The Official New Mom Thread Part 2

[Pollito916]

Ladies - HELP!!! I need some moral support. Today is my first day back to work, and I'm wicked baby-sick And the worst part, I work 24 hour shifts. Just tell me he'll be OK without me for 24 hours.

Another question - when should he be able to start pushing himself up on his arms and stuff like that? Christopher HATES being on his belly. He will pick up his head a bit, but not for long, and doesn't try to grab things when he's on his belly. All of the crazy baby books say he should be by now. When do I start worrying?

Jen

I guess I'm a little late getting here since your shift should be over by now, but the first day is always the hardest - especially since your day is so long! Today we had to take Alex to a different sitter since ours is out of town, so DH had to wake him up at 5 am to drop him off on his way to work. It was so hard for me when they left.

Alex liked being on his belly, but only for a few minutes at a time. Now he won't stay on his back! His cousin who is 2.5 weeks older, HATED it though, and still barely tolerates it and he is now 5.5 months old. Her doctor told her that some babies just do this later, and not to worry until after 6 months. If you are really worried, you can call your pediatrition.

So, how did the first day go?

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Well, I survived the first day Today is his first day with my parents for 24 hours. We'll see if they survive Something tells me they'll be up all night staring into the crib to make sure he's doing OK

Jen

 

[Pollito916]

Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I know how busy new moms can be!

We had a very traumatic morning today, for me anyway. Alex was sitting up on the changing table since I had just taken his shirt off and I was putting it in the hamper, when he tipped forward and hit his head on the edge of the changing table. I didn't even step away or turn around, the hamper is right there, but he just tipped that fast. He started crying so I picked him up and now he has a little bump on his head, right above his eyebrow and a tiny cut above that.

I cleaned it and applied some ointment, but I just feel so bad. He seemed fine not even 5 minutes later, and was happy when I left him at the sitter's, but I just can't get the picture of his little head out of my mind. I'm having a really hard time concentrating at work (but no problem with the Dis ). I just want to run home and hug him. I'm starting to tear up again just thinking about it. This is going to be such a long day.

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Well, it took me a while, but I've finally found this thread! It's good to have found everyone who was on the Moms-to-be thread!

Colin Michael arrived on July 9th and 2:33 am. We had a bit of a rocky start -- he lost more than 10% in the first couple of days and we needed to supplement with formula for a bit until my milk came in. Latching was and is still an issue, but we're dealing with that. Labour wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it was going to be, all things considered. My water broke at 11:45 am on the 8th, and I didn't get the Pitocin drip started until 8:30 that night. All I can say is that the epidural was my friend!! 45 minutes of pushing and we welcomed our sweet little boy into the world.

Things are going pretty well so far. Breastfeeding is still a bit rocky, but I'm pumping enough that I'm feeding him breastmilk exclusively and am still able build up a stash in the freezer. I don't know that we'll ever get the latch, but I'm willing to pump to give him breastmilk.

I can't believe how quickly it goes though! Already 2 weeks old! I'm just glad that up here in Canada, we get a whole year off. I can't imagine going back to work so soon -- you ladies are troopers!!

 

[DMickey28]

Congrats Mel - How big was Colin when he was born? We need pics. Breastfeeding is hard, I don't care what anyone says!! It really didn't get better for me until 8 weeks and now at 13 weeks we are weaning to formula anyway!! It seemed to get better for me regarding latch around 2-3 weeks but then got really bad again at 6 weeks ... Good Luck. I have a stash in the freezer as well and will give it to DS once we are completely weaned.

Pollito - Hugs ... I am sure Alex doesn't even know what happened. They grow so fast and in one day then can just suddenly learn how to roll or sit up. I used to leave DS in the bouncer or swing unbuckled but I have started to notice that he is almost able to pull himself up and I can just picture him pulling himself forward and falling face first out of the swing/bouncer.

Jen - Big boys ROCK!!!

My Alex is three months old today (13weeks). We have our next ped appt. tomorrow morning and I can't wait to see what he weighs now. He was 24.5inch and 16.2 at 2 months. He is a big kid!! This last weekend he rolled over from his tummy to his back!!! DH picked him up in the morning while I was making a bottle and came to me asking if I put him to sleep on his back ... (Bad Mommy, he sleeps on his tummy and has for a while). It was so cool. I haven't seen him do it yet but today this morning and after naps he was working on it and I have some cool pictures of him ALMOST there! He scoots himself on his back with his legs ... Don't know if he knows where he's going but he can move halfway across the room pretty quickly.

I love being a mom!!! I think I get this thread confused with the one LittleBlue started ... I am glad I found you guys too!

 

[Syrreal]

Hey Mel, Congratulations And I second the vote for pics

Breastfeeding is a hard job. For the entire first two months I would swear every night that I was D-O-N-E! Then every morning I would wake up and be ready to try again (ours were supply issues). After he hit 8 weeks I started supplementing with formula and it was like a huge boulder was lifted off my shoulders. I got to start enjoying the baby instead of always hurting and literally constantly having to feed him.

Dmickey28- Time flies! That's awesome about Alex rolling over. Before you know it he'll be on the move and you'll be going out to get a "baby fence" for the living room (we just got ours today). Pics from you too please

Pollito- I know how you feel. About a month or so ago I was carrying Brennan to his room for a diaper change and I accidentally bumped his head on the corner of the wall where we have a little turn in the hall. It wasn't a hard bump or anything and just scared him a little but I felt so awful! I guess these are just the start to a very long list of bumps and bruises we'll be dealing with. Gotta get ready to kiss the boo-boos away.

I can't believe that he is already 5 1/2 months old!

He just got hist 1st ear infection last week so we took him to the Dr. They won't check his height until his 6mo appt but they checked his weight and he was up to 14lbs 11oz. I was thrilled. Unfortunatly, I wasn't at all thrilled with the ear infection. He's on antibiotics till this coming sunday (which he is definitely not happy about) and we have to put ear drops in for the pain and if it gets really bad give him tylenol. The poor guy. It also makes him wake up more than usual. He is usually a great sleeper and will either sleep through the whole night (from 7:30 till 6:30 or 7am) or wake up once (around 4:30 or 5) to nurse and go back to sleep till 7:30 or 8am. The 1st night he had the ear infection he woke up every 2 hours on the dot and has been waking up at least twice a night since and been pretty grumpy during the day. Poor baby.

 

[DMickey28]

Syrreal - Brennan is adorable. I thought it was funny him sleeping on the bathroom floor. Isn't it funny how they just conk out eventually? I don't advacate CIO but have let DS cry for a minute or two and he always falls asleep. If I don't get him down when he first displays his tired cues it's a battle and I finally let him "CIO" yesterday for the first time.

Carla and Sonya ... need updated pictures. Sonya, glad your back is better.

Here's a more current one of DS, I have another thread of a few pics as well. This one was taken 3 weeks ago actually!! Time FLIES ...

This is one from this morning with him trying to roll over again!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi there

Pollito - how's Alex doing? I know how you feel when something happens to them by accident. I nipped Christopher's finger the other day trying to cut his nails. He cried for a second - I cried for an hour.

DMickey - he's adorable. I can't believe they're growing up so fast... Soon we'll be chasing toddlers!

Syrreal - sorry about his ear infection. Hope he's feeling better (and sleeping better) soon

Mrs Explorer - Congrats for keeping up with pumping. I did it for 2 months, but had to stop when I was heading back to work. There's no way I can pump on any kind of a schedule while I"m working, and leaking at a building fire might be problematic.....


Christopher's doing great. He has his 3 month old baby pics tomorrow! He is just starting to try rolling over. He gets his feet going, or his shoulders, but hasn't figured out to try both at the same time. He's sleeping from about 8-9pm to 6-7am. YES!!!!

This was last month (if it actually posted.....)

Jen

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Hi everyone!

Colin was 9 lb 10 oz when he was born. He dropped down to 8lb 10oz 2 days after, but is back up and past his birth weight already (he was 10lb on Monday!!)

Last night, we got 5 1/2 hours of sleep in one stretch. I woke him up. When did everyone else start getting long stretches? I'd prefer to not wake him up and just let him wake up when he's ready, but I couldn't help but wonder if 2 weeks old was a little early for such a long sleep!

Here are some pictures. The first is from the first week, the second is from last week, and the last one in the swing is from this morning. He's my little sweetie!

Is anyone else exclusively pumping? Colin just hasn't gotten the latch thing down consistently. We try to breastfeed at least twice a day, but it's really the only thing that stresses the both of us out. I know it's more convenient, but I don't know that we'll ever get it going right.

 

[Syrreal]

Mel, Brennan was sleeping that long by the 2nd or 3rd week too. As my mom says, "never wake a sleeping baby" (although I had to wake him plenty because we had to get his weight up. He was born at 7lbs 9 oz and was at about 6lbs 8oz by the time we left the hospital and he was dehydrated. Congrats on already having him past his birthweight. It took us a month just to get back to it.
He's always been a good sleeper though and would give me 5 hours then 2 hours at a time until it was time to get up in the morning. He slept through the whole night for the 1st time at about 7 weeks but I think it was a fluke but by then he was just waking up once at night.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Mel - Christopher was also sleeping that long by 3-4 weeks. If he's gaining weight, I'd let him sleep. I tried exclusively pumping for about 2 months, but had to supplement with formula (apparently these things are decorative only.... ) I found that I had to pump about every 3 hours for 1/2 hour, and then spent 1/2 hour feeding him. When he'd be crying to be picked up the whole time I was pumping, I decided it wasn't worth it for me any more.

Cute baby, BTW.

Jen

 

[hucifer]

DMickey, your baby is so beautiful. My boy was born around the same time as yours, but isn't nearly as big. Our Patrick was born April 20.

To the moms who have trouble latching...sorry if this has been brought up before, but it really worked for me...have you tried going to a Lacation Consultant? It worked WONDERS for us.

Oh, and if anybody has problems with colic...try Baby Bliss gripe water. That stuff is miracle in a bottle!

 

[hucifer]

He's gorgeous!!!

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

He's gorgeous!!!

thanks! I like to think so too, but I think I might be slightly biased!!

I've tried 3 different lactation consultants. We're still working on it but trying to do it in a fun, positive way, since the first week, he screamed every time we tried to latch.

I'm finding that I can pump for 20 minutes and get enough for the next feed, plus some to put in the freezer. He's eating 3 oz a meal right now (little piggy!!).

Last night, we got a 4 1/2 hour stretch, and then another 4 hour stretch! I'm very excited about all this sleep! And, I'm finally sleeping through all the "little" noises that he makes and only waking up for the ones that mean something. Hooray!

 

[hucifer]

I've tried 3 different lactation consultants. We're still working on it but trying to do it in a fun, positive way, since the first week, he screamed every time we tried to latch.

Good luck to you, mama. I admire your commitment to breastfeeding.

 

[Pollito916]

Welcome Mel! Adorable pictures! DS has the Rainforest swing too and LOVES it! You are so lucky that he sleeps so much already – it took DS 7 weeks to get that far, but he’s been pretty consistent 8-8 ever since, except when he was sick.

Syrreal – Poor Brennan with his ear infection, I hope his is doing better! Alex did the same thing with waking up when he had Roseola, but luckily it only lasted 2 nights.

DMickey – Love the pic of Alex trying to roll over, he is definitely concentrating. My Alex sticks his tongue out when he concentrates too!

Hucifer – welcome, glad you finally found us! Patrick is a cutie!

Alex is doing just fine. I don't think he even remembers. He had a tiny bruise and cut, but they have both already healed and he is doing great! He is rolling all over and squirming around like a worm to get around, so we're putting gates up too. I'll add to the pictures, since I think it really livens up the thread. These are from a couple weeks ago, Alex was about 5 months old:

 

[hucifer]

Hucifer – welcome, glad you finally found us! Patrick is a cutie!

Thanks.

 

[Syrreal]

I wanted to just give a little update on us

1. We've got a closing date on our house. It's in less than 2 weeks from now and I am so excited. I can't wait to start fixing up the house so that we can move in. We are changing the flooring in the kitchen and are putting hard flooring in 2 of the bathrooms (they have carpet now :hairraising: ). We also have to take down wallpaper from what will be the baby's room and from the master bath and paint. We're going to do as much as we can ourselves.

2. I think Brennan is teething again. I can see some little white points coming in on the top middle. I also think he's getting the tooth on the side of his bottom middle ones since he keeps wanting to chew on that side. This, of course, makes him wake up all the time and be cranky.
Last night he was in no mood to sleep. It took almost an hour to get him down and then he was up a couple of hours later. Took DH I don't even know how long to get him back down and then he was up again at 6. I am exhausted!!! He's already pretty cranky today since he didn't sleep well (or anywhere near as long as he usually does). He's also not eating as well as he usually does and I think it might be because it's hurting him to suck but I'm not sure. This is right after the ear infection so it's been a tough couple of weeks. My normally happy baby has turned into his alter ego -->monsieur fussy. He doesn't want anything. No ****, no bottle, not even when he's tired (which means he just cries and winds himself even more). Not fun.

3. We had to break down and get him a baby fence. You know, the new version of a playpen. Depending on when we put him in he either really likes it or he doesn't. It's actually pretty nice. It gives him lots of safe space to crawl around in instead of us trying to keep rhe computer charfer wires away from him.

Well, now that I've written a book, here are some pics

This was us in the national cathedral in DC

Brennan trying to "crawl"

Already getting into computer stuff-

Playing

I turn around for a second and I find him in one of the cat beds like this!

 

[Pollito916]

Syrreal - those pics of Brennan are adorable! It's so cute how he raises his whole body up like that when he's crawling, Alex just snakes along the floor like a worm!

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Pollito -- I can't get over how much hair Alex has!! It's fabulous!!

Syrreal -- Brennan is adorable! I love the picture of him in the cat bed!! And so exciting about the new house!!

Things here are going well. I can't believe that Colin will be a month old next week! It's gone so fast!

Yesterday, had a good cry, over spilled milk, of all things! I was out running some errands and had pumped Colin's next bottle before we left. It was on the counter, where I usually leave it. Get home to find the bottle on the floor, and the milk all over the floor. Our evil cat had gotten up on the counter and knocked it over. I couldn't believe it! All that work, all over the floor! I was devestated! Now I know a little bit how my SIL felt when she had to dump all the BM that she had pumped because my niece couldn't drink it!

This morning, I called and booked our dining for our January trip. I love the people at the dining reservation place! The lady I spoke with was just fantastic! We're eating at Boma (we're staying at AKV), Crystal Palace, Biergarten, Ohana, Le Cellier (just for the Caesars -- cuz we're Canadian, eh?!), and Chef Mickey's on our last night. I'm totally excited for this trip! I think it's going to be so much fun with Colin! He'll be just over 6 months old when we go down.

Hope everyone is doing well!