I'm doing pretty well with this baby thing so far, if I do say so myself. I'm not walking around in some semi-somnolent state, running into doors and dumping salt in my tea instead of sugar. I'm not sobbing hysterically at 2 a.m. or screaming obscenities at diapers that refuse to do what they were designed to do--namely, contain pee*.
What I AM doing, however, is slowly losing the function of my right arm. See, I'm very predominantly right-handed. So I'm hauling around this child with my right hand and arm all the time, positioning him for feeding, holding his head up when we're sitting, cradling him when we're going up the stairs. He's not a big kid by any means--still in the seven pound range somewhere--but MAN. This is not good for my hand and arm. My hand is feeling somewhat arthritic, kind of tingly and numb sometimes. And my arm developed what I assume is a charley horse yesterday that pretty much rendered it useless until A. rubbed it with some force to get the kink or whatever it was out of my upper arm and shoulder. OWWWW.
No one ever mentioned this part of the conditioning process. So anyone out there who is planning on having a baby soon? Break out those dumbbells and start lifting. Your shoulders will thank you for it in the end.
* Fuzzi Bunz, I'm looking at you.
18 comments:
Sounds like you need a baby sling.
They make a lot of styles of them. Maybe check out your local goodwillish store. I bet you could make one from a tablecloth or similar long piece of material. Google it, as they say.
Beth
I bet it's a pinched nerve in your neck. See a chiropractor.
And until then, you should try, maybe, holding him with the other arm for a while. Just an idea.
Word verification: brevered -- a widely respected musical notation
Oh yeah, I remember visits to the chiropractor after hauling babies around in those ever so convenient car seats as they gained 3 pounds a day! (the babies, not the car seats)
YES, need baby sling!!! Oh, I feel like such a bad midwife that I forgot to give you this heads up. Moby wraps are nice for this early age. Ergobaby is great for bigger kiddos. I second the chiropractor thing -- and it's good for babies, too....
Kristin, in your free time (ha) you can check out the motherload of all sites babywearing - for reviews, deals on used carriers, etc - http://www.thebabywearer.com/
This is a bit of an indelicate question -- but how's the, ahem, feeding machines? My first baby was a breeze. My second (the boy) brought me to tears. I used to think "Nobody told me nursing hurts like hell!"
Funny enough, after he got the hang of it, we hung together for nine months. (I think I knew he was my final child and I wanted it to last.)
Look at the bright side, you'll be in tip top shape for gardening season!
M.M.: I am pleased to report that my, ahem, "feeding machines" are not merely decorative and have been, in fact, feeding a small child who eats every two hours. I give all the credit for easy nursing to him--that little piglet would find a way to get his food if I was hanging upside-down.
Kristin--
I should look this up to verify it, but there is some connection between pregnancy/childbirth and carpal tunnel syndrome. You might want to investigate it just to avoid making anything worse. Thinking of all of you! Mikey
I agree with the sling/baby carrier folks! Moby Wraps and Maya slings are nice, but if you want something cheap to try out, these are great also: http://www.thepeanutshell.com/shop/baby_slings/outlet_(super_steals)
I agree with the sling/baby carrier folks! Moby Wraps and Maya slings are nice, but if you want something cheap to try out, these are great also: http://www.thepeanutshell.com/shop/baby_slings/outlet_(super_steals)
Marsha, carpal tunnel syndrome definitely does go w/ pregnancy... but typically resolves in the first few days - week postpartum, with all the fluid shifts.
No personal experience, but I spent the first three weeks with my sister after her son was born and I definitely felt the arms burning after the first couple days. I was there in December and he weighs 15 lbs. now - talk about a workout.
I'll have to remember to bulk up the arms, like you said, if/when I ever have one.
Hurt arms? sounds like a perfect opportunity for A. to give you a nice long massage!
Yep, I agree about getting a sling.
And Fuzzi Bunz, if that's what you're using, are TERRIBLE for newborns. They're great starting around the 1 year age. Try something simpler, like prefolds and proraps or prefolds and wool soakers when he's still a tiny babe - far more effective.
Julie: So we've learned. We got one of those trial packages of different kinds. What we learned is that at this stage the absolute best ones are the really old-fashioned, not pre-folded bird's eye style diapers. Because we can fold them to fit him and they hold in EVERYTHING. My mom sent me some to use as burp cloths, but now they're the main diapering material.
Even though I'm right-handed, I oddly use my left arm for baby-holding. It's strange, but was SO VERY HANDY.
(In other news, now that Sadie is old enough to be balanced on my hip, my freaking hips hurt all the time. FAIL.)
Babies are the best form of upper body strength training. Fact.
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