5. Five weeks ago, our lives forever changed. Sure, people told me that it would. Sure, people said that our hearts would explode with love. But, I just didn't "get it" until it happened. My love for her continues to multiply daily, if that's possible. I'm so thankful that God gave her to us and I'm looking forward to every day that we have together!
8 lbs 2 oz. This was Critter's weight on Monday. What a victory! And I really can tell that she's gained ... she feels so heavy and she's finally starting to fit into her 0-3 month old clothes. Does this mean she's no longer a newborn? Sadness! Slow down, time!
7-9 x's. 12 oz. The number of times a day I pump and the amount I get daily. I promised that I'd do a post on the feeding situation, but I don't have the motivation to do it right now. She's getting about half of her nutrition from breastmilk and half from formula. I'm taking Fenugreek to try to boost my supply with a goal of her getting off formula ASAP.
$26. The cost of 1 can of Alimentum, the formula we're supplementing her with. The doctor seems to think she's got a milk protein sensitivity, so that means I've cut out all dairy products from my diet (butter, milk, cream, etc..) and she's got to be on this fancy formula. Have we noticed an improvement in her reflux and constipation? Not really. But it can take up to two weeks, so we're hoping that it will get better soon!
2-3. She'll sleep 2-3 hours straight at a time, at night in the bassinet, however many times those slumbers are full of wiggles, cries, and grunts, as the reflux and constipation take their toll. {Which means I sleep with my hand on her many times for comfort -- and NO, I will not let her cry it out right now. First of all, that is NOT recommended for newborns, and secondly, she's in pain due to her reflux; what type of bad mommy would I be to let my little girl HURT and then not comfort her? So, please, all you who mean well, please stop telling me I'm spoiling her! Thanks! ;-) } So, Daniel and I have modified the "shifts". We're no longer having to stay up with her in the nursery, I get up to feed her, pump, and then rock her back to sleep for another two hours. It usually goes something like this:
9:30 -- Asleep in bassinet
11:30 -- Feeding time! After she eats, I pump while she's in her Rock 'N Play. I then pick her up to rock her to sleep if she's awake, and then it's back to bed...
12:30 -- Asleep in bassinet
3:00 -- Feeding time!
4:00 -- Asleep in bassinet (Daddy's shift starts...)
I'm so thankful that the sleep situation has gotten better. And, I hate to admit it, but I really miss all the snuggle time we had when I was staying up with her. So, I'm making up for it right now... she's on my chest snoring.
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
A Breakthrough (Sort of...)
Jenaleigh's napping on her own (yes, without being held!). However, it's only during the day time in her rock 'n play, which I'm not 100% comfortable about leaving her in unsupervised (ie. when I'm sleeping). So, for now, her daytime naps will afford me some time to clean (both the house and my self!) At least we're making some progress! Now, if we could only get her to sleep at night in either her pack 'n play or crib -- then, we'd be GOLDEN!
I'll leave you with possibly the cutest picture ever taken...
She changes so much every single day! For example, for the first two weeks of her life she loved laying on her tummy on my chest. Now, she'll do that about 50% of the time I'm holding her, but she prefers positions where she can look into my eyes if she wakes. Also, we can tell she's hit a growth spurt (not only by the increased feedings, but also because she feels heavier)!
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| In her Rock 'N Play! |
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thoughts on Sleep (Or the Lack Thereof...)
Good news! Yesterday's weight check showed a 2 and half ounce gain! Woohoo! We must be doing something right! However, I wonder ... how long is this 2 hour nursing schedule going to be necessary? I'll do it as long as I have to, but it's insanely difficult! In fact, it's that time again right now, but she looks so serene that it kills me to have to go wake her. So, I think I'll continue writing a few minutes instead...
My favorite mommy moment today? Realizing I could take Jenaleigh with me into the bathroom (while she was in her carseat) and dry my hair! The sound of the dryer (as well as the vacuum cleaner, the vent above the stove, and the dryer running) is a "shushing" noise; which, according to Dr. Karp and The Happiest Baby on the Block replicates sounds baby heard in the womb. While I'm diggin' the 5 S's that Karp lays out in the book, I'm a little unsure as to how to apply them to get Jenaleigh to sleep without being held. Which brings me to another thought...
Yes, I used a midwife. Yes, I even had a doula. Yes, I had a natural unmedicated birth. Yes, I'm breastfeeding. No, we do NOT co-sleep. Sometimes I feel like an outsider with all the "natural moms" out there since we aren't sleeping with the little one in our bed. But, for us, we just can't do it. We're not comfortable doing it and therefore aren't candidates for it. Nor are we going to sleep with her in our recliner.
We have a bassinet in our bedroom, which we've abandoned for the crib in the nursery.
She sleeps a little better in the crib. But, one of us is always with her. I take the late night shift, until 4 a.m. and Daniel takes the early morning shift until 9 or 10. After every nursing session, I lay her down in the crib. Sometimes it "sticks" and sometimes it doesn't. If she does sleep, then I sleep in the recliner. (She's already had an hour of slumber in the crib so far tonight.) If she doesn't sleep, then I hold her (which usually induces sleep). I've already been told by a few people that we're spoiling her by holding her while she sleeps. Seriously? Spoiling a two week old baby? Humph. I don't buy that.
So, there are two extremes (for the most part) of sleep advice. Some say "co-sleep" and others say "cry it out". Where's the happy medium? Is there one?
My favorite mommy moment today? Realizing I could take Jenaleigh with me into the bathroom (while she was in her carseat) and dry my hair! The sound of the dryer (as well as the vacuum cleaner, the vent above the stove, and the dryer running) is a "shushing" noise; which, according to Dr. Karp and The Happiest Baby on the Block replicates sounds baby heard in the womb. While I'm diggin' the 5 S's that Karp lays out in the book, I'm a little unsure as to how to apply them to get Jenaleigh to sleep without being held. Which brings me to another thought...
Yes, I used a midwife. Yes, I even had a doula. Yes, I had a natural unmedicated birth. Yes, I'm breastfeeding. No, we do NOT co-sleep. Sometimes I feel like an outsider with all the "natural moms" out there since we aren't sleeping with the little one in our bed. But, for us, we just can't do it. We're not comfortable doing it and therefore aren't candidates for it. Nor are we going to sleep with her in our recliner.
We have a bassinet in our bedroom, which we've abandoned for the crib in the nursery.
She sleeps a little better in the crib. But, one of us is always with her. I take the late night shift, until 4 a.m. and Daniel takes the early morning shift until 9 or 10. After every nursing session, I lay her down in the crib. Sometimes it "sticks" and sometimes it doesn't. If she does sleep, then I sleep in the recliner. (She's already had an hour of slumber in the crib so far tonight.) If she doesn't sleep, then I hold her (which usually induces sleep). I've already been told by a few people that we're spoiling her by holding her while she sleeps. Seriously? Spoiling a two week old baby? Humph. I don't buy that.
So, there are two extremes (for the most part) of sleep advice. Some say "co-sleep" and others say "cry it out". Where's the happy medium? Is there one?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Burritos, Sleep, and Vocabulary | Day 8 of Hospital 'Bedrest'
Yay! Theresa’s my nurse again and we’ve already passed several minutes together chatting. I even got to see pictures of her adorable “little man” (16 month old baby). He’s too cute!
I’m counting down the hours until Daniel gets back from Hardin. When he gets here I’m going to decorate the room (maybe I’ll even post some pics of it!), put on some fresh clothes, and spend some time catching up with him --- oh and I’m going to see if he’ll bring me a burrito from Taco Bell. I’ve SO been craving one for the past few days!
Little girl has been active today! Maybe that means she’ll settle down some when it’s bed time. She has this horrible habit of going bonkers right when I’m ready to slumber. I hope that pattern doesn’t continue after she’s born! Speaking of…
One of the things I’m most nervous about is how I’m going to handle the lack of sleep and middle of the night feedings/changings. I know I CAN do it, but can I do it without being a grouch to everyone around me? Just another thing to add to my prayer list – to keep a cheerful disposition with strength to handle my lack of sleep and changing schedule.
Two more pieces of business before today’s list…
1) Please pray for the Mitchell family of Martin, TN. Ashley Mitchell was one of my best friends in high school and was even a bridesmaid in our wedding. Her Grandmother came to live with her family in 2004 after the passing of Ashley’s Grandfather. I just learned yesterday that her Grandmother passed away. Please pray for this family in their time of sorrow. They are such a loving and caring gang who are members of the Martin congregation.
2) Did you check out ‘The Christian Practice’ yesterday? If not, be sure to head over there to read my account of the helicopter ride and its effects on me: http://thechristianpractice.com/2011/03/30/womens-wednesdaycome-take-a-ride-with-me/
TODAY’S LIST
Are you a 'Know-It-All Mama' or a 'Clueless Chica'?
(I’m going to try to have some sort of list featured on the blog daily. Because, if you know me, you know I LOOOOVE lists!)
One of the fun parts of pregnancy has been learning a ton of new words, some medical some about baby gear. If you’re a mommy, I’m sure you know what these terms mean, but take a look anyway!
Give yourself 1 pt. for each word you know. (Not just a word that you’ve heard, but that you actually know the meaning of!)
1. Meconium
2. Apgar Score
3. Colostrum
4. Effacement
5. Dilation
6. Crowning
7. Engaged/Engagment --- no this is not what happens when he puts a ring on it!
8. Episiotomy
9. Oxytocin
10. VBAC
11. BabyBjorn
12. Bumbo
13. Boppy
14. Diaper Genie
15. Layette
How many did you get? If you aren’t sure if you really know what a word means or not – go Google it now before you count up your score!
1-4 pts. Clueless Chica. You probably haven’t ‘Been There, Done That’ yet if you scored that low!
5-8 pts. Gettin’ There Gal. Pregnancy may have been many moons ago for you or maybe you’re not quite to the parenthood stage in your life yet, but you’ve studies up on some key terms.
9-12 pts. Well-Informed Lady. You’ve got a great working knowledge of pregnancy and baby gear!
13-15 pts. Know-It-All Mama! You’re probably pregnant right now, recently been pregnant, or are just really well informed about all things mommy!
I’m counting down the hours until Daniel gets back from Hardin. When he gets here I’m going to decorate the room (maybe I’ll even post some pics of it!), put on some fresh clothes, and spend some time catching up with him --- oh and I’m going to see if he’ll bring me a burrito from Taco Bell. I’ve SO been craving one for the past few days!
Little girl has been active today! Maybe that means she’ll settle down some when it’s bed time. She has this horrible habit of going bonkers right when I’m ready to slumber. I hope that pattern doesn’t continue after she’s born! Speaking of…
One of the things I’m most nervous about is how I’m going to handle the lack of sleep and middle of the night feedings/changings. I know I CAN do it, but can I do it without being a grouch to everyone around me? Just another thing to add to my prayer list – to keep a cheerful disposition with strength to handle my lack of sleep and changing schedule.
Two more pieces of business before today’s list…
1) Please pray for the Mitchell family of Martin, TN. Ashley Mitchell was one of my best friends in high school and was even a bridesmaid in our wedding. Her Grandmother came to live with her family in 2004 after the passing of Ashley’s Grandfather. I just learned yesterday that her Grandmother passed away. Please pray for this family in their time of sorrow. They are such a loving and caring gang who are members of the Martin congregation.
2) Did you check out ‘The Christian Practice’ yesterday? If not, be sure to head over there to read my account of the helicopter ride and its effects on me: http://thechristianpractice.com/2011/03/30/womens-wednesdaycome-take-a-ride-with-me/
TODAY’S LIST
Are you a 'Know-It-All Mama' or a 'Clueless Chica'?
(I’m going to try to have some sort of list featured on the blog daily. Because, if you know me, you know I LOOOOVE lists!)
One of the fun parts of pregnancy has been learning a ton of new words, some medical some about baby gear. If you’re a mommy, I’m sure you know what these terms mean, but take a look anyway!
Give yourself 1 pt. for each word you know. (Not just a word that you’ve heard, but that you actually know the meaning of!)
1. Meconium
2. Apgar Score
3. Colostrum
4. Effacement
5. Dilation
6. Crowning
7. Engaged/Engagment --- no this is not what happens when he puts a ring on it!
8. Episiotomy
9. Oxytocin
10. VBAC
11. BabyBjorn
12. Bumbo
13. Boppy
14. Diaper Genie
15. Layette
How many did you get? If you aren’t sure if you really know what a word means or not – go Google it now before you count up your score!
1-4 pts. Clueless Chica. You probably haven’t ‘Been There, Done That’ yet if you scored that low!
5-8 pts. Gettin’ There Gal. Pregnancy may have been many moons ago for you or maybe you’re not quite to the parenthood stage in your life yet, but you’ve studies up on some key terms.
9-12 pts. Well-Informed Lady. You’ve got a great working knowledge of pregnancy and baby gear!
13-15 pts. Know-It-All Mama! You’re probably pregnant right now, recently been pregnant, or are just really well informed about all things mommy!
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