will be fine. I know, I know, it's easy to say that now that we have a baby. And yes, that is a big part of it. I know that my body is capable of conceiving. I know that there are interventions that can work for us. But the emotional side of me isn't ready to ride that rollercoaster again. The waiting and charting and waiting and trying and waiting...it's exhausting. But I take comfort in a truth that a friend reminded me of recently. In the bible, we are told of God opening and closing wombs. God intervened directly and either allowed women to conceive or caused them to wait. And there are so many examples of women who fervently prayed for a baby and God answered their prayers for children. God is actively involved in growing my family and I need to trust Him to grow it in His time.
So because I feel compelled to do a better job at keeping this up (mostly as an outlet for me and a way to keep record of this journey), I think I need to do some catch up. Since my last post, I've been on a super strict diet, motivated by dietary sensitivities that Simon has. Since May of 2012, I have been off of dairy, soy, and gluten (gluten is for me). Not the most fun diet, but necessary to allow me to nurse Simon. The biggest challenge has been explaining to others and helping them prepare food (when visiting family or eating with friends mostly). Thankfully, Simon is the most easy-going baby and he has never complained. The hope is he'll be off the diet when he turns one. I, on the other hand, may not be going off of the diet. PCOS has presented challenges in areas I didn't expect for the last few months. The most frustrating has been with my milk supply and breastfeeding. I have been so thankful that Simon and I had no issues with nursing from day one. It was natural and relatively easy. Around the time Simon was 9 months old, we started to see issues with his weight gain. He had refused solid food up to that point, so he was still exclusively breastfed. The pediatrician sent us to a specialist because we were still seeing signs of an irritated system in Simon, and the specialist determined that I was not producing enough milk. Lo and behold, insufficient milk supply or a drop off in milk supply is common for some women with PCOS. Here I thought we were past the issues with PCOS for a while. But this stupid condition continues to follow me. God answered our prayers in a big way and I was able to increase my milk supply and Simon also began eating some solids. But we are starting to notice another problem as of late. My doctor told me when Simon was born that women with PCOS tend to be super-fertile after having a baby, before the hormones have a chance to go back to their crazy "normal". Chris and I agreed that we were okay with the idea of having children close together, but my body--so far--does not seem to be behaving in that pattern. Simon is going to be ONE in about 5 weeks (eeek!), but my body isn't showing any signs of fertility. So, I'm going to be seeing my doctor soon to see if he can notice anything I'm missing. I have great hope that things will be fine. I know, I know, it's easy to say that now that we have a baby. And yes, that is a big part of it. I know that my body is capable of conceiving. I know that there are interventions that can work for us. But the emotional side of me isn't ready to ride that rollercoaster again. The waiting and charting and waiting and trying and waiting...it's exhausting. But I take comfort in a truth that a friend reminded me of recently. In the bible, we are told of God opening and closing wombs. God intervened directly and either allowed women to conceive or caused them to wait. And there are so many examples of women who fervently prayed for a baby and God answered their prayers for children. God is actively involved in growing my family and I need to trust Him to grow it in His time.
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