Mom Jean Confessions: Mama of Two Routine x Nature Made®

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Let’s be honest, being a new mom of two takes a lot out of you. If you ask any  mom (well, any mom who isn’t lying to you), they’ll say that the transition from one to two kids is brutal. What’s more surprising, is that they say it’s even harder than going from two to three – but, I’m just gonna take their word for that one 😉

As wonderful of a blessing it is to finally have that second baby we’d been wishing for – you always have in the back of your mind, that it also means your world is about to be upturned yet again. It’s true that those first few months are the toughest, but I’ve come to find that sticking to a routine can really help everyone adjust to the new baby in town. Oh, but p.s., when I say “sticking”, I mean more like Elmer’s, not Gorilla glue. Because life happens, and if there’s one major thing I’ve learned that has saved my rear this time around – is that sometimes you’re better off just going with the flow. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was wound tighter than a Swiss clock with my first kid. But hey, you live and learn right? Here are the few bits of our routine below that I’m happy to pass along to you “soon to be two-time mamas” 🙂 Now if only I could help you with the lack of sleep and overall loss of consciousness – that would be something!

My Mama of Two Routine:

Step 1 – Nutrition for baby & Mama

One of the biggest decisions when you have a new baby, and one that you can semi-control, is how you plan on feeding them. I’m sure a lot of you can vouch that every baby is different, and breastfeeding doesn’t always go as planned from one child to the next. So it’s smart to have a “Plan B” (and sometimes “C”). With my second, I was prepared to have the same difficulties nursing that I had with my first, but low and behold she took to breastfeeding like a champ. But you better believe I still had that pump and stash of formula waiting in the wings, just in case.

Because I’m nursing exclusively, it’s so important to stay healthy and take a multi vitamin. I always start off with Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA before my busy day of juggling a toddler and baby’s schedule. Plus, because it’s not always the easiest to stay on top of the amount of fruits and veggies I’m eating – this way, I know myself and Charlotte are getting the nutrients we both need. I also have tried other prenatal vitamins, and so many of them have that fishy smell and after taste – these, thank goodness, don’t. The hubs is also a huge fan of Nature Made®, and in case you didn’t know – he’s the healthier one in this relationship, so if he says it’s good then I trust it. What’s even better, is you can buy them conveniently in bulk at Sam’s Club – which is pretty much like every mom’s dream shopping experience. Done and done.

Here are some helpful reasons why taking a prenatal vitamin both before, and after having a baby are so key:

• Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + 200 mg DHA is guaranteed to meet our high quality standards – it is made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes
  • Clinically proven absorption of folic acid and iron
  • One per day dosage
  • Easy-to-swallow softgel
• You should start taking a prenatal 6 months before you start trying to get pregnant
  • Take with food
  • Provides essential vitamins and minerals (before and during pregnancy) including Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Iodine, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D3†
  • Provides 200 mg DHA which may help support fetal brain and eye development †
  • “Free from”:
    • No Synthetic Dyes
    • No Yeast or Starch
    • No Artificial Flavors
    • Gluten Free
    • Clinically proven absorption of Folic Acid and Iron
  • Folic Acid is an important B Vitamin for Women of Childbearing Age and Pregnant Women – Plays a critical role in the proper development of the baby’s nervous system.†
  • Adequate folic acid in healthful diets may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a neural tube defect.

Step 2 – try to Stick to a schedule

Ok, again, when I say “stick to” I promise I’m not trying to act like life is perfect and our toddler always does exactly what we tell him to do, and our baby wakes, feeds, and sleeps (in that order ;)) like clockwork. The optimal word here is “try”. I didn’t even attempt to stick to a schedule with my first, but he was colicky and we all know that’s just not fair. With Charlotte, I knew I had to at least try. So I literally took notes on my phone as to when she typically started to get sleepy for her first nap in the morning and planned out a “eat, play, sleep” schedule from there. In the weeks that followed, it got easier and easier to predict her sleep/feeding cues, and I realized I actually had done it. Something that was so elusive with my first, but now made me feel as if I had mastered this whole “mom-ing of two” thing. Clearly joking – but if you know anyone who can claim this, I seriously want to shake her hand 🙂

Here’s a rundown of Charlotte’s 3 month schedule (side note – she’s 4 months now, and with the sleep regression – this whole thing is shot to hell):

Charlotte’s Schedule – 3 months

Wake/Feed 7:30/8am

Morning Nap/2nd Feeding: 9am

Wake/Feed: 9:45am

Nap/2nd Feeding: 10:45/11

Wake/Feed (sometimes can wait to nurse: Noon

Nap/Feed: 1:30pm

Wake/Feed: 2:15/2:30pm

Nap/Feed: 4pm

Wake/Feed: 5pm

Cat Nap/Feed: 6pm

Wake/Feed/Bathtime: 6:30/7pm

Bedtime/Feedings: 7:30-8:30pm

Night Feeding: 1:30/2am

2nd Night Feeding: 4:30/5am

3rd Night Feeding (cosleeps after): 6am

Wake/Feed: 7/7:30am

Step 3 – running errands like a boss

I vividly remember the first time my hubs asked me if I wouldn’t mind going to the grocery store post-baby. I remember, because it was a Friday and my 3 year old had off from school, which he was well aware of – so his tone of voice made it seem as if he was asking me to climb to the top of Mount Everest instead of just the routine Sam’s Club run. I took a big gulp and said “no problem,” right before I threw up in my mouth a little. Kiddingggg…kinda.

All joking aside (which in case you haven’t noticed, is incredibly hard for me to do ;)), I put on my big girl pants and loaded up the toddler with baby in tow, and headed down the road. The beauty of being a second-time mom, is that no matter how long it’s been between babies – you manage to hold onto little nuggets of information. For example – Never, ever leave the house without the baby carrier. Ergo Baby, Baby K’tan, Solly Baby Wrap, Baby Bjorn, Baby Joey in a Papoose (ok, this last one I made up), what have you – if you don’t have one, get one. When I made my latest run to Sam’s Club to reload on my Nature Made® Prenatal Vitamins, an older lady literally stopped me twice to comment on how “it just wasn’t fair that they didn’t have those things (motioning to my baby carrier)” when her kids were young. I feel ya mama. Then later, as I was loading the groceries into the car while simultaneously making sure my son didn’t run out into the busy parking lot – a middle-aged woman flat out told me “You are impressive.” I sheepishly said, thank you and that I didn’t feel impressive – nothing like a mom to not be able to take a compliment, haha. Now, I’m not saying this happens every time I go to the store – but I’m pretty sure I have whatever genius mom who came up with the baby carrier to thank for still having my sanity in tact.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.