Friday, September 16, 2016

Consumerism

One of the best/worst things about nursing is that you have this time where you are required to be still. Just still. And when you are not doing much of anything at all, you have a tendency to pick up your phone. And when I pick up my phone, I tend to peruse Facebook and Amazon. This has resulted in a huge influx of packages coming to our house.

Most of it is for breastfeeding. Charlie is always amazed there are so many "booby accoutrements" that one can purchase. I'm part of a Facebook group called Dr. MILK. It is physicians who are supporters of breastfeeding, and they have been incredibly helpful keeping me calm and knowing that everything is OK with feeding Teddy. However, they also have lots of suggestions for things that can help with this and that.

So I bought Lily Pads which are reusable silicone breast shields. They work quite well, especially overnight so you aren't leaking all over the place if baby sleeps longer. I also bought Bamboobies which are bamboo reusable nursing pads that have a PUL backing. They are so much better than cotton reusable nursing pads and don't show through your bra, which is a huge plus. Then there was the Hakaa a silicone manual breast pump that you can use on the side your aren't nursing on overnight to relieve engorgement. It works well and if I can get it on right, I'll get 2-3 ounces off the other side which really does help. Most recently came Milkies Milk Savers which is a silicone thing you can put on the other side under your bra while you're nursing to catch the milk that would normally get all over your clothes or breast pad when the milk lets down. I probably keep 2-3 ounces of extra milk per day using this. It's easier to use than the Hakaa and doesn't actively draw milk off, so when you're not engorged its a quicker and easier way to go.

It all works, and works well. But then I was looking at a pumping bag by Sarah Wells. Cost about $100. I was convinced that I needed it to make pumping easier for me at work. It was big, and would make it so I didn't have to carry so many bags with me to work and to surgery. I knew that Charlie was going to disapprove. So I talked to him about it. And he said, "It's not like you have far to go. You literally walk to the garage, and then into work. There is always another thing. Always something better. But I'm not sure this is something you need. I'm trying not to be insensitive, but I just can't see how you need this."

And you know what? He was right. 100%. It's not like I live in Chicago and I'm schlepping 10 bags on the L to work everyday. It's not that bad. And I don't need it. And it's one more thing that I will not use in a few months or a year when I'm done breastfeeding.

Charlie is really good at that. At really thinking about needs vs wants and what do we NEED and if it is a WANT, is it something we really WANT, or something we would be just as happy living without? It comes so easily to him, and not so much to me. Sometimes I don't agree with his assessment, but in this case talking to him made it seem silly to even entertain spending $100 on a bag to hold pumping gear when I live 5 min from the office.

It's amazing how you can talk yourself into "I need THIS. It will make my life so much easier and ensure that I continue to breastfeed indefinitely, if I just had THIS."

Sometimes you need someone to take your phone from you while you are feeding your baby so you can just concentrate on the present. On him. And you. And this time that you have together. Because it will be over and done before you know it. So here's to trying to do that more. And shop online less :-)

Friday, September 9, 2016

Capsule Thoughts and Fall Wardrobe

So, my first 3 month capsule wardrobe is coming to an end. I have managed to stick to it for the most part, though I did take some liberty in the lounging-around-the-house clothes. One thing I noticed was that I did not think about nursing or pumping when I decided on work clothes. Most of what I chose is not very nursing/pumping friendly, which I will need to consider in the fall. I also think that I'm going to remove athletic clothes from the capsule. It's too difficult for now. So my capsule will just be clothes that I wear out of the house. I'll try to incorporate other things later.

One complaint so far about the capusle app I've been using - they must be in California or something. Because they did not give me nearly enough sweaters for the fall. One sweater is not going to cut it, lol.

So, I've been working on the fall capsule. Will technically run October through December, but may end up being end of September through early December, just depending on the weather.

Shirts - Ohio State shirt (a must for football season), salmon button up from Stitch Fix, black and white top from D. Diff, coral Nic & Zoe shirt from D. Diff, Lucky chambray shirt from D. Diff, black Rumina nursing tank, black shirt from Encircled, gray turtle neck from D. Diff

Pants - My gray dressy sweat pants from Encircled, yoga pants, black ribbon pants from D. Diff, black and brown ankle pants by Nic & Zoe, black skinny corduroys, medium wash skinny jeans, maroon pants from Stitch Fix

Top Layer - black blazer from D. Diff, Nebraska cardigan, black open front cardigan from Banana Republic, brown Nic & Zoe open front cardigan, cream Banana Republic cardigan, black Nic & Zoe sweater, navy blue cable knit sweater, Ocean Park sweatshirt, Patagonia sweatshirt

Dresses - navy and white Stitch Fix dress, Navy floral print Stitch Fix dress

Skirts - leopard print pencil skirt from Banana Republic

Shoes - black Toms ankle boots, brown riding boots, nude flats, black Tieks, brown houndstooth Toms

Coats - black Toggle coat, gray Patagonia coat, brown Eddie Bauer jacket, black Patagonia fleece

I fully expect to need a few more items in most categories. But I'm going to start with this. Then I can see where I'm wanting/needing more. And add as I go.

I'm trying to keep my final goal and motivation in mind so that I don't get too hung up in the process. And I'm trying not to worry about not wearing or using things that I've spent good money on. There were several things that I included in my summer capsule that I never wore. And I didn't want to wear. But I had included them bc they were newer or because I had spent good money on them. But then there were other things I wished I had. So I'm trying to do a better job of really looking at what I'm actually going to wear this fall. We'll see. Here's to hoping its better than my summer capsule :-)