We've reached week 10:
Following on from my last post we've had a few changes and a few dramas in our usual routine. Lincoln had his 8 week injections which was awful to sit through as many of you momma's out there will know, the nurse told me to expect him to be 'a bit grumpy' afterwards and to give him calpol to reduce any fever risk. A bit Grumpy...A BIT GRUMPY!!
He was a different child! from 7pm that night he screamed the place down and refused to feed, as the night went on Jones and I sat up with him taking turns to hold Lincoln upright on our chests, the only position he was happy in. He still refused to feed throughout the night so I lay awake cradling him not daring to hardly move because everytime Lincoln woke or stirred it would set off the shrieking again. We had no smiles, no happy gurgling, it was the hardest night we've ever had as parents. Our poor boy suffering for a solid 24hours but I kept repeating to him 'we don't want you to get polio' while he cried at me accusingly. Those jabs are so important, in this day and age we are blessed to have advanced medicine and vaccinations that save so many countless lives. It was hard to watch my boy unhappy, it put me in panic mode that he wouldn't feed all night, but it's for the best. Next set of injections booked, i'll have the caffeine and the chocolates ready - for me! and some frozen breast milk lolly for Lincoln :-)
Moving on from that, I don't get a lie in anymore, in the mornings 7am hits and Lincoln is wide awake and ready for the world! So now we have a morning playtime in bed before getting up. On the plus side, I don't mind this too much because he's very nearly sleeping through the . His two nightly feeds have gone to one only and he settles immediately back down after being on the boob. Several people have commented to me that I look ' well-rested' for a new mom...HA! I am well rested! I am getting plenty of sleep and its at night time! not to brag or anything, but I know I am lucky with the nightly routine and breast feeding has definitely contributed to that.
Hashtag... Breast is Best!
Friday, 22 June 2018
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Last few weeks update
Ompf! It's been a busy. Over the last several weeks I feel that we've really settled into our new lives. I have my energy back, the stitches have healed, the flow of visitors has calmed down and receded now,I've gotten better used to Lincolns cues and needs and I've worked out something of a routine.
Every morning at 6am Lincoln wakes me up with a very heavy nappy, I change him and then take him back to my own bed for the first morning feed. Usually we fall back to sleep having a cuddle and if Jones is on a late shift he's home for the morning too so we'll have a little lie in together for another hour or so, me catching up on sleep after the two wake ups during the night. Then it's time to start my day. After dressing Lincoln in fresh clothes I take him downstairs where he snoozes in his moses basket or sits in his bouncer for an hour while I have breakfast and get myself ready. I throw a load of washing in, give the kitchen a once over, if Jones is home I'll make him breakfast. Then it's another feed for Lincoln before me and him leave the house and Daddy goes to work.
I don't drive yet, simply because of a lack of funds and higher priorities, but this has never held me back, as long as there's a bus route or I can walk I easily get out and about. Twice a week we visit family, a walk to my parents house, sometimes a walk to the park with Stacey and her kids, or a drive to the shopping mall with one of my other Sil, (sister in law). Sometimes just popping here and there for a cuppa. If I need any groceries, I'll walk to one of the local towns. I like the exercise of walking a lot and being in the pram settles Lincoln.
Lincoln will have around 3-4 feeds and corresponding changes while we're out depending on how long this is for, then we'll head home in time for another feed/change. If Lincolns asleep when we come through the door I'll take advantage and have another quick shower before prepping dinner and tidying the house. Then it's playtime, Lincoln goes on his play-mat and we do Tummy time, sing nursery rhymes, and I read Lincoln a few pages of a book, currently Harry Potter.
If Jones is on a late shift, I eat dinner alone, do another feed, then if he's grouchy I'll take Lincoln out for an early evening walk around the block. I'll give Lincoln a bath late afternoon/evening, and a baby massage that helps with his colic/wind. Another feed and cuddle while I towel dry and brush his hair, A nice fresh sleepsuit and then between 10pm-12 I usually get a few precious adult hours while Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to me. I watch some pre-recorded cooking shows, maybe an episode of Poirot, or Miss Marple. I knit a bit, look up recipes and generally just chill a little before Jones comes home.
Daddy then plays with Lincoln before he has his midnight feed and I immediately hand him back to Daddy after he's finished, because this is their time together, he has a cuddle while Lincoln sleeps on him, giving me hands free and a good relax as we exchange details about our day. If Jones is on an early shift he's home by five so we get to eat dinner together and either catch up on our shows or watch a movie with Daddy holding Lincoln or if we're lucky Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to the sofa while we have a 'couples' cuddle - we have to make the most of these now days :-) :-) haha!
On Jones days off we've managed to fluke some glorious summer time weather and taken Lincoln out for family days. So far we've had a BBQ, two picnics, a day in Stratford upon Avon accompanied by a stroll along the riverside, a day in Cannon Hill park, an afternoon de-weeding the garden, and a pub meal and walk around Bridgenorth. If its raining our days are more boring huddled indoors but we've definitely found a balance between what our lives used to be and what our roles now are as parents.
Its not all sunshine and daisies. Sometimes I feel frustrated especially if its raining all day and I can't get out of the house much. I often feel like I'm just constantly feeding, Lincoln likes short, frequent feeds on the boob and its tiring, the hormones released while breastfeeding are known as relaxants and it makes me sleepy, occasionally if we've not been able to get out for the day we'll both have a mid-afternoon nap! But I always remind myself how much easier it is to feed him on demand from breast rather than a bottle and its so much better for him in this early stage.
I'm happy that we've found ourselves a daily routine, and simple though it is, in time, the more settled Lincoln becomes the more I'll be able to do. At the moment I'm still not bothering with makeup on a daily basis, or any overly complicated hairstyles, but give it time. And then I hope to incorporate some fitness routines into my days. I'm just happy enjoying these first months of being a new mom and getting to know my baby, bonding with him every day.
6 weeks into Mom-life and loving every day no matter what.
Every morning at 6am Lincoln wakes me up with a very heavy nappy, I change him and then take him back to my own bed for the first morning feed. Usually we fall back to sleep having a cuddle and if Jones is on a late shift he's home for the morning too so we'll have a little lie in together for another hour or so, me catching up on sleep after the two wake ups during the night. Then it's time to start my day. After dressing Lincoln in fresh clothes I take him downstairs where he snoozes in his moses basket or sits in his bouncer for an hour while I have breakfast and get myself ready. I throw a load of washing in, give the kitchen a once over, if Jones is home I'll make him breakfast. Then it's another feed for Lincoln before me and him leave the house and Daddy goes to work.
I don't drive yet, simply because of a lack of funds and higher priorities, but this has never held me back, as long as there's a bus route or I can walk I easily get out and about. Twice a week we visit family, a walk to my parents house, sometimes a walk to the park with Stacey and her kids, or a drive to the shopping mall with one of my other Sil, (sister in law). Sometimes just popping here and there for a cuppa. If I need any groceries, I'll walk to one of the local towns. I like the exercise of walking a lot and being in the pram settles Lincoln.
Lincoln will have around 3-4 feeds and corresponding changes while we're out depending on how long this is for, then we'll head home in time for another feed/change. If Lincolns asleep when we come through the door I'll take advantage and have another quick shower before prepping dinner and tidying the house. Then it's playtime, Lincoln goes on his play-mat and we do Tummy time, sing nursery rhymes, and I read Lincoln a few pages of a book, currently Harry Potter.
If Jones is on a late shift, I eat dinner alone, do another feed, then if he's grouchy I'll take Lincoln out for an early evening walk around the block. I'll give Lincoln a bath late afternoon/evening, and a baby massage that helps with his colic/wind. Another feed and cuddle while I towel dry and brush his hair, A nice fresh sleepsuit and then between 10pm-12 I usually get a few precious adult hours while Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to me. I watch some pre-recorded cooking shows, maybe an episode of Poirot, or Miss Marple. I knit a bit, look up recipes and generally just chill a little before Jones comes home.
Daddy then plays with Lincoln before he has his midnight feed and I immediately hand him back to Daddy after he's finished, because this is their time together, he has a cuddle while Lincoln sleeps on him, giving me hands free and a good relax as we exchange details about our day. If Jones is on an early shift he's home by five so we get to eat dinner together and either catch up on our shows or watch a movie with Daddy holding Lincoln or if we're lucky Lincoln naps in his moses basket next to the sofa while we have a 'couples' cuddle - we have to make the most of these now days :-) :-) haha!
On Jones days off we've managed to fluke some glorious summer time weather and taken Lincoln out for family days. So far we've had a BBQ, two picnics, a day in Stratford upon Avon accompanied by a stroll along the riverside, a day in Cannon Hill park, an afternoon de-weeding the garden, and a pub meal and walk around Bridgenorth. If its raining our days are more boring huddled indoors but we've definitely found a balance between what our lives used to be and what our roles now are as parents.
Its not all sunshine and daisies. Sometimes I feel frustrated especially if its raining all day and I can't get out of the house much. I often feel like I'm just constantly feeding, Lincoln likes short, frequent feeds on the boob and its tiring, the hormones released while breastfeeding are known as relaxants and it makes me sleepy, occasionally if we've not been able to get out for the day we'll both have a mid-afternoon nap! But I always remind myself how much easier it is to feed him on demand from breast rather than a bottle and its so much better for him in this early stage.
I'm happy that we've found ourselves a daily routine, and simple though it is, in time, the more settled Lincoln becomes the more I'll be able to do. At the moment I'm still not bothering with makeup on a daily basis, or any overly complicated hairstyles, but give it time. And then I hope to incorporate some fitness routines into my days. I'm just happy enjoying these first months of being a new mom and getting to know my baby, bonding with him every day.
6 weeks into Mom-life and loving every day no matter what.
Tuesday, 8 May 2018
Baby Health Clinic
Today we walked down to the Baby Health Clinic for a weigh-in.
Nothing makes me more proud than people stopping in the street to look in the pram at my baby and exclaiming how gorgeous he is and what lovely hair and face he has.
My gorgeous boy is now 10lbs,13oz ! He's putting on weight really well, I'm so pleased especially after my concerns about him spitting up milk.
I asked about the reflux symptoms and the health advisor confirmed everything I said suggests Lincolns suffering from colic and that even in breast fed babies, its common. She recommended using the colic drops regularly and assured me there's nothing wrong with giving him this every other feed and not just when he's kicking off. I had explained its only really an issue on the evening, and she thinks this is because leaving it until he's really upset means the acid has built up all day and peaking at its worse in the evening. So today I've given him some of this DENTINOX before a feed but he clearly hates the taste and screams when I am giving it to him. 2.5ml looks like a lot when your baby doesn't like it. I cant say I blame him, obviously I was never giving my child something I hadn't tried myself, so I tasted it first and it was disgusting- sort of Minty, but strong and bitter. I slowly pump tiny bits into his mouth coaxing him to swallow it as best I can. Half way through I offered him the boob to calm him down and then afterwards when I tried to give him the rest of the drops he wouldn't have any of it and kept his lips clamped shut. I wont force the syringe into his mouth so I settled with giving him as much as I could and then let him be. Its been a few hours since and he's been much better settled this evening, he was happy enough when feeding and has been sleeping nicely in the Moses basket next to me as I sit on the sofa.
In a few days he will be four weeks old and that's considered old enough to have gripe water, I've got to try it myself first but I'm hoping it will taste better and be as successful in relieving the acid as the Dentinox has been. Time will tell.
Nothing makes me more proud than people stopping in the street to look in the pram at my baby and exclaiming how gorgeous he is and what lovely hair and face he has.
My gorgeous boy is now 10lbs,13oz ! He's putting on weight really well, I'm so pleased especially after my concerns about him spitting up milk.
I asked about the reflux symptoms and the health advisor confirmed everything I said suggests Lincolns suffering from colic and that even in breast fed babies, its common. She recommended using the colic drops regularly and assured me there's nothing wrong with giving him this every other feed and not just when he's kicking off. I had explained its only really an issue on the evening, and she thinks this is because leaving it until he's really upset means the acid has built up all day and peaking at its worse in the evening. So today I've given him some of this DENTINOX before a feed but he clearly hates the taste and screams when I am giving it to him. 2.5ml looks like a lot when your baby doesn't like it. I cant say I blame him, obviously I was never giving my child something I hadn't tried myself, so I tasted it first and it was disgusting- sort of Minty, but strong and bitter. I slowly pump tiny bits into his mouth coaxing him to swallow it as best I can. Half way through I offered him the boob to calm him down and then afterwards when I tried to give him the rest of the drops he wouldn't have any of it and kept his lips clamped shut. I wont force the syringe into his mouth so I settled with giving him as much as I could and then let him be. Its been a few hours since and he's been much better settled this evening, he was happy enough when feeding and has been sleeping nicely in the Moses basket next to me as I sit on the sofa.
In a few days he will be four weeks old and that's considered old enough to have gripe water, I've got to try it myself first but I'm hoping it will taste better and be as successful in relieving the acid as the Dentinox has been. Time will tell.
Colic?
The last few days Lincoln's been extremely uncomfortable after feeds, spitting up his milk, scrunching his face, crying until he's red and drawing his legs up, tensing his body. I've found a few times holding him high up on my shoulder has helped a little to settle him but its not a feasible method to use continuously. Friends have advised it sounds like he's suffering from acid reflux.
I'm surprised because its less common for breast-fed babies to have this problem, and we've tried burping him after feeds to help but whether or not he does burp it's not made much difference. I absolutely hate seeing Lincoln screaming in discomfort, I know how awful heartburn feels from being pregnant with him and it's not fair that such a small little human should suffer from that pain.
I've bought some infant colic drops, DENTINOX, which are suitable to give from birth but I've not been 100% sure on giving them to him. Natural methods like burping, massage and rocking haven't been helping at all and I'm worried about it getting worse because its putting him off his feeds, making latching him on harder.
I'm concerned he will lose weight if he keeps spitting up milk, even though the internet says baby spit-up looks more than it actually is, I can't help thinking it still seems a lot when his tummy is so small. Hopefully it wont last, they say it would be much worse if he was bottle feeding, so I've definitely found a renewed dedication to breast feeding. Even at times when I'm irritable and feeling a bit like he's never off my boob, I know I'm doing the best thing for him and it makes me happy to know I have it in me to not give it up.
I'm surprised because its less common for breast-fed babies to have this problem, and we've tried burping him after feeds to help but whether or not he does burp it's not made much difference. I absolutely hate seeing Lincoln screaming in discomfort, I know how awful heartburn feels from being pregnant with him and it's not fair that such a small little human should suffer from that pain.
I've bought some infant colic drops, DENTINOX, which are suitable to give from birth but I've not been 100% sure on giving them to him. Natural methods like burping, massage and rocking haven't been helping at all and I'm worried about it getting worse because its putting him off his feeds, making latching him on harder.
I'm concerned he will lose weight if he keeps spitting up milk, even though the internet says baby spit-up looks more than it actually is, I can't help thinking it still seems a lot when his tummy is so small. Hopefully it wont last, they say it would be much worse if he was bottle feeding, so I've definitely found a renewed dedication to breast feeding. Even at times when I'm irritable and feeling a bit like he's never off my boob, I know I'm doing the best thing for him and it makes me happy to know I have it in me to not give it up.
Sunday, 6 May 2018
asda cafe
Walked to asda today, after getting around the supermarket with relative ease, Lincoln woke up ready for a feed. So I headed into the 'cafe' as it's marked. Was nice to see that it was empty, turns out there was a reason for this.
After calling over the counter to the backroom for some service, I placed my order of a cappuccino and a hot chocolate for me and my mother. This is all so I could sit in their 'cafe' and feed my baby in some modicum of comfort and privacy. I was handed two empty mugs and at first assumed the cashier was barmy. Turns out the 'cafe' asda offers its customers is a do-it-yourself line up. I was directed to a coffee machine and I actually exclaimed in the cashiers face
"I've got to make my own drinks! Are you joking?"
She was taken a back by my frankness, but not as taken a back as I was by the price. £4.00 to use a naff coffee machine my sodding self!
I could have bought a box of teabags from the aisle ten steps away and used the hot tap for less!
Never the less I pressed the buttons which I am not being paid to press, while the woman who was being paid for this service returned to the back where she no doubt was enjoying a better hot beverage than what I ended up with. The most disgusting hot chocolate I'd ever been served, oh no sorry, I wasn't served this was I, the most disgusting hot chocolate I'd ever been FORCED to make myself!
Undrinkable!
So I feed my baby, who promptly spits it all back up over the sofa and my skirt! and I say to him "I've just forked out £4.00 so you could have that feed!" He's not bothered, looks like he's not happy with his drink either.
I manage to change him afterwards but obviously I didn't think to pack myself a change of clothes! so walked home with a massive patch of regurgitated milk down my leg - Oh the joys! and poor Lincoln cried for most of the journey home, I tried to soothe him while he was in his pram but he was having none of it, and the half hour walk back didn't allow for a bench to sit and hold him. Why aren't there more benches around!?
We need more outdoor seating in this city!
So that was one of our daily outings, lesson of the day: Don't go in the asda café, sit in the baby changing room instead. The discomfort of a hard wooden stool is better than an overpriced mug of drainwater.
After calling over the counter to the backroom for some service, I placed my order of a cappuccino and a hot chocolate for me and my mother. This is all so I could sit in their 'cafe' and feed my baby in some modicum of comfort and privacy. I was handed two empty mugs and at first assumed the cashier was barmy. Turns out the 'cafe' asda offers its customers is a do-it-yourself line up. I was directed to a coffee machine and I actually exclaimed in the cashiers face
"I've got to make my own drinks! Are you joking?"
She was taken a back by my frankness, but not as taken a back as I was by the price. £4.00 to use a naff coffee machine my sodding self!
I could have bought a box of teabags from the aisle ten steps away and used the hot tap for less!
Never the less I pressed the buttons which I am not being paid to press, while the woman who was being paid for this service returned to the back where she no doubt was enjoying a better hot beverage than what I ended up with. The most disgusting hot chocolate I'd ever been served, oh no sorry, I wasn't served this was I, the most disgusting hot chocolate I'd ever been FORCED to make myself!
Undrinkable!
So I feed my baby, who promptly spits it all back up over the sofa and my skirt! and I say to him "I've just forked out £4.00 so you could have that feed!" He's not bothered, looks like he's not happy with his drink either.
I manage to change him afterwards but obviously I didn't think to pack myself a change of clothes! so walked home with a massive patch of regurgitated milk down my leg - Oh the joys! and poor Lincoln cried for most of the journey home, I tried to soothe him while he was in his pram but he was having none of it, and the half hour walk back didn't allow for a bench to sit and hold him. Why aren't there more benches around!?
We need more outdoor seating in this city!
So that was one of our daily outings, lesson of the day: Don't go in the asda café, sit in the baby changing room instead. The discomfort of a hard wooden stool is better than an overpriced mug of drainwater.
Weight gain
For the last three weeks the only weight I have been concerned with is that of my son, weekly weigh-ins with the midwife has shown his 9.3lbs at birth is now 10.2lbs and gaining. I am so pleased that my breast milk is doing a good job of satisfying his hunger needs.
So now I've decided to take the plunge and look at my own weight, I need a rough idea of how much work is a head of me to get my body back in shape. I wanted to wait a few weeks until the swelling of water went down and finally my legs, feet and fingers all look proportionally back to normal.
Here it is then:
3 weeks, 2 days Post Birth, I currently weigh in at 13.2 stone.
Equivalent to 184 lbs.
My height is 5,9
So for a woman of that height, aged 25 a healthy weight on the BMI is 152 lbs.
I need to lose 2.5 stone to regain a healthy balanced shape and improve my fitness level.
I've already agreed with myself that I wont worry about serious dieting/workouts until my six weeks recovery period is over, but I am ready to cut back on the junk I've steadily been eating the last two months. An hours walk with the pram is currently exhausting me, and makes my down below stitches ache like a bitch, so in fairness I know my body is not ready for anything more intense yet. I'm starting with a few simple enough changes.
So now I've decided to take the plunge and look at my own weight, I need a rough idea of how much work is a head of me to get my body back in shape. I wanted to wait a few weeks until the swelling of water went down and finally my legs, feet and fingers all look proportionally back to normal.
Here it is then:
3 weeks, 2 days Post Birth, I currently weigh in at 13.2 stone.
Equivalent to 184 lbs.
My height is 5,9
So for a woman of that height, aged 25 a healthy weight on the BMI is 152 lbs.
I need to lose 2.5 stone to regain a healthy balanced shape and improve my fitness level.
I've already agreed with myself that I wont worry about serious dieting/workouts until my six weeks recovery period is over, but I am ready to cut back on the junk I've steadily been eating the last two months. An hours walk with the pram is currently exhausting me, and makes my down below stitches ache like a bitch, so in fairness I know my body is not ready for anything more intense yet. I'm starting with a few simple enough changes.
- Cutting back on my man versus food portions
- snacking on fruit instead of junk
- and making sure I eat breakfast.
Alongside a walk every day (hopefully weather permitting) and keeping the changing table stationed upstairs so I'm up and down the stairs at least seven additional times a day.
Water: while pregnant I was easily drinking seven pints of squash/water a day. Since Lincolns birth I've been too preoccupied to keep an eye on my intake of fluids. I'll definitely have to be more mindful now those seven pints have reduced to about 2.5 - not nearly enough.
So that's the beginning of the weight loss plan. Nothing major, nothing overly ambitious, just a start.
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
cant put baby down
2 weeks 5 days...
Either Lincoln has separation issues already, or he's figured out if he cries Momma or Daddy will hold him. The last few days my mobility has been reduced significantly by my baby crying whenever he's put down, even if he was asleep to begin with as soon as I lay him down he's kicking off.
I'm currently writing this blog one handed on a laptop balanced on my lap while I hold the baby in one arm resting on a pillow. I'm debating buying a baby wrap-sling to have him strapped to me all the time, or sticking it out with persistence to get him to settle in his own crib. Hmmm, we still haven't given a dummy yet. They don't recommend dummies for breast fed babies, but we do have a packet of them unopened (just in case) I'm starting to wonder if it would be a good idea to soothe him when he's not actually wanting the boob!
Either Lincoln has separation issues already, or he's figured out if he cries Momma or Daddy will hold him. The last few days my mobility has been reduced significantly by my baby crying whenever he's put down, even if he was asleep to begin with as soon as I lay him down he's kicking off.
I'm currently writing this blog one handed on a laptop balanced on my lap while I hold the baby in one arm resting on a pillow. I'm debating buying a baby wrap-sling to have him strapped to me all the time, or sticking it out with persistence to get him to settle in his own crib. Hmmm, we still haven't given a dummy yet. They don't recommend dummies for breast fed babies, but we do have a packet of them unopened (just in case) I'm starting to wonder if it would be a good idea to soothe him when he's not actually wanting the boob!
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