Alittle More Breastfeeding

Thanks again to everyone! You are all SO helpful. All of your wonderful comments have continued to bring up new questions for me, if you don't mind reading on....

Many of you responded sharing that you also fed your babies on just one side per feeding. Here's my question then... if you nurse on the 1st breast at one feeding, and roughly 3 hours later you nurse on the opposite breast... then 3 hours later you're back to the first breast. So do you allow your breasts to go a full 6 hours between every feeding without any stimulation? Do you need to pump during that time to maintain your supply or does your body automatically know how much to produce by the boob's next feeding (6 hours). Wouldn't the body start to think that the baby doesn't need much milk because there is no pumping/feeding for a full 6 hours around the clock? I have done that before and my breasts have still been soft when that 6 hour mark comes around. Am I wrong to think that my breast needs to have a FULL feeling in order to fill my baby's belly?  Do I need to pump if she only nurses on one side at each feeding? How many of you have barely touched the pump after your supply was established?

I know I must really sound like I have never breastfed before. This child I am taking a different approach. With Jackson, I pumped before going to bed - in the middle of the night (because he slept thru the night VERY early on) and in the morning. I was able to store four - 5oz. bottles each day (20 oz total). This time around - I am trying to be more regular with breastfeeding and don't want to get that crazy about stashing my freezer. So trying to establish the appropriate amount of milk that my child will take from me - is a new concept.

Now a few of you have advised me to wake her up after 3 hours to feed her, even though she wakes herself up after 4 hours. I understand the reasoning there, but she never ate that close together. Even in the hospital when I tried to wake her - she wouldn't wake up enough to actively nurse. However, when she did wake up - she would be hungry enough to nurse. I have never been fond of waking a sleeping baby if it wasn't necessary. She has surpassed her birth weight by 2 weeks and has about 7-8 stools/wet diapers a day. She literally has a full wet diaper with poo splatters at every diaper change. She also sleeps for one cherished 5 hour stretch at night. Should I really begin to wake her after 3 hours when she has made this progress on her own? My pediatrican didn't bat an eye when I told her Jaelyn goes 4 hours between feedings. But I do value your opinions and views on the matter as I know many of you really know what you're talking about :)

More Breastfeeding and Family Visiting

I HUGE thank you to all you caring ladies out there who left me your comments on my previous post. I really enjoyed reading them all and was also happy (not to hear of your troubles), but to be confirmed that these specific breastfeeding problems are not just my own.

I feel as though if I had waited 3 more days to write that post, it wouldn't have sounded so negative. All of a sudden, my body got in check. As if over night my boobs got on board with what they are suppose to do (supply wise) and I am a MUCH happier mother because of it. I think because I had breastfed Jackson for 10 months, the freshed memories I hold from that whole experience were from the last few months - when I considered myself a "pro". When all I had to do was put Jax up to the breast and he did the rest. I think there is a reason those early memories of struggles and tears were no longer on the surface of my mind... so I could enter motherhood again with an open mind and not have preconceived notions about the difficulties of breastfeeding a newborn.

I appreciate all your support and thank you for reading through my complaints and questions. Since then, I haven't really needed to pump (at least today was the first day I didn't at all) for expression purposes. The initial latch on is still painful and even more so if I am extra full. But I know that will continue to subside. I want to be careful to not let the supply get low (since I haven't pumped). Jaelyn sleeps a lot during the day still and she usually feeds 4 hours apart during the day. In the evening starting around 7pm, she cluster feeds every 1.5 - 2 hours until midnight. During that time she sleeps in 20-30 min spurts and is awake most of the time. Come 12am or 1am, she has her last feeding of the night and sleeps until 5-6am - she will eat again then fall asleep until 9-10am which then starts her every 4 hour feedings for the day. I read in the handout from her 2 week appt, that she should be feeding about 10 mins EACH breast at each feeding - a total of 20 mins. She does NOT eat that long. She's a sleepy baby and usually falls back asleep after about 10 mins TOTAL. Most of the time I only get her to nurse on 1 side. I try to keep her awake, but she falls asleep while I try to burp her (which usually takes a while). But if I don't get a burp out of her, she spits up BADLY within 15 mins. She is an efficient eater though. In that 10 mins on just 1 breast, she normally softens it really well (can't say it's "emptied" though). 

Should I be concerned that she doesn't nurse much longer than 10-15 mins? At her 2 week appt, she had surpassed her birth weight of 6lbs 9oz and weighed in at 7lbs 1oz. That tells me she's doing pretty good. 

At only 2 weeks, is it ok that she only nurses at 1 breast during a feeding? In most cases, I am able to get her latched on the other breast after 10 mins. of nursing the 1st side. But can never get more than 3-5 mins of her sucking. 

Here are some updated photos for your enjoyment :) Or mine 

Jackson loves to rock his baby sister in her chair.

My mom (Deedee to the kids) and Miss. Jaelyn

Uncle Brian and Auntie Emily came for a visit to meet their niece.

  

Uncle Brian showing Jackson his new sketch pad and crayons.

Calling All Expert Breastfeeding Moms!!

Jaelyn will be 2 weeks old on Tuesday of this week. Making the adjustment from one kid from two kids has been quite a trip! I had several concerns about how Jackson would react to having a sibling and how he would react to ME dividing my attention between him and another child. The first jealous reaction Jackson had was actually when we were still in the hospital. However, it wasn't towards me - it was towards my husband. Paul was holding Jaelyn and immediately Jackson perked up and ran to him, "Baby Down, Daddy - Baby Down!" Thankfully that was the last we saw of that. Now, he will ask one of us to put the baby down only if he wants something that requires our assistance. Over all, he is adjusting very well. The first time he saw me nursing Jaelyn, he acted concerned. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at and I explained that Jaelyn gets her milk from mommy, just as Jackson gets his milk from the frig :P He was a little freaked out at the breast pump - but who isn't the first time they see how that works?!? RIGHT?

Nursing has been a difficult task for Jaelyn and I. Jackson and I were slow learners as well, but I don't recall the uncomfortableness lasting this long with him. I guess I wrongly assumed that this time would be easier since I had breastfed one baby already. Sure I knew the positions and how to correctly get her to latch on - but in the end, she's still a different baby and nursing is a learned skill for some. Jaelyn nursed perfectly right after being born. But the next morning was a different story. Because of her jaundice, I attempted to fed her even during her sleepy states just to encourage more poopy/wet diapers. A few things I have learned: 1) Babies in high risk bilirubin levels are even more sleepy than normal newborn babies. 2) Trying to breastfeed a very sleepy baby will tear your nipples apart!!

Needless to say, after 4 days of my good intentions to get more colostrum/milk in her system - my poor boobs were in sad shape. I was prepared for this ahead of time and started wearing nipple shells right away to prevent friction from my bra. That did heal alot! I tried nipple shields and they weren't for me. I was advised to see a lactationist the day after we were released from the hospital. She had concluded that my nipples were so badly damaged that I could no longer tell the difference between a proper and improper latch. From what she saw, Jaelyn was latching on correctly. But I was still in so much pain, didn't help that the swelling made it nearly impossible for her to stay on the breast. The consultant told me to pump and bottlefeed for a few days to allow time for my breasts to heal. So I did that from Friday afternoon to Monday night when I felt I was healed enough to try again. During that time however, I was miserable! I absolutely hated pumping every 3 hours. I was still very swollen so I had to pump each breast one at a time because I needed to do compressions to help express the milk. Come Monday - my body was used to completely emptying my breastmilk every 3 hours. This was a problem because when I started breastfeeding her again - I would be lucky if she was drinking 25%-50% of my supply. Within 30 mins after her feedings, I was painfully full again. This is slowly getting better - but often times I still have to pump out milk either at the end of the feeding (because she didn't take enough to comfortably soften my chest,) or in the beginning of the next feeding to soften it enough to get her latched on. My breasts haven't been completely emptied since those days of pumping and bottlefeeding. So I assumed that my body would get the point by now and stop producing SO MUCH. Maybe all these issues are completely normal and you all are reading this thinking, "Yeah April - THAT's breastfeeding!!" But I just don't remember it being like this with Jackson. I don't recall it taking so long to regulate the appropriate amount of milk to produce.

Am I just extremely impatient?

Do you remember having to express after each feeding (still at 2 weeks) to make yourself comfortable?

Did you ever find yourself pumping off a little before the feedings?

After any initial nipple damage was healed and your baby was latching on appropriately, was the first few mins of nursing still extremely painful? I find that even when I'm not engorged, the first few mins of her proper latch on are painful - like "take my breath away" painful. This does subside and go away after a few mins. My nipples are NOT getting damaged, so I know her latch is correct.

Is your let down painful? I have read that some women don't even know their milk is letting down. I feel my let down all the time, it feels like my boobs are exploding from the inside out! It's even more painful when I am already really FULL -

I am on a prescription for vasospams. Know what that is? Blood constriction of the nipples - the nipples turn white and even blue when the blood can not flow back. Those symptoms of the condition isn't the problem. What's bad is the intense crushing sensation in my nipples. It feels like they are being pinched - OUCH! This comes after each feeding and after I take a shower - any time I feel cold. It's horrible! I dealt with this condition for about 5 weeks with Jackson because I didn't know it wasn't normal. This time I asked for the prescription while still in the hospital. The medicine doesn't stop the constriction or color change, but it does take the pain away... thank goodness something does. When I would breastfeed Jackson at night, I would crawl back into bed with a heating pad on my chest to keep me warm and help the pain.

I am a sad case! I am envious of mother's who are able to easily breastfeed their babies. I am jealous of those babies who just catch on so easily. I wish I was a graceful breastfeeding mom who would confidently nurse my baby whereever I wanted. I still need a third (maybe 4th) arm while I nurse.

I hate that it sounds like I am whining and complaining about these problems. Breastfeeding isn't easy for me!

I would really be encouraged if I could hear your stories. Can you share with me your troubles and how you solved them?

I need to hear that I am not the only mother who has troubles breastfeeding.

Project #8 - Nursing Cover / Nursing in Public

My next project was the nursing cover. I followed this tutorial, very simple instructions by the way, and it turned out great, but this was a whole new concept for me.

With Jackson, I never nursed in public. I was never comfortable breastfeeding where others would see me. A big reason for this was because I never became a "graceful nurser". I always felt clumsy when I "pulled it out" and put him to my breast. Plus, when I was at home with my husband I would never wear anything that would conceal the feeding. So attempting to fumble around beneath a cloth just didn't appeal to me. So, never the less - I would also bring an expressed bottle if we in public, or would excuse myself to an empty room if we were at someone else's house.

I began thinking lately about how it always seemed to take me an hour and half just to get ready to leave the house, no matter where I was going. When Jax was an infant, my preparation for a trip out would begin with breastfeeding him at home, then taking another 30+ mins to hand pump for a full bottle to take along. Then I had to restock the diaper bag with fresh burp cloths, bibs, diapers etc. Then I would change him and finally we would leave the house. So this lead me to think - is it really going to be like that again with our daughter? Only this time - I will have an impatient toddler begging for us to JUST LEAVE ALREADY!

When I wasn't feeding or holding Jackson (infancy again here), it was an opportunity for me to pump and store milk. Whether that milk would be used for a trip out of the house, to be used with cereal/baby food or just stored in the freezer, it didn't matter. I spent way too much time HAND pumping with my son. Remember this photo?

My reasoning behind that was I wanted my milk to carry him along until he could take whole milk. I didn't want to first breastfeed, then convert to formula, and finally transition to whole milk. But I had never breastfed before and I didn't know how long I would handle doing it or how long my supple would last. So I pumped as much as possible while I knew my supply was good and strong.

Well, this time I am armed with a good 10 months of experience. I had conquered the initial 2 weeks of cracked and bleeding nipples, lots of tears from feelings of failed mothering and countless clogged ducts included one bout with mastitis. So this time I know what I am capable of. I was thankful that I had pumped and stored all that milk, but I also realize now that I don't need to be that obsessive about it. With this new baby, I don't want to take EVERY opportunity I have to pump and store - rather I want to take EVERY opportunity I have to play with my son.

And so comes the need for - the nursing cover. I feel as though I will be more comfortable to nurse in public this time around. This way I won't have to spend so much time pumping for a bottle just to leave the house. Don't get me wrong - I will still be pumping and storing, just not to the extent as I did with my son.

Then I took a little bit fo the extra fabric and make a newborn head band.

Project Breastfeeding: COMPLETE

That's Correct! I have stopped breastfeeding just shy of 10 months! This is a big deal to me because it finally concludes a chapter that lasted 10 months. I have had several ups and downs in the breastfeeding department that have contributed to my many post partum complications. I have just published a post containing all my trials and obstacles of post partum. If you are looking for something to read, I invite you to share in the misery :)

I did not post it as a new post because it is extremely graphic and I want to give people the warning choice to venture forth with the truths on their own.

In the past recent months, I struggled with how I would stop nursing Jackson. I didn't want to be the one to stop doing it if I felt he still depended on that closeness and comfort. Rather, I would prefer it to be his choice to move on. I had a difficult time in the beginning of Operation PUJ because he was not taking the bottle nicely. He would just play with the nipple top and not really be interested in what the bottle offered. However, at the same time he wasn't showing greater interest in the breast either. Over the past 4 weeks, I have slowly started to wean the breast as he has taken to the bottle much better now. When he sees it being prepared, all of the sudden that's the only thing that matters to him. Our very last nursing session, he only gave it 5 minutes and he was done. I felt good about that. He wasn't desiring it like he used to. That told me, we were ready to stop.

But what I have recognized lately, is Jackson's extreme attachment to his dad. When he hears Paul's voice when he gets home - jackson speed crawls to the door and almost starts to hyperventilate, desperate for Paul to pick him up. Then, he won't my husband put him down. When I am holding him - he reaches for Paul. This is bittersweet. I have not idea if the weaning has any part in this sudden attachment for his father or not. But it's great to see Paul's face light up when his son wants to be with him so badly. On the other token - it kind of makes me feel like scraps. I don't like the feeling when Jackson reaches for someone else when I am holding him. Rejection from your 10 month old sucks!

All in all, I put in a wonderful effort to my task at hand. I feel accomplished at it and now jackson will be fed all the expressed milk that I had stored from day one. He is going through the supply faster than I thought and it might not take him quite to 1 year - but we'll just start cow's milk a tad early then :)

Even though this counter will forever say 9 months 4 weeks and 1 day, my son will be 10 months in two days and to me - that says 10 months of breastfeeding!

I Am Transformed

My goodness - amazing is the transformation of motherhood. Everyone told me during my pregnancy (and before) that becoming a mother changes your life. Of course, I never denied the fact - but there is absolutely no way to fully understand the magnitude of the metamorphosis that takes place. My mind, my heart and my soul (every fiber of my being) has been lifted to whole new level of emotions. I have always been a compassionate person who was caring and considerate for other people, but how naive was I? Now standing on the opposite side of fence (or should I say baby gate?) - I can definitely say I was very naive!

No one can resist a baby. I don't care if you're the toughest, macho man alive - a gummy grin from any squirmy little baby just warms your heart. Everything from their innocents, to their tiny adorable features, to their complete dependency, make babies irresistible! I knew all this before having one of my own, but something definitely turned on in my soul that very moment I became a mother.

We had moved out of town in January 08. Until September of 08, I spent half of the week at my parent's house so that I could work for 3 days and then I made the 2 hour drive home where I spent the remaining portion of the week. When I became 9 months pregnant, I stopped working and commuting to spent the remainder of my pregnancy getting the house (and myself) ready for baby. I had a lot of time to imagine how my life was going to change. What would it be like to finally have this little baby, who has been making a home inside of me for 9 months, here on the outside - in my arms and in our lives. I was consumed with "Pregnancy" books from conception to 7-8 months. Then I realized I hadn't the slightest clue as to what I was suppose to do when my little man finally arrived. So I took a break from that content and focused on "Baby" books. I had no idea how much/often a baby is suppose to eat, suppose to sleep, suppose to poo/pee... how would I ever design a system that worked? How would I know what my child needed? Well - I read everything out there... and barely remembered any of it when my son was born! Naturally, the last month of my pregnancy was back to focusing on the inevitable - there was only 1 way out of this predicament... how in the world is my body going to DO THAT?

Well - my body DID THAT and thankfully went back to normal after a few too many post partum complications that I wasn't ready for. I actually surprised myself as to how calm I was when I realized - "this is it!". I had just my 39 week OB check up and was starting to contract on the way home. Within a few hours I was back at the hospital, dressed in a gown and hooked up to a couple different IVs. Sparing a bit of unpleasant details that many of us will never forget... my son was born after 40 mins. of pushing. The first wave of reality hit me when my OB placed my son on my abdomen and I felt the weight of his son on top of me. I remember thinking he felt much heavier that I would have anticipated (only weighed 7lbs. 3oz). But when that weight was inside of you, it's completely different. He didn't cry right away so the nurse took him to the "warming station" - as I like to call it - and got him crying in no time. I was jealous because my husband got to watch them clean him off and take his first breath. After a few minutes they brought my son back to me, wrapped in a number of blankets and the tiny pink and blue striped hospital hat. It didn't seem real to me. Everything from that evening had progressed so fast and I couldn't have imagined at 3pm earlier that day that I would have delivered my son later that night. The second wave of reality hit me when I unwrapped his blankets and placed him skin to skin on my chest, he lifted his head up and stared right into my face. I was speechless, breathless and amazed - I can only imagine that these emotions I had welling up inside of me, would be a fraction of what seeing God face to face would feel like. That moment I will never forget. My husband actually captured that moment on film and I will forever have it on my nightstand table. I told my husband - "That was the moment my entire life changed".

From that moment on I was indited into the Hall of Motherhood. And everyday since I have come to experience yet another duty of my motherly role. In the beginning, I was overwhelmed by these new emotions that were flooding my system. I couldn't believe how much I loved this little boy. I was certainly in love when I was pregnant, but that multiplied when I have him in your arms. Naturally, the hormones would bring on a good cry at least every other day. We struggled with breastfeeding for the first week, that was very hard on me. It was something I just didn't think would be so difficult. I was told ahead of time "It's a learned skill and it takes time", well that never sunk in - because it was A LOT more challenging that I anticipated. I remember having a serious melt down after a failed attempt one afternoon and my husband tried to gather the shattered pieces that were left of me after bawling. I simply said "But I just love him so much!" through my snot ridden tears. My son would not stay latched on and I was cracked and bleeding since the first feeding in the hospital. Each attempt was horrendously painful and had a low success rate of completely a feeding which was even more depressing. The next week got better and eventually we got the hang of how it was suppose to work. I would say that was my first challenge as a mother. I refused to give up. I don't have anything against formula feeding, I just knew that breastfeeding was for me - and I wasn't going to doubt my decision. I needed to keep trying for my son. I overcame that obstacle.

My second challenge came when my son was 3 weeks old. I was hosting a holiday at our new house. I truly wanted (and fully intended) on being a good host for both sides of our immediate families. But I didn't realize how much I desperately wanted to be with my son that day as well. It was wonderful that everyone got their chance to hold the baby and socialize. I had intended on making the selected foods and setting the table, getting out the drinks - and didn't do any of it. My mind was so scatter brained because every time I heard my son crying, I would lose track of what I was trying to accomplish. My mother and sister in law took over the dinner prep while I ran between feeding my son and changing diapers - passing him to another family member, picking up after the nephews and being a bit overwhelmed at how loud and chaotic my house was. My parents and in laws tried to tell me this would be difficult as a "mom of only 3 weeks" before the holiday and I wouldn't listen. I wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving in our new home for both of our families, with our new baby. But my biggest challenge was at one point of the night when my son was inconsolable. My mother in law (bless her heart) took my son into his nursery and trying rocking him to sleep (he wasn't able to sleep prior due to the loud atmosphere that he wasn't accustomed to). I knew she wanted to help me because she knew he needed to sleep, but I could hear him crying from the kitchen and it broke my heart. My husband knew something was upsetting me and I starting crying to him saying I just wanted to hold my baby, he needed me. (Or in reality - I need him). I couldn't get him to sleep any better than my mother in law could have, but it made me feel like I was doing my job by rocking him myself.

I have spent that last 7 months watching the gift that God has sent to me and my husband, grow and start to explore. I am a nut with the video camera and digital camera. There isn't one thing I have not documented either on film or on this blog or his many baby books. We have seen my son start to follow objects with his eyes, to making eye contact (oh - how excited we were when he actually "looked" to us). Those first smiles were so amazing and every one that follows is just has precious. He transformed from a tiny, slow moving rooting newborn to an active, attached, happy 7 month old baby. He is sitting up and reaching out. He "talks" all day long and lights up when either my husband or I walk into sight.

I have not just leaped - I have actually catapulted up the ladder of patience and understanding. Prior to having my son, screaming babies at restaurants drove me crazy. Now - I don't even hear it! Seeing a toddler acting out at the grocery store, before I would think "Man, lady - control your kid!" Now I think "Oh, that poor Mom, she must be have a hard day." This new acceptance of tolerance I have now did not develop with time. I just "turn on" the first time I went into public with my son. Like I said, a whole new level of emotions come with motherhood - patience and understanding being right up there with love and tenderness. I have even adopted the "Mommy sway". This is my name for the motion a mother does while holding a child. She simply sways slowly from side to side. I notice I still do this even when I am not holding my son. HA! I can not wait for the day that I hear "Mama". Or for the time when he will again lay his head on my shoulder and fall asleep in my arms. He is too interactively distracted to get sleepy while I hold him. I can not wait to see everything unfold.

I have enjoyed every minute of motherhood. I have taken on the early hardships of breastfeeding and the ability to fall asleep on command due to lack of sleep, with every gummy smile and burst of laughter that are projected from my little baby. I love this little man so much and I can not imagine ever going back to the life I led before his arrival. He has helped direct me back to Christ and I have been transformed! I know God will fulfill my potential as a mother and teach my son the way of Christ. My love for my son is unconditional and never ending - quite like the love that God has for all of us. Only his love surpasses my capabilities.

What 45 min nap?!?

Well, we have been visited by the 45 minute intruder! He comes to wake up my baby during every nap to get him upset so that Jax can not find sleep again :(. He had a wonderful schedule down of a morning nap from 8:30am-11am and an afternoon nap at 1pm that would range from 1-2 hours. Well, like a lot of other 4-5 month olds - he has started waking up after only 45 mins. (Been venting a bit on a Oct. 2008 Babies Message Board) This is when their sleep cycle ends and some have troubles getting themselves back to sleep. We have been weaning Jax from his swaddle, by swaddling him with one arm out. While this works just great at nighttime (still sleeping 7:30pm-7am, yay!), when he wakes after 45 mins from the nap... that free arm becomes his nemesis!! The hand forces itself into jackson's mouth where it demands to be sucked on :) So I have been reswaddling him (both arms in) to see if this will help him back to sleep. Then I fight the battle of whether or not he gets his fingers to his mouth THROUGH the swaddle. Yes, ladies and gentlemen... this has become my daily challenge. Now some of you might have to meet deadlines, see patients, take classes, manage inportant data or maybe even maintain a household of mobile children.... not here! I am going to head to head with the 45 minute intruder and finding out why he is stealing my babies sleep!!

Jackson is still the happiest baby I know, crummy naps and all. He has successfully taken to his Rice Cereal! It only took about 4 days before he figured out how to somewhat swallow the food. He is grabbing for toys and taking them to his mouth (if he can fight is fingers for the space). I believe he may be experiencing some reflux because when he spits up - he arches back and groans. I have him on Zantac and will see if that helps him at all. Hopefully, getting more thicker cereal in his belly with help with the frequency of his spits. Jackson has ZERO interest in sitting up or rolling (he has rolled from tummy to back, but not a frequent episode). All this little guy wants to do is STAND STAND STAND!! He has the strongest little legs and even stands assisted only by the couch... for much longer than he sits being assisted by the couch. lol Jax loves to spend his evenings playing with Daddy before bedtime. They read stories and practice his standing.

Paul was delivered some news at work. His director of the I.T. Dept. has taken a different position at a different company. And so the management has been shifted around a bit, Paul is now reporting to a different manager. He is optomistic of the change.

Jackson is going to Milwaukee to meet the girls at the salon next week. I have been dying to get back there to see all my old co-workers and I really want them to meet my little man. I have decided to take him there during the week. We'll see how that long of drive goes for Jax.

The weather is finally starting to get abit warmer!! If it hits 50 deg, I will take Jackson out for a bundled up walk. I noticed last night there was still some lightness outside at 6pm!! And we haven't even come to Day Light Savings yet! YAY!!!

Jackson and I really had a good time having Paul home for so long. He has had shorter weeks for the last three week due too his oral procedure and the holidays. Paul is doing much better. He has his stitches out finally and can actually eat normal foods again :) He will have a check up with the dentist in the beginning of Febuary and will have more direction on where to go from here.
As for Jax, he is going wonderful! Such a smiley happy baby. We really don't have any problems with him. His fussiness in the evenings has calmed down a little more. Still loves his bathtime and that really helps to sooth him for bedtime. When we read to him, I am amazed at how he really looks at each page of books. Other times he could care less :) He is beginning to fill out his 3 mos. clothing pretty well. I have to order him another swaddle blanket... a size large! My little guy is upwards of 12 - 13 lbs. now.
I am trying to help Jackson establish his morning nap around 9-10am. His nighttime sleep has been shifted a bit (don't know why), but he has a pretty early bedtime set at 7:30-8pm. It is nice to get some time in to ourselves in the evenings... where I still have alittle energy left to tie up loose ends from the day. If Jax stays at a 7:30pm bed time, I need to change my bedtime to about 9:30pm, else I don't get much sleep before he's up again at 2-3am for a feeding.

Paul has been great over this break, he has gotten up to feed Jackson quite a few nights so that my night time activities are cut in half (still have to get up to pump a bottle for the following night).
We have plans the last two weekends of January to stay back home. We have a friend's birthday party to attend, Nathan's baptism and our friend's wedding reception the following weekend. We are very excited to see everyone again. It's been SO long and we are dying for some adult interaction. Our parents will be dying for some baby interaction!
Hope everyone stays safe over this icy week! here comes January!!

Night time schedule.... SET!

I am proud (and relieved) to report that we have a full on nighttime routine in motion for Jackson that gets him set for a full night of restfull sleep. Around 8-8:30pm, (after dealing with 3-4 hours of fussy time) Paul and I give Jax a bath. He really seems to enjoy the bath (not in his little baby tub, but rather with one of us for a real bath). Usually he cries during the drying and lotioning though. We have found that by turning up the heater 1 degree, just enough to kick in the furnace, we can then get him dressed on the floor right by the vent and he stays warm that way. Then, if Jax isn't too fussy he gets a story. This is usually given by Daddy because if Mommy tries at this point... he's just ready for food. Mommy = food on tap :). After he eats, I rock him and sing to him and put him in his crib. He is usually awake for about 15 mins just staring at the revolving light show casted by the Homedic Spa Sound Machine (best gift ever received!! Thanks Mom!!) I usually sneek in the vibrating cartridge from his bouncy seat and together this help him quietly drift to sleep. This is where we are lucky parents... he doesn't scream when we put him down. He's in his crib by 9:30pm ish.

Jackson will sleep straight through until 2-3:30am. He wakes up and I change him and feed him (a pumped bottle because he takes more) and repeat the rock/sing routine before putting him down again. This usually goes really smooth (if he poos his diaper while feeding... you can add a good 30 mins. to sooth him to drowsiness). Jackson will sleep until 7am then (if he ate after 3am)... but this morning it was 8am :). If he gets up around 2am to eat, I can expect him to wake again by 5am or so... in this case he goes back down after this feeding and sleeps again until 9-9:30am.

I finally have a pumping routine down as well. Ideally, I wanted to get 2 expressed bottles a day (one for the nighttime feeding and one to freeze). I am finally able to get that without interferring with any of the nursing during the day. This however does mean that at night when I wake to feed him, I also spend the time to pump. I am usually up for 2 hours at night because I have a hard time falling back asleep. (Not complaining! Most mothers are not so fortuante to be getting this much sleep at 7 weeks... I am grateful and not at all taking it for granted!)

He is smiling more and more everyday. It is so fun to see him interacting back with us. I can't wait until he hold his arms out for me and is able to kiss me back. What a little peanut! Paul and I were watching the disc from our video recorder that was started in mid November. We couldn't believe just how much he has changed in only a few weeks. He used to be all eyes with a thin face. That face is now rounded out and his eyes don't stand out quite as much. You don't take to heart the statement that everyone throws at you "This time doesn't last long, enjoy it while you can!", until you actually SEE the change for yourself. I love being a Mom :)

Santa Baby

Our poor little guy has some serious baby acne. It looks like a rash and I would imagine it would be irritating to him. Hope it goes away soon. When he spits up... that seems to irritate the acne further.

Each day is different with Jax. During the week, we've fallen into a routine of feeding, some awake time, then sleep. After some feedings though, he will fall right to sleep. In the evenings he gets pretty fussy, as to be expected. Unfortuantely, that's when Paul sees him. During the night, it's give and take. One feeding he'll go 4 hours between, and the other usually 2-3 hours. I can't complain about that, it's better than most people have it. I'm told that the night time sleep will start to increase more by 6-8 weeks. But being a breastfed baby it's uncertain when he'll be able to sleep longer.

I have a 6 week check up next week with my doctor. Can't believe Jackson is almost 6 weeks! I plan to begin working out again at that point. Provided that my stitches are completely dissolved and if I have enough energy in the early evening to go to the YMCA.

Paul and I struggled to get a few early christmas photos of Jackson in his outfit. He wasn't too happy with us :) But when you snap 50 pictures in about 5 mintues, you're bound to get a few good ones.

Good News!

Jackson had his 2/3 week check up today. He did really well, wake and alert but not fussy at all. Of course I asked the doctor a numerous amount of questions... what first time mother doesn't have a long list?

I can start to introduce a pumped bottle as soon as I feel ready, which will allow Paul to have more time with Jax. Also, I can let him sleep as long as he'd like during the night without having to wake him for feedings.

Here's the update:

Birth weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz.

3 Weeks weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. 27% percentile

Birth height: 19 inches

3 Weeks height: 22 inches 86% percentile

Even though his weight is low in the range of over 2-3 week olds, his height is strong and that is what makes Jax look like a skinny baby.

My ultrasound went well today. Although it was still completely uncomfortable, I can finally say that the majority of the concern is gone and I do not need a D&C. Thanks Goodness that the meds did their job.

Paul and I have begun to fall into a routine for the evening/nighttime. Ultimately, the time schedule is up to Jackson. After the early evening feeding, I go to sleep and Paul stays up with Jax. Then around 10:30pm-midnight, I feed Jackson again and Paul goes to sleep for the night. I then take the remaining the feedings of the night (usually around 1-2am and then again 4-5am) Although each night is different. I am just relieved to allow Jax to sleep as long as he can without feeling like he should eat. I don't think it'll take him too long before he has designed a feeding schedule of his own.

A photo of Christy, Bernard and the boys when they came for a visit early last week.

Our First Really Good Night

We went outside for a short walk today. November 3rd and the temperature was high 60s. It was great getting some fresh air. Mom and baby need that!

I was amazed at how well last night went. It was the second night we put Jackson in his crib in his own room. It was really hard the first night. If you've been to our house, you'll know that our rooms are on the opposite sides of the house. The idea of putting him in his own room so soon made me cry. I am very thankful for the video screen baby monitor we received from the baby shower, because it's made the transition alittle more bareable for me. I sleep on my side and can see Jax on the LCD screen on my nightstand.

Needless to say, he seems to like his crib. My mom gave us a music machine that not only plays music but nature sounds as well. Plus, it has a bonus feature of projecting moving animals on the wall that Jax is mesmerized by. I am usually up for an hour with him at night, feeding and changing his diaper and swaddling him. Last night, I fed him at 11:30pm, he slept for 3 hours. I fed him at 3:30am, he slept another 3 hours and I fed him again at 7:30am. While I certainly don't feel caught up on sleep, it does help a lot! We're hoping this isn't just a fluke and he'll start to settle into this routine (but it's still early, I know).

Jackson is a wonderful baby! He only seems to cry when he needs a diaper change or is hungry. Usually at night if it takes him a while to fall asleep, he's content with staring at the pictures on the wall... but doesn't fuss much. He has showed NO signs of colic and is overall a very content baby. Thank Goodness! He does seem to sleep A LOT!! He isn't awake much during the day. Just wakes to be fed and falls asleep eating :).

We are extremely lucky to have a baby like Jackson

Our Little Man

Jackson is 1 week old today! It sure has been an interesting one. Sometimes, we have absolutely no idea what we're doing :)

Jax sleeps A LOT during the day. My goal is to at least keep him awake in between two feedings. He falls asleep while eating within about 10 mins. So that can be trying, keeping him alert enough to eat. Nursing has been enough of a challenge for me, I wish he'd stay awake. We are convinced that all during utero Jackson had his hands up to his face. We have an ultrasound photo to prove it, but now we're sure of it. Anytime we don't have him swaddled, his hands are up at his face. This too can make nursing hard because I only have two hands, one for supporting him, one to hold my breast and none to hold his hands away from his mouth.

He seems pretty difficult to get to sleep after feedings at night though. Of course, the little man needs a diaper change after feeding and that always wakes him up. The wipe warmer helps with that, but at this point we still have to use vasiline on his circumsicion, so we're just not fast enough. Yet during the day, his out like a light... :)

Paul is going back to work today. He has been amazing with Jackson. He's making out to be a wonderful, involved and willing father. It has been so great having him home with us. Not only to bond with the baby as much as possible, but also because I've needed extra help due to my tough recovery. Paul has been doing "tummy time" with Jax to help strengthen his neck muscles. Of course, the baby doesn't like it much because it's got to be uncomfortable. But he has made us proud in his effort even though it's upsetting to watch him struggle.

Today will be my first day alone with the baby. My mother will be coming later on this evening to stay through the weekend. I am sure I'll do fine :). I have been getting around alittle easier lately and hopefully the road to recovery will get better and better. It's just so nice being able to call on Paul to get me something when I'm planted on the couch... on my donut of course :)