one handed update
Posted: August 19, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 Comments »He is totally asleep and I could put him down but he is so cute!
Things are already getting better. After that post, we got another 3 hour stretch and he woke at 9 like clockwork. Wes and I felt downright rested. He latched beautifully. We supplemented afterward. I pumped. He was in a cute mellow state when Asia and Jeremy arrived to meet him and brought donuts. He slept for a few hours. Woke. Nursed on one side before conking out too hardcore to take the breastmilk by dropper. I pumped. He slept more. Woke 2 hours later and did the one side thing again. I am heading off to pump. I think we may have a system here, though I know he needs a bit more than one side right now and we need to work on keeping him awake for the dropper bit.
Now we just have to start remembering to count the damn wet diapers… and if all is well with that, I will officially believe him to be well and truly fed. The morning full of poop already has me convinced that the bili levels must be getting even better by now. Pediatrician tomorrow afternoon. Breastfeeding support group at the hospital on Tuesday.
Thank you all so, so much for the assvice and advice. Much of it is already being followed and much was helpful to be reminded. Thanks Jean – I forgot I had those cold pack things! It is my opinion that my milk is coming in well and things will keep improving. The pain is getting better. The latch is getting better. The pumping yields a tiny bit more each time.
Sleep is a miraculous thing.
Bri – I am so happy and excited to read these posts. Even though I am seeing my own future in your blistered boob experience it makes me grin. Beckett is really a sweetie and your Wes, he’s a keeper. I’m gonna make Ezra read these posts and take notes.
Ah, yes – the breast, pump, dropper, routine; two-hour feedings (and three feeling like a luxury); worry about jaundice: it’s all too familiar! It does get easier. And you sound like you are taking it all in stride, as much as you can (I was a frantic mess). Beckett is absolutely beautiful!
As others have said, it does get easier. Solomon was born at 5 pounds and we had to do feedings every two hours, so I understand your complete exhaustion. It seems unfair that the person who just had the baby is the one who doesn’t get to sleep to recouperate, no? It’s some sort of cosmic joke, I’m sure. A little assvice on BFing — try to empty a breast whenever you can. Boobs have a way to adjusting to demand, and if he only eats a fraction of a boobsworth, over time the boob will begin to adjust to that amount. You’re in the early stages of getting your supply going, but something to keep in mind for later on since you’re pumping anyway.
Also, remember that no one judges you for anything, no one knows what to do or how to be a mother at first, and every baby is unique. What works for one baby won’t necessarily work for another, and that’s the hard part — figuring the little guy out. About his crying, as crazy as it sounds, I’ve always heard that they aren’t born knowing how to eat or sleep, and it takes awhile for them to “learn” to do these things. You’d think these things would be more automatic then they are, but they’re not. Amazing any of us are here, really.
Try to get sleep whenever you can. It will take awhile to get caught up on sleep and exhaustion — you’re body’s doing alot of recovery right now! It will get easier though, and in the interim take lots of photos of the cutie! This age is over quickly and the exhaustion clouds the memories of it. He’s really beautiful! Take care.
Beautiful. Systems are comforting.
Call me time you want to talk. I will try very hard to just listen and not advise.
I’m so glad you posted this update…I know it’s no easier to know that the hills and vales will continue for a while, but you sound like you are doing a fantastic job of mastering the worst of it.
He’s a beautiful, wonderful, squirm machine and I’m so glad I got the chance to meet and hold him while I’m here.
Love you all, and look forward to more visits.
Glad things are going better. I have absolutely nothing positive to say about breastfeeding, so I won’t try. What I CAN say is that it was freakish how fast my nipples scabbed and healed. They went from from hamburger to normal in only a couple days. That lanolin is incredible.
Oh, I used lansinoh each and every feeding… and the gels… and warm showers. And my LC prescribed something they called APNO (all purpose nipple ointment) it has to be compounded but it’s miracle boob cure-all!!!
If you are up for it – the LC swore that feeding on both sides was very important. We played wake the baby (ok, so we actually called it TORMENT the baby) between sides – we’d get her naked. I only say this because I preferred the baby to the pump.
Glad it seems to be going better.
sleep. food.
it all helps. Don’t worry about counting wet diapers – your mommy instinct will kick in if it feels like not enough.
As long as there are indeed wet ones, he’s fine!
I’m so happy for you. You are all in my thoughts. Soon you will look back on this sleeplessness with such vigor, having slept for more than two or three hours at a time, and rejoice in the state of being that is Two Months Old.
sounds like things are progressing beautifully so i’ll spare you my assvice. except definately find an LC, no matter if things are looking better or not. its like the good hair day on the day you have a haircut scheduled. you cant go wrong. i really benefitted from an lc’s help this time around and that was my third kid. holy crap, you have a baby! enjoy.
You are doing so great. LM was big too, and sososo mad when he was not getting enough breastmilk in the first week or so. As soon as my milk came in (later it was totally over abundant), he mellowed, and slept, and stopped screaming all the time. I am impressed with your decision to supplement and keep nursing, I know that must have been scary. I also want to tell you that it really really truly totally absolutely continues to get better and easier…the nursing that is. And you know I do not lie to you about such things. And I second all the advice to consult a lactation chick. My other assvice is to have people bring you meals at home, maybe your sister can arrange it, send an email out or something. I am so proud of you Bri, I really am.