Our precious Wyatt is one month old! Gosh, it is hard to keep up on blogging, but I am going to try.
It is hard to believe that one month ago I was hoping our little boy would come early and then in the middle of the night...my water broke. Exactly 24 hours later Wyatt entered this world. [the labor story is another blog post] But, I will say that it was an unbelievable one. I had the best team ever. [Andrew and Sarah Swanson-Dexel, our doula] I remember when they put him on my chest and being overwhelmed with joy and how surreal it all was. This was our baby boy...our baby! I remember thinking how glad I was that it was over and just couldn't help but stare at our baby. I was in love.
The first two weeks were a little crazy. We were so excited to bring him home with us and get to know our little one. We took him into the pediatrician a few days later only to find out that his weight had dropped a little more than they had hoped. We went through the weekend hoping it would go back up, but it didn't. We brought him back in the beginning of the next week and his weight had gone down more. Of course I get all emotional because who wants to do supplemental feeding!?! I had no idea if my milk had come in or what it was suppose to feel like, so I really didn't know how much he was getting from me. I had a low milk supply AND he was dehydrated because he wasn't getting enough wet diapers. At the pediatricians we weighed him before I fed him and after to see how much he gained. He gained 2oz, which the nurse said was great! They suggested I supplement with formula just until his weight came back up. So, I had begun the process...breastfeed.formula.pump.cry.sleep.breastfeed.formula.pump.cry.sleep...and we are still doing this. (I make it sound bad, but we are getting the hang of it) It has definitely been a journey with feeding issues, but I would love to be able to breastfeed. Supplementing has definitely been hard on my mothering ego, but it is the best for Wyatt! Along with pumping to stimulate my milk supply, I am taking Fenugreek. It is an herb supplement known to help increase your milk supply. The way you can tell if you are taking enough, is if you smell like maple syrup. Boy, I sure do! Since, that wasn't working well enough, I went to the last resort - taking a drug called Domperidone. It isn't guaranteed, but is suppose to help with your milk supply too. I have been on it for about a week and haven't noticed too much of a difference yet. Hopefully soon...
I went to a breastfeeding support group this last week and really enjoyed it. It is great to hear other women's stories and issues and to know that I am not alone. I have met with the lactation consultant already and she was very helpful, so it's great that she is the one leading the group. I think I will enjoy this and look forward to it every week. It is also great that they have a scale for me to weigh Wyatt.
Oh, also on day 19 we had him circumcised and he they said he did great. Andrew wanted to go in, but the pediatrician suggested that we wait in the waiting room. If we are tense, the babies can sense it and it makes it harder. What a champ! It was so weird to change his diaper after. They do it this new way with this plastic piece that ends up falling off. Pretty crazy!
Wyatt sleeps pretty good for the most part. He is now sleeping about 4-5 hour chunks. He loves his white noise. He is pretty good with putting himself to sleep too. We will usually put him down after a night feeding and he is still awake, but with the vibration and the white noise, he goes fast asleep! :)
Andrew and I are so surprised at how "grown-up" he looks. Even his first day of life, he didn't seem like an "alien" baby. He is getting close to being out of newborn clothes. He seems so long too! I think he has really long limbs. I feel like most babies keep them tucked in for so long and he is just all about his arms! He is also trying to hold his head up too. He has strong muscles. We have just started tummy time and he hasn't lifted his head up yet, but he will push his legs and feet around. He loves to be moving: swayed back and forth, walking, the moby, and the ergo. He will occasionally take his pacifier. We love the soothies! In fact, we lost the two that we had so I had to go buy more. He has major bobble head when latching on or getting the bottle..it is quite funny! When I go into camp, I put him in the moby (which I LOVE) and will only let his feet hang out. That way staff and campers can only touch his feet. I usually just say he is sleeping if they ask if they can see him.
I love him so much. I could kiss him all day. It has been a little hard with the feeding issues. In the beginning I was feeling like a failure and that I couldn't even enjoy my own baby because of everything I had to do. I always want to make time for him and love on him in every way possible. I love his cooing he does when he is content. I love how he stretches and arches his back. (I think I do that too) I absolutely adore how he puts his hands close to his face, especially when he is eating. I love putting him in bed with us in the morning and having family cuddle sessions. THE BEST!
I remember people saying that they don't remember their lives before having kids and thinking that is crazy. Well, I am one of them! We are so in love with our baby boy.
This song we heard right when we left the hospital and is absolutely amazing! God makes absolutely beautiful things out of dust! It was perfect! Listen to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7VOKQ0xJY (Beautiful Things by Gungor)
One week:
Two week:
Family visiting:
Three week:?? (Not sure what happened this week)
One Month:
