Posted by Me
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:13:00 GMT
So sorry I haven’t posted sooner. Life has been a bit hectic these past few months. Here is a quick rundown of the going- on’s:
- Milk Blisters – What a Pain! Ouch!
- Diagnosis of Thrush – Double Ouch!!! Wait, make that triple Ouch!!!
- Jack and his purple mouth due Gentian Violet to get rid of Thrush – Staining pretty much everything in sight
- Me on 2 different ointments and Diflucan to combat Thrush oh and of course wincing every time Jack was nursing on my stinging nipples!
- Prepping House to Sell
- Keeping House clean for showing (not an easy task when you have a 3 month old!)
- Packing up House when offer was rendered and accepted
- Moving to Rental House while breathlessly awaiting completion of new house (won’t be ready until Aug/Sept)
- Battling Jack’s refusal to nap or in general sleep much if at all
- Enduring Jack’s blood curdling fits while being strapped into his car seat (he used to love his carseat – now not so much! LOML invested in ear plugs to make sure concentration is not compromised behind the wheel while Jack is exercising his very powerful lungs)
- Jack’s constant slobbering since he is starting to teethe and well pools of drools come with that!
The list could go on and on, but I figure you get the jist. Yes, the last few months have been a bit hectic. The move in and of itself was a major stressor. The fact that it will have to be repeated in a few months again is already giving me a headache but oh well we’ll deal.
The thrush I think is gone but man-o-man was that a pain – literally and figuratively. This Breastfeeding thing has just not been an easy road for me. I am determined to stick with it, but boy it’s been tough!
Overally though Jack is great. As cute as can be. Wish he’d sleep better or more but the fact that he is smiling a lot, likes to play with his hair, grab at more things, is learning to sit up by himself, babbles constantly – makes it all ok. He’s our little guy who is growing like a weed. He is still as alert as can be which can make feeding still a challenge since he’ll get so distracted. He’s taking everything in and loves to jump in his jumperoo. He’s become the master bouncer. We recently introduced him to the exersaucer and he’s getting the hang of it. I think though he gets frustrated since he can’t get a hold of the things he wants quite yet.
So, life is chugging along. Busy but good. I am sorry I have been so MIA. That has not been my intention – just with everything going on it is sometimes hard to find a few moments available to post. Jack likes a lot of attention so blog posting ends up being pushed to the back burner. I’ll try to be better about it and steal a few moments here and there.
Here is a link to Jack’s latest and greatest! Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjg2/sets/72157600279678380/
Hope everyone is doing well!
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Posted by Me
Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:31:00 GMT
Thanks for the advice on my breastfeeding situation. Yes, I am definitely being careful about not pumping too much – as a matter of fact I am trying to stop pumping prior to feeding him altogether with the hope that my milk supply will adjust. It’s a bit tough right now since my boobs are just super engorged (we’re talking pornstar boobs here!) and Jack still has some trouble with the let-down. I have sought out www.kellymom.com for some good ole’ breastfeeding advice and their main thing is to let gravity be your friend (aka feed baby in an upright position or lean back so baby leans forward while feeding) and to burp baby very often.
I have to admit it’s been tough. Jack is still spitting up a lot and having trouble burping. I keep telling myself to be patient and hope that eventually we get the hang of this – in the meantime it’s all about the boobs in our house.
However, this line in the kellymom article caught my eye:
“Even if these measures do not completely solve the problem, many moms find that their abundant supply and fast let-down will subside, at least to some extent, by about 12 weeks (give or take a bit). At this point, hormonal changes occur that make milk supply more stable and more in line with the amount of milk that baby needs.”
Ahh, there it is that magical 12 Weeks (3 Month) Mark that everyone keeps raving about. Apparently, if you were to believe that Jack and I follow any “normal” processes – we are supposed to expect wonderful things once Jack turns 3 months. His sleep patterns are supposed to get into more of a rhythm. His digestive tract should be more mature. My milk is supposed to even out. I’ll have the body of Heidi Klum (post baby). (Ok, maybe not the last bit especially since I have a penchant for Krispe Kreme Doughnut which I am unwilling to give up in the near future!)
Hmm – color me skeptical but I just can’t see that it’ll work out that way. I mean I am sure things may change (at least I hope they will) but I just don’t see things “turning around”. I mean you’re talking to the girl who couldn’t for the life of her get pregnant the good ole’ fashion way. Normal IVF wasn’t even possible. I had to have a fresh IVF cycle follwed by a frozen one. Then, once I eventually did get pregnant I never had that moment at 12 Weeks where I woke up and felt great – no nausea. Nope. Nausea hung around for pretty much the whole pregnancy. So, with all that in my mind, can you blame a girl when she doesn’t quite believe in the magical 3 month mark?
I know every situation is different and if anything ours is certainly that. Nothing about Jack – his conception, gestation, or birth has been thus far and honestly right now I feel like I might be going backwards in my mothering abilities. I mean I thought we were doing ok on the breastfeeding front and then we discover the lovely “Hyperlactation/Overabundant Milk” issue. Ulgh!
It’s ok. Things are a bit tough right now. Jack is amazing – don’t get me wrong. He smiles all the time now. Coos. Gurgles. Squeals. Holds his head up a lot (still wobbly – but definitely showing promise). Super alert. Can stare at you and take you in. It’s incredible and I am so lucky to be a witness of it all. All my worries disappear when he gives me that look of complete adoration follwed by the most incredible smile. It melts my heart every time.
However, there is the other side of it too that is oh so challenging – he doesn’t sleep through the night. I am still waking up every 2 to 3 hours a night – sometimes more. I nurse what feels like constantly so that my nipples feel raw and abused. I am trying to get him on a schedule but haven’t been too successful at that. He doesn’t like sleeping in his crib. We try to put him in there with his “SnuggleNest” bed to help make it more cozy and he maybe lasts 15 mins in there before crying bloody murder. I don’t know – when does it get easier – yeah yeah I know – around 12 Weeks! Maybe! Possibly! Hopefully! ;)
I don’t know. Am I doing something wrong? It hurts me sometimes to see this little guy so gassy due to my insane let-down. I feel bad when I am patting him on the back for what feels like hours just to make sure he doesn’t get an awful air bubble in there.
I know it is supposed to get easier and I do want to believe that. I just can’t see it right now. I am trying not to compare myself to other mothers – you know the ones I am talking about – the ones that boast their babies are sleeping through the night with only one feeding at 3am in their cribs. The breastfeeding experts that have wonderfully calm and happy babies. I know everyone is different and that Jack and I will get the hang of things eventually. He’s still young and may take a little bit of time to adjust to things – like my boobs and his crib. It’s just tough sometimes not to feel like I am being a bad Mom. I love this guy to bits and just want to make sure he’s ok. Actually, more than ok.
Oh well – it’s time for him to nurse. I am doing the no-pump-nurse-upright-burp-often-nurse-on-only-one-boob-for-3-feedings thing with the hope that things will get better for everyone.
All right, I have written a novel that it is probably just incoherent babble. My apologies. Sleep-deprivation is still a staple in this house.
I pray that 12 Weeks will bring us some good things – however, as irony would have it – guess when Jack actually turns 12 Weeks? April 1st. Yes, my friends, that would be April Fool’s day – hmm – does that have some significance? We’ll see.
Ok – gotta’ whip out a boob to see if we can’t kick this “hyperlactation” to the curb. Thanks for listening! :)
Posted in Hello, my name is Infertile, Everyday Livin', Relating, Baby G | 1 comment | no trackbacks
Posted by Me
Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:26:01 GMT
Thursday and Friday of this week have been really fun over here…NOT! Little Jack has been having a tough time nursing. He used to be a champ but as of 3am on Thursday Morning that went out the window. He has been the most fussy baby at the breast – pulling off the breast with grunts and “Eh” sounds. Even crying at times. It has been most unfortunate. He would only feed for 2 mins at a time. I then take him and burp him which takes forever and even if I do succeed he’s still ultra-comfortable. Most of Thursday was spent in this haphazard eating manner. I thought by the evening he’d have settled down, but alas no such luck. I think LOML & I were up with him for most of the night – trying to nurse him (me), trying to burp him (LOML & me), trying to rock him to sleep (LOML) without much luck. Eventually around 4:30am we laid him down on the co-sleeper and he was able to drift off. He slept for about an hour or so and then I fed him again or at least tried to and had him sleep for another 2 hours. It’s been nuts to say the least.
At 9amon Friday, I called a local La Leche League Leader to ask for some advice. E. was very helpful and asked me a lot fo questions to see what might be going on. I think we determined that I have too much foremilk and a strong let-down. To alleviate some of this, I am supposed to pump both breasts (thank goodness for the Medela Double Pump-In-Style Electric Pump!) for a few minutes. Then, I nurse Jack on one breast while pumping the other for as long as he will nurse. I repeat this every 2 to 3 hours! By pumping first I reduce some of the foremilk which seems to give him some trouble. He often sucks so strong at first that he chokes once milk comes down hence swallowing more air and becoming uncomfortable. E. & I also think that this causes him to only get the foremilk and not the hind milk since he fills up on the watery stuff first. With that in mind, E. also suggested I only feed Jack on one breast for 3 feedings (all the while pumping the other). After 3 feedings I switch breasts.
We have done a few sessions thus far and it’s been going ok. I don’t pump as much though – adjusting here and there especially during the night time feedings. Right now, he seems to get hungry quite often like – this morning he was on an every hour kick so I tried not to pump too much to make sure there was stuff for him to drink.
It’s a work in progress. It certainly is a whole lot more work these days to feed the little one, but it’s important. I felt so bad on Thursday when he didn’t feed properly. We’re working on it. It was funny though when I first did the nursing him on one breast while pumping the other thing – he did eye the pump on the other boob so suspiciously – like “What are you doing on my boob?” And then for a while he was trying to keep up with the sucking rhythm as if he wouldn’t be outdone. It was funny to watch him check it out rather skeptically. Now, he is used to it and couldn’t care less. :)
So, we’ll see how it goes. I hope things get better on the feeding front and eventually we can transition him to sleep in the crib in his room. One thing at a time I guess. Right now, he doesn’t sleep for very long anyways. Last night I was up every 2 hours. If I lay him down in the crib for a nap during the day I am lucky if I can get 15 minutes out of him. He wakes up crying wondering where everybody is.
Other than feeling like a cow most of the day, things are all right. We went on our first errand outing today (Costco, Target & Whole Foods) and he did quite well. I chose to carry him in the Baby Bjorn since he really doesn’t like just chilling in the car seat. Hopefully that’ll change sometime. In any case, it was fun getting out of the house and getting stuff done. We got him some new clothes which I have to stick in the laundry.
Yesterday we went for a picture day with LOML’s family. It was fun and Jack was well behaved. He was alert and checking out the lights at the photo place. I think we got some good shoots with everyone. After that we had lunch at my in-laws. Jack slept through most of that after his most eventful morning. We got home napped and then chilled out for the rest of the evening while LOML headed out for his monthly poker game.
Overall, the weekend is going all right. Jack is still fussy – esp in the early evening/night. I hope this improves as he gets older. I guess only time will tell.
In any case, I have to start on some laundry and then it’ll be time for another feeding session. Lovely! :)
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Posted by Me
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 22:47:00 GMT
I don’t have time to write a post so instead here are the latest pics of our little miracle. We have our good and bad days. Regardless though, things can never be that bad when you get to look at that little adorable face! :)
Wow, it still gets to me sometimes that I am his Mom. I am a Mom and I have the spit-up stained clothes to prove it – not to mention the bags under my eyes and the recently acquired skill to manage tasks with only one hand! ;)
Life is surely different these days and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Happy Friday everyone!
Milk Drunk! Jack after a Nursing Session!
Happy V-day! Our little Valentine!
Happy Jack! Gotta’ love those cheeks!
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Posted by Me
Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:11:00 GMT
I have been meaning to update my blog for quite sometime, but taking care of Jack has been a full-time job and then some. The last couple of weeks have been a bit tough since he seems to be getting more fussy – especially at night. Sleeping has been a rarity and he still feeds anywhere from 1 hour to 2 1/2 hour intervals. Needless to say – my boobs are sure getting a workout.
Albeit things haven’t been super easy – Jack is wonderful. He’s so much more alert now that he is a month old. He had his 1 month check-up last Wednesday and he weighed in at 11 lbs and 1 oz! Wowzers! I guess my worry that I am feeding him enough was silly. Our Pediatrician told us to keep up the good work. Overall, she seemed very pleased with him. He is a very alert and as said gaining and growing accordingly. Besides his weight gain, he grew 2 inches. :) He is still a bit yellow but she wasn’t super concerned. We are supposed to have a follow-up Bilirubin test after 6 weeks if he is still a bit yellow – just to double-check.
So – yay! He is growing. He has the coolest facial expressions. It’s so much fun to watch. He is still the hardest baby to burb ever which makes my nights oh so much tougher. We tried the gas drops and I don’t think they do much of anything. :( I really hope Jack handles gas and all that much better as time goes on. Everyone keeps saying it’ll get better – easier. I sure hope so. LOML was a very challenging baby according to my MIL. I think Jack got a little bit of his dad in him when it comes to that regard. Oh well! All I can do is take it day by day.
I am still exclusively breastfeeding and I have my good and bad days when it comes to that. Sometimes his inability to burb properly makes it a little harder at times and attributes to my sleepless nights. LOML has been helping out a lot and it’s been great. I feel bad though since he still has a day job for which he has to be lucid and aware so overall I try to take the brunt of Jack’s wakeful hours. When I need a break, LOML steps in and helps out which I am eternally grateful for. :)
Last week my mom and dad were in town and it was soooooo great. They really helped out. They cooked us meals and held Jack so I could get some naps here and there. I really miss them and wish they lived closer (they live in Florida!) I hope they can come out again soon. It’s so great to see them with their grandson. :)
Anyways, I am trying to bang this post out before Jack squawks again which could be any minute. ;) He’s due for his bath tonight since he truly is a most of the time spit-up baby! Ahh, those digestive issues! I hope they pass soon as he gets older and things mature. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
In any case, I am going to try to jump in the shower real quick to help one of my boobs since I think I may have a clogged milk duct there and it’s hurting quite a bit!
So – yes, we are still alive – going through some rough spots right now as new parents but thrilled beyond belief to have this little guy in our lives. He’s incredible and so darn cute I can’t believe it! :) We are lucky to have him in our lives even if he keeps Mommy and Daddy from getting some sleep most of the time! He’s a miracle and we don’t forget it or take him for granted.
Ok – I am hearing a meltdown in progress – gotta’ go!
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