Comments on: The Cheese Plate http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/ Balancing Wholesome Nutrition With Sensible Exercise Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Heather Eats Almond Butter http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35993 Heather Eats Almond Butter Sun, 23 May 2010 13:58:43 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35993 Congrats on your little baby girl, and thanks so much for all your advice Katie! This was very helpful. Like I said, I've always been very independent, and although I'm a very social person, I like my space and privacy. Yeah, I definitely don't think I could handle people staying at our house b/c I would constantly feel like I would need to entertain them, and that's the last thing I want to be doing when the baby arrives. Out-of-town guests are going to have to stay in a hotel. I hope they don't mind, but I think I would be much more comfortable doing it that way. Everyone keeps telling me to get help with meals, and so I'm definitely planning on that. My mom lives close-by and loves to cook for us. I know she'll help out as much as she can. Again, thanks for everything - your words were very encouraging! Sincerely, Heather Congrats on your little baby girl, and thanks so much for all your advice Katie! This was very helpful. Like I said, I’ve always been very independent, and although I’m a very social person, I like my space and privacy. Yeah, I definitely don’t think I could handle people staying at our house b/c I would constantly feel like I would need to entertain them, and that’s the last thing I want to be doing when the baby arrives. Out-of-town guests are going to have to stay in a hotel. I hope they don’t mind, but I think I would be much more comfortable doing it that way.

Everyone keeps telling me to get help with meals, and so I’m definitely planning on that. My mom lives close-by and loves to cook for us. I know she’ll help out as much as she can.

Again, thanks for everything – your words were very encouraging! Sincerely, Heather

]]> By: Katie http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35992 Katie Sun, 23 May 2010 05:41:52 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35992 Hi Heather :) I am a lurker-for-awhile but wanted to finally say hello :) You have made a difference in how I eat and exercise - thank you! I'm so excited for you that you are expecting - it brings back memories of my pregnancy (just had my first baby 5 mos ago). I loved being pregnant and I hope your morning sickness gets better soon! :( I would agree that you need to listen to your instincts - it sounds like you already love your little one so much, and that love will guide you really well in how to care for her (in terms of getting to know her, learning what she needs, etc.) The more you bond with her, the more time you spend with her (am realizing I keep saying "she" - I have a daughter, as you can tell :) ), the more intimately you two will know each other. It is just awesome once her little personality starts coming out and you realize how much of your love she has soaked in, and how much she trusts you because of it! We did NOT have anyone stay with us at any point, although we had a hospital birth and I stayed as long as they'd let me so I could be cared for and served hot food I didn't have to make! (stayed 2 nights) Also my mom and sister came one day about a week in and just made a ton of food for us to store (and I had cooked up a bunch of things and frozen them in my nesting frenzy). This worked fine for us. I will add that my sister is a postpartum nurse, so she was able to help me a lot with figuring out breastfeeding and other early stuff - I'm glad you mentioned the staff at your hospital that can help you, just in case. I absolutely love breastfeeding, even though it can be exhausting sometimes to be the only one who can meet baby's needs in that area. It's worth it. My memory of that first week was: wonderful!! It was so fun to just be the 3 of us, on our own little schedule with nights and days a little askew, but napping here and there, eating when we needed to, and just soaking in the wonder of having her. I know some people have a very tough time at first though, if breastfeeding is hard, or if the baby is colicky. It really depends on your baby. Just be ready to go with the flow. That said, I do love that idea of taking 40 days to just bond with your baby. A few alternate ideas to the idea of having someone stay with you: (1) let your house be messy and splurge on take-out for that first week or two while you still focus primarily on bonding (but after a few weeks, I think the messiness inherent in being a new-ish mom can add to postpartum blues, so it can be nice to get some help with that). (2) Maybe you could line up someone(s) to drop off meals for every day (or every other day or something), and someone(s) else to come clean up the place for an hour or two every couple days, during those first 40 days, but not have someone stay with you? Just an idea. Heck - if you end up having a shower, you could suggest that people offer their help as a gift! Re: vitamins - I have a friend who did just what you did (chewables) because she could not stomach the prenatals - her kids both turned out great :) Anyhow, hang in there - each season is just a season, be it nausea (even if it lasts all 40 weeks!) or colic or whatever. It has its upshots and its drawbacks so just take each season for what it is :) Sorry this was such a long post... Hi Heather :) I am a lurker-for-awhile but wanted to finally say hello :) You have made a difference in how I eat and exercise – thank you! I’m so excited for you that you are expecting – it brings back memories of my pregnancy (just had my first baby 5 mos ago). I loved being pregnant and I hope your morning sickness gets better soon! :(

I would agree that you need to listen to your instincts – it sounds like you already love your little one so much, and that love will guide you really well in how to care for her (in terms of getting to know her, learning what she needs, etc.) The more you bond with her, the more time you spend with her (am realizing I keep saying “she” – I have a daughter, as you can tell :) ), the more intimately you two will know each other. It is just awesome once her little personality starts coming out and you realize how much of your love she has soaked in, and how much she trusts you because of it!

We did NOT have anyone stay with us at any point, although we had a hospital birth and I stayed as long as they’d let me so I could be cared for and served hot food I didn’t have to make! (stayed 2 nights) Also my mom and sister came one day about a week in and just made a ton of food for us to store (and I had cooked up a bunch of things and frozen them in my nesting frenzy). This worked fine for us. I will add that my sister is a postpartum nurse, so she was able to help me a lot with figuring out breastfeeding and other early stuff – I’m glad you mentioned the staff at your hospital that can help you, just in case. I absolutely love breastfeeding, even though it can be exhausting sometimes to be the only one who can meet baby’s needs in that area. It’s worth it.

My memory of that first week was: wonderful!! It was so fun to just be the 3 of us, on our own little schedule with nights and days a little askew, but napping here and there, eating when we needed to, and just soaking in the wonder of having her. I know some people have a very tough time at first though, if breastfeeding is hard, or if the baby is colicky. It really depends on your baby. Just be ready to go with the flow.

That said, I do love that idea of taking 40 days to just bond with your baby. A few alternate ideas to the idea of having someone stay with you: (1) let your house be messy and splurge on take-out for that first week or two while you still focus primarily on bonding (but after a few weeks, I think the messiness inherent in being a new-ish mom can add to postpartum blues, so it can be nice to get some help with that). (2) Maybe you could line up someone(s) to drop off meals for every day (or every other day or something), and someone(s) else to come clean up the place for an hour or two every couple days, during those first 40 days, but not have someone stay with you? Just an idea. Heck – if you end up having a shower, you could suggest that people offer their help as a gift!

Re: vitamins – I have a friend who did just what you did (chewables) because she could not stomach the prenatals – her kids both turned out great :)

Anyhow, hang in there – each season is just a season, be it nausea (even if it lasts all 40 weeks!) or colic or whatever. It has its upshots and its drawbacks so just take each season for what it is :)

Sorry this was such a long post…

]]> By: Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35991 Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) Fri, 21 May 2010 03:10:38 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35991 Omg a million comments and opinions. I did not have a doula. I did not have family help. And Skylar is 3 yrs old and we have used a baby sitter twice and we live 3000 miles from family. It has been the Averie Show, raising Skylar. And Scott, too :) I didnt want a doula or help b/c I know under stress or extreme/new situations, I function better...alone. No matter what the "Crisis" is, I want to be alone. I dont want to have to worry about another's thoughts or emotions and if they are with me, I will. I do not regret NOT having a doula or help. At all. I am glad it was that way. Your doula is old school. There is a period of 40 days called "laying in" that old school doula, midwives and lactation educators ascribe to where the women of the community or family of the preg woman help her. I personally wouldnt want all those ppl up in my space, but to each her own! As for nursing, you can and will do it. Enough said. :) And if you need help, you can put me down as your lactation educator and I will be here for you, no matter what. Sickness. Hate to be the bearer of this, but I never felt well til I gave birth. I was still throwing up daily til almost 7 mos. Fun. But on that, I will also say that prenatals...didn't do them. Did a Women's Once a Day by Rainbow Light brand. Sometimes. Sometimes not. Honestly, did our grandmother's take vitamins? No. Or women 200 hundred yrs ago? No. Did the human race survive. Yes. Eat as right as you can, sleep as best you can, stay hydrated, stay happy!! and baby will thrive. xoxo Omg a million comments and opinions.
I did not have a doula. I did not have family help. And Skylar is 3 yrs old and we have used a baby sitter twice and we live 3000 miles from family. It has been the Averie Show, raising Skylar. And Scott, too :) I didnt want a doula or help b/c I know under stress or extreme/new situations, I function better…alone. No matter what the “Crisis” is, I want to be alone. I dont want to have to worry about another’s thoughts or emotions and if they are with me, I will. I do not regret NOT having a doula or help. At all. I am glad it was that way.

Your doula is old school. There is a period of 40 days called “laying in” that old school doula, midwives and lactation educators ascribe to where the women of the community or family of the preg woman help her. I personally wouldnt want all those ppl up in my space, but to each her own!

As for nursing, you can and will do it. Enough said. :) And if you need help, you can put me down as your lactation educator and I will be here for you, no matter what.

Sickness. Hate to be the bearer of this, but I never felt well til I gave birth. I was still throwing up daily til almost 7 mos. Fun.

But on that, I will also say that prenatals…didn’t do them. Did a Women’s Once a Day by Rainbow Light brand. Sometimes. Sometimes not. Honestly, did our grandmother’s take vitamins? No. Or women 200 hundred yrs ago? No. Did the human race survive. Yes. Eat as right as you can, sleep as best you can, stay hydrated, stay happy!! and baby will thrive.

xoxo

]]> By: Heather Eats Almond Butter http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35990 Heather Eats Almond Butter Fri, 21 May 2010 01:58:57 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35990 Thanks Galit. :) Thanks Galit. :)

]]> By: Galit http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35989 Galit Fri, 21 May 2010 01:50:14 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35989 Mazel Tov on the pregnancy! So happy you are going to use a Doula. Support is sooooo important (both in labor and after). Please let me in know if you need any midwife (in training) loving! Mazel Tov on the pregnancy! So happy you are going to use a Doula. Support is sooooo important (both in labor and after). Please let me in know if you need any midwife (in training) loving!

]]> By: Natalie http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35988 Natalie Thu, 20 May 2010 23:42:14 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35988 I wanted exactly what you wanted, the 3 of us bonding time. And no one interfered. About 2 weeks out, I wanted dinners though! We got them the first 2 weeks but after then and until a month or two after the baby came home, I still wanted people to bring me food (and actually food that I'd eat!) I wanted exactly what you wanted, the 3 of us bonding time. And no one interfered. About 2 weeks out, I wanted dinners though! We got them the first 2 weeks but after then and until a month or two after the baby came home, I still wanted people to bring me food (and actually food that I’d eat!)

]]> By: charlotte http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35987 charlotte Thu, 20 May 2010 19:27:12 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35987 I used a doula for my 5th baby and it was fantastic!! I totally recommend using one - esp. if you are thinking of going natural. And she is totally right about asking for help. Having a new baby can be so overwhelming (or not - but you won't know how you'll handle it until you're in the thick of it) and I'm sure your friends and fam would be thrilled to step in and help out for a bit. I used a doula for my 5th baby and it was fantastic!! I totally recommend using one – esp. if you are thinking of going natural. And she is totally right about asking for help. Having a new baby can be so overwhelming (or not – but you won’t know how you’ll handle it until you’re in the thick of it) and I’m sure your friends and fam would be thrilled to step in and help out for a bit.

]]> By: Heather Eats Almond Butter http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35986 Heather Eats Almond Butter Thu, 20 May 2010 18:07:43 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35986 Thanks Andrea. My hormones are already all over the place. Great advice! :) Thanks Andrea. My hormones are already all over the place. Great advice! :)

]]> By: Andrea http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35985 Andrea Thu, 20 May 2010 16:35:56 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35985 Hey Heather...sorry I'm late to chime in on this one (busy day yesterday). Anyway, I totally agree that it should be you, the baby and CD at first. The one thing you can't predict after having a baby is how your hormones are going to be and I tell you...it can be dicey. And it was much better with just my husband and I after our first one. After our 2nd, my in-laws came 3 days later (the day my milk came in....happy times) and I broke down and cried twice b/c I just wanted to "get back to normal" and not have everyone trampsing through my house. It's hard to imagine (I certaintly didn't see it coming), but my hormones were all over the place and it was so much better to deal with that with me, my husband and the baby. Hope this helps....I'm so impressed with your forward thinking...I would have never even considered this before, but it's definitely something I should have! :) Andrea Hey Heather…sorry I’m late to chime in on this one (busy day yesterday). Anyway, I totally agree that it should be you, the baby and CD at first. The one thing you can’t predict after having a baby is how your hormones are going to be and I tell you…it can be dicey. And it was much better with just my husband and I after our first one. After our 2nd, my in-laws came 3 days later (the day my milk came in….happy times) and I broke down and cried twice b/c I just wanted to “get back to normal” and not have everyone trampsing through my house. It’s hard to imagine (I certaintly didn’t see it coming), but my hormones were all over the place and it was so much better to deal with that with me, my husband and the baby. Hope this helps….I’m so impressed with your forward thinking…I would have never even considered this before, but it’s definitely something I should have! :) Andrea

]]> By: Susan http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35984 Susan Thu, 20 May 2010 14:43:04 +0000 https://heathereatsalmondbutter.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/the-cheese-plate/#comment-35984 Ohmygosh, my favourite snack in highschool was to stuff a pita with cheese and melt it in the microwave. Pita + melty cheese is soooo good! I'm always drawn to the sandwich plates. Namely, the little egg salad sandwich triangles on white bread. LOVE those. Ohmygosh, my favourite snack in highschool was to stuff a pita with cheese and melt it in the microwave. Pita + melty cheese is soooo good!

I’m always drawn to the sandwich plates. Namely, the little egg salad sandwich triangles on white bread. LOVE those.

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