Breastfeeding
This has gone much better than I thought it would. She latched on right away and aside from some VERY sore/bleeding nipples that first week, this has been the easiest part. For the first week or two I used the Medela nipple shields and the Hydrogel pads. Both of those were lifesavers!
I started pumping about two weeks ago and I'm finally able to get a few oz out at a time. I am so proud when I fill up those bags. I've attempted to get lil miss to take a bottle in hopes her daddy can help out with feeding when he is home but she just chews on the tip and then shoves it off like I'm trying to poison her. Maybe the hubs will have more success with this, after all, she will only take a paci from him.
Sleeping
We definitely do not have any sort of set schedule. The "90 Minute Sleep Cycle" book has been amazing for us. It doesn't tell me how long she will sleep but I do know that she will sleep exactly 90 mins from when she wakes up, and that is true every. single. time. Sometimes, knowing that is the only thing that keeps me sane when she is screaming and freaking out (80 more mins...50 more mins...). Also, the Happiest Baby on the Block has been very helpful. At first, I wasn't sure if it would work for us because she hated being swaddled, but around week 3 I tried the swaddle again and it worked. When she is really fussy and I run out of all other options, I swaddle her, go in the bathroom and turn on the blow dryer. It always works. In fact, using the 5 S's I can always soothe her. Exhausting? Yes.. but if she is happy I am happy...and I will pat and rub and rock until my arms fall off.
Typically, she wakes up around 5 or 6 am and eats then is cranky. I can hear her tummy rumbling and I do everything I can to help her out (tummy massages, patting, rocking, froggy-style burping, tummy down across my lap burping) but most of the time she is fussy for the next 90 mins until its time to sleep again. Her next nap is around 7-8 am and she usually sleeps until 10 am. After I put her down, I go pump and eat breakfast. She naps pretty good most of the time and her naps usually range between 1.5-2.5 hours each. I do the laundry, watch some tv and research baby stuff.
We basically continue that cycle all day: wake up, diaper change, eat, play (or try to console her), eat again, swaddle, rock in the chair with the Sleep Sheep until she is out again.
The afternoons have been easier and she is usually happy. We go for a walk every day for about 20-30 mins. We just walk around the apartment complex where we live (Im not brave enough to go back to the park just yet) and check the mail. Lately, after our walks she has been sleeping 4.5-5 hours! Yayy!! Unfortunately, she goes to bed around 5:30-6:30 pm and I use some of that time to eat dinner, wash the dishes and tidy up the house. So, I only get to take advantage of 3 of those hours. I usually go to bed around 8 or 9.
It has been very challenging at times but I know that this phase won't last forever. I absolutely love this little girl more than anything! I get so excited when I hear her waking up from a nap and even when she wakes me up at 1 am, I smile when I pick her up. It's the craziest thing!
Milestones
She gave me her first real smile this week. I had just finished feeding her and I leaned in towards her face and gave her a big grin and said "Hi!!", and she smiled back!! It was the most heart-melting beautiful thing I've seen! Of course there was no camera around. I spent the rest of the day trying to get her to do it again but nothing worked. Then yesterday, it happened again. I was talking to her and putting my smiling mug up in her face and she smiled back..a few times! There is nothing more rewarding than your baby's first smile. It says, "I do like you Mom, I know you are trying your best and I love you" :)
She has also been babbling quite a bit. I used to think she had woken up from her nap but I noticed that if I leave her alone, she will blab herself back to sleep. Just like her daddy (he is a notorious sleep-talker). :)
Wow this is a long post already! I know you are probably not interested in all this but I write these mostly for me, just so I can remember.
I decided to do monthly measurements to track any weight loss progress and here are my first month stats:
Left Arm: 11.5"
Right Arm: 11.2"
True Waist: 30.7"
Belly: 35"
Hips: 39.6"
Right Thigh: 23.1"
Left Thigh: 22.8"
Weight: 135.2 (25 lbs down, 20 to go and yes, I bought a scale)
Excercise
I haven't been really exercising other than my walks every day. I am going to wait until after my 6 week checkup just to be safe. I did try my Tracy Anderson Post-Pregnancy Workout dvd and I only made it 9 mins in.
Nutrition
This is probably an area that has changed the most for me since giving birth. Prior to Avelyn, I ate because the food tasted good and I was craving it. Yes, I was hungry, but I also ate because I was bored or just wanted something yummy. Now, I think about the nutrition in everything I eat. I always make sure I'm getting enough healthy fats, carbs and protein. I've been religious with my vitamins as well. Here is a sample of what I usually eat:
Breakfast: Sprouted Cinn Raisin Bread with Almond Butter and Sliced Strawberries on top with an Emergen-C
Lunch: Quinoa & Tofu in Corn Tortillas with Avocado or a Fake Bologna sandwich with Avo and Tomato
Snack: Peanut Butter filled Pretzels or a handful or Walnuts/Almond with some Berries
Dinner: Baked Salmon w/ Quinoa and Avocado or a bowl of whole grain cereal with strawberries
I am 95% vegan..obviously the fish is not..and I think it really helps keep my energy up without sleep. I've noticed my sugar cravings have really diminished. I drink some orange juice or coconut water during the day on top of 3 liters of water. Most importantly, I try not to let myself get hungry. I know I need fuel for breastfeeding and I don't want my milk to dry up. It's hard to find time to cook with a newborn so when I do have time I make a large batch and keep it in the fridge. I've also started taking my prenatals and dha throughout the day instead of all at once at night. I think doing this has helped things stay "regular" and not get plugged up from the iron.
Okay, there is way more info here than anyone wants or needs to know. I have been typing this off and on all day so if it doesn't make sense, oh well.
Here are our pics!
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