to Read the PDF - Cloud 9 Studios

Haven’t slept in weeks?
PHOTOGRAPHING
WHAT
babiesTAUGHT US
OVER 2000
or
“How
to
Surv
ive y
our
New
born
”
by
Jeanine McLeod
& Gail Morello
CONTENTS
a fever
Is there
baby
or does
listless
appear
ise
or otherw
sick?
Has your baby been
awake for more than
2 hours?
NO
YES
YES
Try
Sick
P. 16
Take a big sniff.
Did your head
jolt back?
dirty
diaper?
NO
04
ABOUT US
06
OUR STORIES
YES
NO
NO
YES
Try
Tired
P. 14
YES
09
NO
Is baby
due to eat
or mouthing
like a baby
bird?
NO
Try
Wet
P. 8
NO
NO
Try
Hungry
P. 2
NO
Try
Gassy
P. 12
NO
THE ROADMAP
FEATURES :
2 PAGE
10
12
14
16
18
IS BABY WET?
IS BABY HUNGRY?
IS BABY GASSY?
IS BABY TIRED?
IS BABY SICK?
PAGE
3
We are both photographers. We arrived at what we do from different directions, we’re in different
parts of the country and we’re even different ages (Gail’s the ‘older’ one). But we do have similar
values and work ethics and we’ve built surprisingly similar businesses.
When we found each other years ago it was like bumping into another mom in the grocery line
who has a child the same age as yours. Instant connection. So we often chat (some would call it
commiserate). We have found over time that our own baby stories and those we hear every day from
our clients have common threads.
Experience teaches a lot (keep reading to learn more about us) and our clients often ask our advice.
We each had the desire to create something of value that we could share with the world. Then we
had the brainiac thought that two heads are better than one. We think we were right.
About Jeanine McLeod
OUR
GOAL
} OFF
TAKE
Who Are We &
Why Did We Conspire?
THE PRESSURE
If there is one thing we would like to tell new moms, it’s that it’s OK to take the pressure off
yourself. Whatever works for you is a good thing, even if it’s contrary to popular opinion. Sometimes it just
takes a little time to figure out what that is.
The questions with a newborn are many and can be overwhelming. Should I breastfeed or bottle feed?
Should I feel bad if I can’t breastfeed? Am I a bad Mom if I don’t feel bad about not breastfeeding? Is
it really that much better for the baby? How do I know if I have enough milk? When does it stop hurting
so much? What about pacifiers? What’s up with nipple confusion? Is my baby pooping enough? Is that
cough something I need to worry about? What about that rash?
Trust us, there’s as much advice out there as there are questions. We all have our sources - other moms,
forums, doctors, even baby photographers! We can tell you one thing after having spent a lot of time
with a lot of babies - they are all the same in so many ways but each one is individually so very different.
So ask for help, read advice (we sure hope you read ours!), experiment until you find what works best
for you and your family, but in the end we hope you never feel pressured to be ‘supermom’ or to do
something because it’s what ‘everyone else is doing’ (hint - they probably aren’t). This is your child, your
life, your journey, and “there is no way to be a perfect mother but a million ways to be a great one”.
We wish you nothing but the happiest of times with your baby and hope that we can help in some small
way with the tidbits of advice that we offer here.
Jeanine, the young one here, began her journey in
the working world as a Mechanical Engineer. With her
degree from The University of Florida, Go Gators, she
moved to Atlanta and worked for Motorola for 5 years.
During that time she began taking photography courses
as a creative outlet from corporate life.
What started as a side-hobby grew into her passion and
she soon left the corporate world to pursue her dream of
running her own business. After moving to Florida in 2005,
Cloud 9 Studios was born in Wesley Chapel. Since then
she has dedicated her life to her daughter, Eryn, and
helping others celebrate the life of their children through
fun, artistic portraits.
About Gail Morello
Gail spent 25 years in corporate jobs before venturing
into owning a photography studio over 13 years ago.
A passion that began when her own son, Jay, was little
grew into a full blown business when she realized that
touching people’s lives was her life’s work.
With her combined love of photography and of children,
and her extensive business experience, she founded
Pixel Perfect Photography in 2001. Now grown into a
thriving business located in Merrimack NH, Pixel Perfect
specializes in touching the hearts of moms & dads
throughout the greater New England area.
4 PAGE
We feel it’s so important to take the pressure off yourself as a new mom because
we were once new moms, too, with struggles of our own. Here are our stories...
PAGE
5
Gail’s Story
Seven weeks before my due date I lifted a dog house, my water broke and
so began the early delivery of my son, Jay. We were lucky - he was healthy
except that he was pretty small with a severe case of jaundice.
So, the hospital sent me home with a 4 pound baby, bilirubin lights to
install over his crib and instructions to feed him and take his vitals every 90
minutes. He had to be naked under the lights 24 hours a day. The first day his
temperature kept dropping so we had to warm the room to 98 degrees with
a space heater to keep him from freezing to death. Literally.
They advised nursing but lactation specialists weren’t around back then = no instructions. Nursing was a
nightmare and it became worse as I became more sleep deprived. I was feeding him, or rather trying to
feed him, 24x7 (don’t ask when I was sleeping, I wasn’t), all this in a 98 degree room so you can imagine
the torture. I was past crying. I felt I was in a battle to save my son’s life, all the while losing my own.
At my 6 week checkup my doctor took one look at me and told me whatever I was doing had to stop. I
was so tired I was just blindly following the instructions I was given when I left the hospital. Never mind that
it was not a do-able task for one person. But, after that doctor’s visit (‘head slap’), I started supplementing
with bottle feeding. This allowed his dad to feed him occasionally, gave my baby some much-needed
nourishment and gave me some much-needed sleep.
Gradually things got better and we got into a routine. But those first 6 weeks taught me that it can be a
mistake to just blindly do what you are told, that you need to question when things are not working for you
and that sometimes you need to reach out for help.
Jeanine’s Story
Like it was yesterday, I remember crying uncontrollably when my daughter
couldn’t breastfeed. She couldn’t latch, I was in constant pain, she was crying
even more than I was crying. I thought I had failed as mom after only 4 days
on the job. What should have been a wonderful bonding, cuddling and loving
time had instead become a battlefield. It went on, day after painful day. Finally
one day my best friend, Cristie, looked me in the eyes and said “Jeanine, stop!
What the heck are you DOING?” Good question. And a wake-up call.
I had read all the books, listened to all the sage advice of moms who had been
there and I thought I knew what to expect. So I had a plan going in. But things did not go according to
plan. When that hit me, when I accepted that things weren’t going to be perfect, I was able to calm
down I came up with a different plan. Thank goodness I did take the advice to rent a breast pump from
the hospital. This became my savior. Instead of breastfeeding Eryn, I pumped religiously, and then used
a bottle to feed her. This still wasn’t easy, but it almost totally eliminated my stress, got my daughter the
nourishment she needed and gave my husband some peace. As a bonus it allowed other people to feed
her, which gave me a rest.
Sometimes as moms we put so much pressure on ourselves that we don’t even look at options and at
what might be more realistic for us. It was just the beginning of my discovery that mothering comes with a
very personalized and ever-evolving job description.
6 PAGE
PAGE
7
The Roadmap
Why is My Newborn Cranky?
a fever
Is there
baby
or does
listless
appear
wise
or other
sick?
Has your baby been
awake for more than
2 hours?
NO
YES
YES
Try
Sick
P. 16
So, you’re home with your new little miracle and like most
of us, feeling your way through it. Until the day that you just
can’t get your baby to calm down. Much like old people,
babies generally have a limited number of reasons why
they are cranky: sick, tired, hungry, wet or gassy. Here’s
how to tell which might be the culprit. Keep reading for
possible solutions...
NO
Take a big sniff.
Did your head
jolt back?
YES
NO
NO
YES
Try
Tired
P. 14
dirty
diaper?
NO
NO
Is baby
due to eat
or mouthing
like a baby
bird?
YES
Try
Wet
P. 8
NO
NO
Try
Hungry
P. 2
NO
Try
Gassy
P. 12
NO
8 PAGE
PAGE
9
Check #1
Is Baby Wet?
It’s the first check just because it’s the
easiest. Not all babies care if they are wet
but some really do. And, even a baby who
doesn’t normally mind will (trust us) care
if it leads to diaper rash, so best nip that
in the bud sooner rather than later...
Take a sniff. That could be a sign (though
sometimes, it’s just ‘air’). Lots of diapers these
days do everything but text you when a diaper
needs changing so all you have to do is look
at the strip - no invasive peeking necessary.
Make sure you have a good, safe place where
10 PAGE
you have all your supplies handy (changing
tables are perfect for this, not that we always
use them). Forget those pee-pee teepees, just
throw a wipe over whatever might spill over.
You’ll be shocked how quickly you’ll get really
adept at this whole changing thing.
And if diaper rash
should darken your days
and haunt your life?
Sometimes no matter
how much you clean
every tiny little crevice
it will just happen And I
can tell you (Gail talking
here) that if it’s bad
enough, it can bring your
life to a screeching halt.
So use whatever creams,
lotions, powders and wipes that you find work
best. Personally I would have purchased stock in
Zinc oxide and Neosporin (the combination was
a wonder cream) if I could have afforded it at
the time.
“Laughter is like
changing a baby’s diaper.
It doesn’t permanently
solve any problems, but
it makes things more
acceptable for a while.”
PAGE
11
Check # 2
Is Baby Hungry?
BR
TRY FEEDING
If breastfeeding is making you crazy, or
if you just don’t want to go that route,
no one will take away your Mommy
medals for bottle-feeding full or parttime. Find what makes you comfortable,
keeps you sane, allows you to bond with
your baby in peace and gives your baby
the nourishment he or she needs. Never
feel guilty for making a decision that’s in
the best interests of both of you.
TIPS
• Be relaxed and settle into a comfortable position.
• Position baby so his or her mouth is level with the breast;
use a pillow under baby if it makes you more comfortable.
• Try different positions: laying down, the football hold, the
cradle hold.
• Have a little patience and persistence. Sometimes it
happens effortlessly, quite often it takes a little practice
on both Mom and baby’s part.
• Bring the baby to your breast as opposed to bringing the
breast to the baby.
• Tickle the baby’s mouth with the nipple to get things
started.
• To latch, baby should bring the nipple into his or her
mouth with the nipple far back in the baby’s mouth and
baby’s tongue under your breast.
• Listen for a rythmic sucking and swallowing pattern.
• If baby falls asleep too soon, a little tap under the chin
will often get things started again.
• Most babies will fall asleep and detach when done,
but you can easily break the suction with your finger if
necessary.
12 PAGE
NG ING
DI
EE EED
F
STF
EA TTLE
BO
Whatever your preference - breast
or bottle - try feeding your baby if
it’s been 2 hours or more since the
last feeding or if your baby is giving
hunger signs - mouthing like a baby bird,
turning her face back and forth, putting
her hands in her mouth or just plain fussing.
Time is not always a great indicator because
babies sometimes cluster feed, eating as often
as every 30 or 45 minutes (or less!).
BREASTFEEDING
“A perfect
example of
minority rule
is a baby in the
house.”
To Pacifier or Not
The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends waiting to introduce
a pacifier until breast-feeding is
well established, usually two to four
weeks after birth. They want to avoid
‘nipple confusion.’ Here’s where we’ll
differ. Some babies just need to suck.
Constantly. They can do that on a
bottle, on you or just be miserable. If
you have a baby that just wants to
suck all the time, try a pacifier. It just
may save your sanity in the short term,
giving you time and patience to deal
with the possibilities of nipple confusion
if it should happen.
Should
breastfeeding be
THIS sore?
How do I know
if my baby is
getting enough?
How long does
it take to feed
most babies?
Are all bottles
and nipples
alike?
Sorry to say. Heck, yes. At
first. Nipple shields can be
a big help. And, it does get
better, pinky promise. But
if you develop a fever or
a hot spot on your breast,
be sure to call your doctor.
If you are bottle-feeding
it’s easy to measure. For
breast-fed babies, a good
rule of thumb is if you’re
changing 6 wet and 3 dirty
diapers every 24 hours.
Huge swing here - babies
can eat as fast as 5 minutes
and take as long as an
hour. Some of us are just
slower eaters than others :).
Heck no. Different sizes
for different size babies
and lots of different
brands out there. Get
advice from other moms
and your doctor on
where to start and your
baby will lead the way.
PAGE
13
CHECK #3
Is Baby Gassy?
“Don’t ever tell the
mother of a newborn
that her baby’s smile
is just gas.”
-Jill Woodhull
SIGNS OF GAS
A bottle-fed baby is more prone to gas than a breastfed baby, since she has more opportunity to suck air. A
breast-fed baby, however, can develop gas if her mother
eats gas-inducing foods, such as beans or broccoli. The
first signal that something isn’t quite right with your baby
is a temperament change, often during or directly after
feeding. Sometimes a gassy baby will arch her back or
quite often a baby can sound inconsolable. Gas hurts.
GET THE GAS OUT
GAS DROPS / DIET CHANGES
There are a number of over-th-counter gas drop remedies that seem to work well on a
lot of babies. If baby is breast-fed, try eliminating gas-producing foods from your diet. It
can be a real trial and error process to figure out the food culprits so start with the obvious
ones first.
TRY A DIFFERENT NIPPLE IF YOU BOTTLE FEED
Switch to a nipple with a slower flow to reduce the amount of air baby swallows.
MASSAGE BABY’S TUMMY & BICYCLE HER LEGS
Lay baby on her back and ‘bicycle’ her legs to break up the gas, or put a warm compress
on her tummy (check to make sure it’s not too hot) and rub her back and tummy.
HIT ‘EM HARD
I know what you are thinking … “Well that’s great, I know my baby has gas, but nothing
seems to work. I can’t get her to burp!” Jeanine here. I was right there with you sister. My
daughter would not burp no matter what. I tried every position. You name it, I tried it.
Nothing worked.
I went to my pediatrician in tears because I was at my wits end. He said “Jeanine show
me how you are burping her.” So I did. I looked at his face and I could tell he was trying
not to laugh. “Jeanine, you are barely hitting her. That isn’t going to shake those gas
bubbles out. You need to hit her hard! Like this!” I was shocked. It looked like he was
beating her (not really, but remember I was sleep deprived). Sure enough, after he hit her
on the back twice she let out the loudest burp I ever heard. Voilà!
This is why sometimes the dads have better luck at burping than moms - they just seem
to hit a little harder. But trust me moms … if it means not seeing your baby in pain, you
will find the will to do what you need to do to get out that burp! Just remember to put a
blankie on her back because no one likes to slap bare skin!
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PAGE
15
Check # 4
Is Baby Tired?
If your baby has been awake for longer than 2 hours or if he or she has
been stimulated a little more than usual, it’s very possible your baby is tired
and Is having a hard time self-soothing. Let’s get that baby to sleep!
RIDE ON THE
WASHING
MACHINE
This is pretty much the
same as the car ride, but
without the car. It also
assumes you have a fullsize washing machine in
your house or apartment.
Strap the baby into the car
seat, start the dryer (you
can kill 2 birds with one
stone if you actually have
a load of wash to dry) and
put the car seat on top of
the dryer. The noise, motion
and heat work together to
act similar to a car ride.
Just check to be sure that
things don’t get too warm
in that seat.
CHANGE
POSITIONS
RIDE IN THE CAR
Repeat after me: a baby strapped into a car seat and taken for a ride in the car will calm down
and go to sleep. Well, it’s not exactly a sure-fire method but it’s pretty close for most babies (except
Jeanine’s, whose daughter hated the car). If you are at your wits end, even if it is 2am, give it
a try. Hop in the car and drive around your neighborhood. Don’t worry if people think you are
coming home from the night club, or roaming the streets as a vampire. They may just be parents,
themselves, who have been exactly where you are. Just do what you need to do!
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Babies, like a lot of people,
are creatures of habit. They
tend to have a position that
they like best when falling
asleep. Being cradles, on the
shoulder, in a football hold.
Whatever normally works, try
that first. But if it’s not working,
change it up. Try something
different. If you’re sitting try
standing (I don’t know how
they know the difference but
they do). If you’re rocking, try
swaying. Change is good.
ROCK ‘EM
I Babies love to be held in a
snuggly way. Wrap a baby up
tightly in a soft cuddly blanket
and they tend to calm down
quicker. Be sure to get their feet
and arms tucked in close to their
body when you wrap. Then,
cradle them in your arms and
rock. Not a gentle lullaby rocking,
we’re talking “the swing-is-onfast-mode” rocking. Mix in a slight
bounce in your step and you’re
on your way.
This method of calming a baby
is most effective when done by
a non-milk producing person.
In other words, not the mom! If
a baby is snuggled up close to
mom’s boobs … that baby will
smell your breast milk and want
to eat, possibly ruining any hope
you had of getting the baby to
go to sleep. Sounds weird but
trust us on this one - it’s true!
TRY A PACIFIER
You’ll find strong opinions about
this one. Our opinion (and we
mentioned this under the hunger
section so I guess we’re pretty
serious about this one) - some
babies just need to suck. They
can suck on a bottle, on you,
on their hands or on a pacifier.
Personally, I prefer a pacifier. It
has the added benefit of being
something that you can ‘lose’
when the time is right so you
don’t have a sixth grader still
dependent on it (thumbs are not
quite so easy to get rid of).
THE VACUUM
No, it isn’t time to clean, it is time
to try one of our ultimate go-to
tricks. Turn on a vacuum cleaner
or hair dryer and a fussy baby
will often quiet. It is loud for the
parents, but it is a loud white noise
as opposed to loud crying noise.
Which do you prefer? Babies
are used to hearing noise, and
a vacuum mimics what they’ve
been hearing in the womb all
those months. No vaccuum or hair
dryer handly? We almost all have
smartphones and - you guessed it
- there’s an app for that! Just do
a search of the apps available
for your phone and you’ll find
at least a few to pick from.
TURN UP THE HEAT
As the resident Floridian in this
dynamic duo I (Jeanine) get the
topic of keeping the baby warm.
Babies like warm. It is a secure
feeling, one that keeps them
calm and facilitates sleeping. Of
course in Florida we have this little
thing called air conditioning. Got
air conditioning? Learn from my
mistakes and turn it down or wrap
that baby up!
In the studio I use a heating
blanket (Gail uses a space
heater) to keep the babies nice
and cozy. We sweat but they
love it. Obviously as a parent
you aren’t going to keep your
house hotter than blazes, but you
can certainly do what my mom
advised and dress that baby
warmly.
PAGE
17
Check # 5
Is Baby Sick?
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
READ ME FIRST
We would be remiss if we didn’t
include this caution here, though
it’s rarely the reason a newborn is
cranky. But, it’s the one we moms
worry about the most. Here are a
few signs that indicate that a call
to the doctor is in order. But be sure
to check out a few of the other,
more likely possibilities first.
BABY’S TEMPERATURE
If your newborn’s temp is over 100.4 degrees rectally or 99 degrees under the armpit, be safe and call the doctor.
BABY IS INCONSOLABLE
If your baby has been crying uncontrollably for hours, you have tried everything else (check out all the other
possibilities) and nothing works be safe and call the doctor.
BABY IS LISTLESS
If your baby is awake but not very responsive and more listless than usual, call the doctor.
BABY IS COUGHING
If your newborn is coughing pretty consistently, call the doctor. Sneezing is pretty normal and even a stuffy nose can
be very normal but persistent coughing is worth checking out.
PERSISTENT RASH
All newborns have very sensitive skin and can therefore get a rash at the drop of - well, anything. But some of them
are worth checking out, especially the persistent ones.
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We have all been to that place called ‘end of my rope’ and there’s no
shame in a little break. Besides, sometimes calming yourself down calms the
baby down. Babies are little barometers - if you’re stressed they can feel it
and it stresses them. So go grab some earplugs and a coctail (it’s ok, you are
allowed to pump and dump, nobody will write you a bad mommy note).
Besides, they can’t cry forever.
Or can they?
PAGE
19
What Photographing Over 1000 Babies Taught Us
or How to Survive Your Newborn
by Jeanine McLeod & Gail Morello
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The information presented in this work is in no way intended as medical advice or as a
substitute for medical counseling. We strongly suggest that you consult your physician if you
have any health or care questions about your new baby.
You agree to accept full responsibility for your actions concerning your child and recognize
that despite all precautions on the part of Jeanine McLeod and Gail Morello there remain
risks in raising a child and you waive, relinquish and release any claim which you may have
against Jeanine McLeod or her affiliates or Gail Morello or her affiliates as a result of any
future physical injury or illness incurred in connection with, or as a result of, the use or misuse
of their advice. Whew.
OUR DISCLAIMER
The truth is, we do advocate getting advice from your doctor regarding the care and
health of your newborn if you are ever in doubt. At the very least you will make yourself feel
better and that things are ‘normal.’
Don’t ever worry about being known as ‘that mom’ with your doctor’s office. You are your
child’s advocate and have the right to ask whatever questions you like, of whomever you
want so you can get the answers you need.
Understand that if you do ask more than one person (that’s kind of a modus operandi
for most of us moms) you will likely get more than one answer. And that sometimes even
doctors do not know best (there, we said it). Heck no one is perfect and no one has the
perfect answer for your situation every time. This is the thing about that parenting gig you
signed up for - in the end it will always be up to you to sift through all the advice you get
and decide what is best for you and your child.
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21
Gail Morello
32 DW Highway, Merrimack NH 03054
603-579-0500
www.pxpfoto.com
Jeanine McLeod
27340 Cashford Cir #101,
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
813-994-4552
www.photosoncloud9.com
This document is copyright 2014 ~ All Rights Reserved