4 Weeks Postpartum Update

I seriously can't believe it has already been four weeks since the delivery of Peanut. I've had a lot of questions from friends and family about how I am feeling since the birth and if I still talk with A and M. My answers are, "I'm feeling fantastic!" and "Of course I still talk with A and M!" I enjoy seeing their picture updates of Peanut via Facebook and text messages, too. Every time I see a new picture of him I get lost in his big beautiful eyes and my heart melts all over again. He is truly one of the most beautiful babies ever.

I am happy to report that life is completely back to normal here. I have healed well from the C-section and I'm feeling great both physically and emotionally, to which I have my placenta capsules to thank. Let me explain....

I had my placenta encapsulated after the birth of Peanut. Placenta encapsulation is a process in which your placenta is dehydrated and then ground into powder form, which is then placed into small capsules. Mothers then consume these capsules on a daily basis to help them rebound from birth, balance their hormones, avoid postpartum blues, increase their energy, and enhance their milk supply. I am SO GLAD that I did this. The benefits have been so great and I've seen a noticeable difference in my postpartum recovery. This recovery has probably been the easiest and the quickest out of all my postpartum recoveries.

The great thing is that any unused placenta pills will last indefinitely so long as you keep them in the freezer. So, ten to twenty years from now when I'm going through menopause I can break out my left over pills and start taking them again to help balance out my hormones - naturally! I'm sure my husband will greatly appreciate it. I'll call them my "bitch calming pills".

So, do you wanna see pictures of the encapsulation process of my placenta? If your stomach doesn't get too queasy from viewing graphic pictures, please continue on. Otherwise, avert your eyes now.....

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My placenta

The "super sac" that held Peanut for 42 weeks

"Surrogacy Love"
Peanut's cord in the shape of a heart

Placenta after being steamed

Steamed placenta chopped up and ready to go into the dehydrator

It takes 6-8 hours to complete this step

Placenta after being dehydrated is then ground up into a powder form
(Placenta jerky anyone?)

All ground up and ready to make the capsules

Capsules added

The end result - 237 capsules and Peanut's cord in the shape of a heart

A big THANK YOU to April at Confident Beginnings for introducing me to the idea of Placenta Encapsulation, educating me on the benefits, and for encapsulating my placenta!! Check out April's website at WWW.CONFIDENTBEGINNINGS.COM. She has tons of resources and services like childbirth education, hypnobabies education, and holistic health coaching. She even has an online shop for birthing kits, midwifery/birthing supplies, and herbs and other natural remedies for Mom and Baby. And here's the kicker...April was a surrogate too!! She delivered twins in 2006.

2 Week Postpartum Update

It's been two weeks since the birth of Peanut and things are going great! My life and my family is back in order and i'm feeling fantastic both physically and emotionally. I'm getting around well and healing nicely from the C-section.  The nasty rash that I had is pretty much gone except for some skin discoloration now.

2 week postpartum belly pic

I've been pumping since delivery day and although I had a rough start things are finally coming together nicely. The original "plan" was to pump in the hospital for Peanut, but since my supply didn't start coming in until after my surro-family departed for home, we ended up shipping about a weeks worth of colostrum and breast milk after I returned home from the hospital. It felt good knowing Peanut was getting "the good stuff", even if it was just a weeks worth.

The first of my colostrum. Day 2 postpartum.

All this for my Peanut! 

I plan to continue and pump for as long as I can maintain it. I found a local woman to donate my breast milk to. She is due with her first child (a little girl!) in a few weeks and is a breast cancer survivor who underwent a double mastectomy. Today we met for the first time when she collected our first round of breast milk. I am really excited about this arrangement and hopefully I can help supply her baby with at least a few months worth of breast milk. (That's my goal, anyway)

One week worth of breast milk donated..
Many more weeks to go!

Enough about me...on to Peanut!! He's doing fantastic! A and M have reported that Peanut is a true angel and a really easy baby.....so long as he's fed on time and not a minute too late! They are loving every minute in their new roles as Daddy and Dada. Even Peanut's furry brothers have adjusted well and enjoy watching over him while he sleeps. So precious! Over these next few weeks A and M are expecting out-of-town family to meet Peanut for the first time. The first moments of Peanut meeting his Nana, Susu, Papa, Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins - PRICELESS!

I've really enjoyed seeing pictures of Peanut over these last few weeks. Every time I see a new picture my heart melts all over again. What a beautiful family indeed.