Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Here's why...
As most of you know my little one was born 1 month ago today! Wow time flies!! She was born on a Friday. On the following Tuesday we went to the pediatrician to make sure she was still doing well -- she had started to become a little jaundice in the hospital. Well, she was still jaundice and had lost close to a pound. She was born at a whopping 8 lbs 11 oz. and by Monday was only 7 lbs 15 oz. She can lose up to 10% of her birth weight and doctors won't bat an eye... but since she was jaundiced the doc had us come back in a week to see how things were going.
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In that week, I nursed her like crazy and my hubby let her suntan a little...
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... and it was back to the dr. in another week to check on weight gain and her jaundice. At that appointment she was 2 weeks old (and should have regained her birth weight so that she would have been at least 8 lbs. 11oz.) Well, at her "weigh in" she was only 8 lbs. 5 oz.. The dr. was not happy and really, honestly, neither was I. She wasn't getting enough to eat. Thankfully the jaundice was just about gone... so that was good news!!
The pediatrician said to start supplementing every 2-3 feedings just to "top her off." As a mommy who wants to exclusively breastfeed, this was heart breaking! I cried, I was upset. Not only was my little one not gaining the weight she should... but I felt like it was MY FAULT! I wasn't depressed, just sad. So, we started supplementing when we could with soy formula (can't use the regular stuff because of my 3 year old's milk allergy).
This last Wednesday (almost a week ago) we headed back to the dr. again. I told my little one to "think heavy thoughts" as I took her out of her carrier and placed her on the scale at the doctors office. She was up to 8 lbs. 15 oz.. In ONE WEEK she had gained 10 ounces!!! FINALLY, I figured out how to help her get enough to eat.
It has been stressful. I have had to wake her up every 3 hours at night to eat. Needless to say, I feel like a walking zombie!!
Last night I decided since she has been gaining weight that I would just let her sleep and wake up when she's hungry. She let me sleep 3 hours the first time and 4 hours after that.
She is so precious, and I just can't seem to get enough cuddle time with her!!
I have a curtain tutorial in the works -- pictures taken, just need to write it up -- and a sewing tip on how to sew a french hem -- also just need to write it up. Hopefully now that my little one is eating better I will start having more time to sit at both my computer and my sewing machine! Here's hoping!! ♥
Get some rest, take care of yourself and your baby. I remember going through the same thing with my son. I had to also supplement but only for a few weeks. Than I exclusively breastfed and he was fine. Take care. :)
ReplyDeleteThose first few weeks after baby is born can be very frustrating and emotionally and physically overwhelming. But the thing is, even though you have to supplement, as soon as she starts to gain wait, you can back out of that slowly and continue to exclusively nurse. So just hang in there. Sometimes things just aren't the way we pictured them to be.
ReplyDeleteTake your time and cuddle,cuddle,cuddle! You have done really well, I recognise parts of your story, know how hard it is emotionally. Hug,Bronwyn
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