The Actual 2 Months Post

whew - now that the BF and Weight Chronicles are recorded, the fun stuff!

TWO MONTHS OLD!

Eating: during the day, nurses on average every 2-2.5 hours (some days it's more frequent (whew!) other days it's closer to 3 hours... If she's napping after being out, I will wake her at 3 hours to eat... Wake a sleeping baby?! (one that we're sensitive about her weight gain? YES!)
At night, she'll go 3-5 hours between feeds (which does not necessarily translate to sleeping for that long...

Sleep: morning naps are on point... after noon? touch and go. lol as long as I catch her in time, she'll nap great. If we don't (catch her in time) she'll pull an awake-stretch of 5ish hours... (OIY!)
She goes down at night anywhere from 9-10pm and usually wakes between 1:30-3am, will eat and go right back to sleep (yay! - momma's been taking 10 minutes to pump at this time of night to get some more freezer stash built up!) and then will wake 5:30-6a. She'll again eat and if I need, will go back to sleep for another hour or so... SCORE!

Weight: 9lb3oz (butt-naked official weight as of doctor's appointment on 2/15)
            or the more impressive 9lb12oz (unofficial weight at BF Group on 2/25)

Length: 22"
 (Head - 14.5")

her headband falls down, and I call her Ms. Justice

She got two shots at her official 8 week appointment, and that night was so grumpy and whiny - for lack of better description... She would whine a bit, and then out of nowhere give a big wail, just one, and then be quiet for awhile... poor girl!
We gave her first dose of Tylenol ever, gave her a warm bath, and nursed her (that's not a "we" thing... lol) and she settled down, and eventually conked out in her swing...

The next "official" measurements won't be until her next dr appt - at FOUR MONTHS OLD!!!

Wearing: mostly 0-3M sizes (some brands do 0-3M, some are just 3M - the 0-3M fit better than 3M right now... and some of our hand-me-downs are so worn, washed and shrunk she totally fits in the 3-6M!) long and lanky girl!

Hates: getting dressed/undressed, as soon as we finish with the socks, she is chill!

Loves: being naked... =P strip her to just a diaper and she'll lay there and be all, heeeeey! also likes a good bath, as long as momma can keep both hands moving independently, one with a constant stream of warm water on her belly while the other is soaping and washing...
Also loves to lay in the crib and watch her mobile (originally Button's!) she'll even smile at the animals when they stop moving...
She likes glasses! She'll smile more easily and quickly at people in specs!

Also loves her big brother's chair! 

(Yes, that's her watching TV... She likes Locked Up and Myth Busters)

Milestones: smiles now in response to our faces! (started a week or so before she hit two months) and can hold her head up like a rock-star!

TWO @ TWO
    1. You do this dancing jig when nursing now - your little legs start kicking and you start kneading me like dough... it's the cutest thing (until you pull off - I'm NOT MADE OF TAFFY...)

   2. You love your big brother! you love to watch him play, and will track him all the way from across the room... I can't wait to watch your relationship with him develop as you both get older!!!



 Ms. Mack -

no long letter, because you're actually beginning to stir from your morning nap (1.5 hours! Thank you girlie!)
Here comes some boob!

2 MONTHS!

I can't believe I'm a week late posting this...

Who am I kidding?! of course I can believe it - I'm only on the computer once a week, if that!
well that's about to change... this is my last full week of maternity leave *SOB!

Ok I'm lying again, I can't say I don't look forward just a little bit to going back to work- especially since, for the month of March, I'll only be working three days a week (MWF) and home with her the other two!

I did that anticipating being able to successfully set up a nursing relationship, and I think I can say I've already done that!!!
(exciting, yes? especially after the disaster with Button and the EPing for months...)
We are EBF (exclusively breast fed!) and for a few weeks now have not supplemented with anything (pumped milk or formula - except two nights last week where apparently E couldn't wake me around 10pm and gave her a bottle. lmao) and she's gaining weight fabulously (last Thursday's BF Group weight showed a 6oz gain over the previous week!)

so I know I've promised that story a few times, and since Ms. Mack is currently enjoying her morning nap, here goes (as I type furiously fast - I'm sure I've just jinxed her peaceful sleeping...)

She was born (12/21/15) at 7lb11oz (bigger than Button!)
and was discharged from the hospital (12/24/15) at 7lb1oz...
The next weigh-in was on 1/2/16 (we had an earlier appointment, I didn't write the weight anywhere I don't think...) she weighed 7lb5.5oz
And then we hit the snag - two days later (an appointment I made mostly for E's peace of mind, as I was all - I got this nursing thing!) she hadn't gained.  ANYTHING...
I started pumping after her morning nursing session and supplementing with that at night (usually 1-2 oz) trying to fight the denial that I wasn't enough for her alone...
That helped a bit: three days after that (1/7/16) she was 7lb7oz - and so appeased the doctor's desire to see an average weight gain of at least 1/2 oz a day...
Her next appointment (again solely for weight check) on 1/13/16 she weighed 7lb14.5oz (YAY!!) That's a gain of about an oz/day!!! (still supplementing with pumped milk during the night)
The doc was happy enough to say, "ok we'll see her for her 5 week check up!" EEEK!

The next day, I started going to a BF Support Group run by an IBCLC (see acronyms!) which was free - and had other moms going through similar/same/worse situations - AND A SCALE WAS AVAILABLE! What better for a weight-worried mama than weekly weigh-ins!
I freaking LOVED the first meeting - as women began nursing their babies throughout the meeting, I popped my boob out and just enjoyed the company of peers and listened to their questions and feedback...

The meeting the following week, I couldn't wait to get Ms. Mack on that scale! We had scaled back on the pumped milk and supplementing, and I was anxious to see how it showed in her weight!

cue sad trumpet wah wahs...

Her weight (on 1/21/16) was just 8lb1.5oz... In 8 days (from 1/13 - 1/21) she had only gained 3 ounces...

I am so thankful I was going to this group and was able to take advantage of the IBCLC there (made an appointment for the very next day!) because we would probably have had a repeat of Button's case - at the 5 week check-up we may have been slapped in the face with horrible weight gain...

So the next day, we did a weighed feeding (her latch and everything looked good, the LC said!) except - she only transferred about 1 oz at first - I told the LC, "If this was home and I was nursing her, I honestly would have put her back on the boob since she wasn't latched for as long as normal"
So we did that, and she took in more milk - to make a total transfer of about 2oz.

The LC then used this nifty formula (baby's weight - 8lb at the time - times 2.25(or2.5)) for the daily number of ounces they needed (18-20)... Taking an average of 8 feedings a day, she should have been getting 2.25-2.5oz/feeding.

She had me pump, and I got another ounce from each breast. We gave Ms. Mack one ounce, and packed the other for home.

Diagnosis?
"Borderline low milk supply"

And enter stage right:
   More Milk Plus (herbal supplements via pill)
   Mother's Milk tea
   Calcium supplements (1000 mg per day recommended!)
   dietary changes (70g of protein per day recommended!)
   SHIT TON OF WATER!

aaaaaand - the pump (pumping after every nursing session to increase the demand, and hence increase the supply) See previously blogged notes on how this turned out!

Long story short (kind of... it's already a novel...) it worked - some formula supplementing here and there (mostly by E because he's a guy, doesn't understand breastfeeding, wanted to be the one to feed her and get that satisfaction/oxytocin high - choose any of the above...) and we've gotten over the hump!

The BF Group weigh-in (1/28/16) one week after starting the pump-a-thon was 8lb7oz - a 3.5oz increase from a 1/25/16 dr appt weight!  (Her 5 week check-up, where she looked "perfect!")

The following weekly weigh-ins at group were:
   2/4/16     8lb14.5oz (+7.5oz!)
   2/11/16   9lb2oz
        (2/15/16 doctor appt - 9lb4oz)
   2/18/16      9lb6oz
   2/25/16      9lb12.5oz

So there was a bit of a slow-down briefly (and that was when E was giving her some formula at night!) and then it was great this week (after having no supplements at all!)

I wanted to dance a jig when I saw that scale... (of course, these are all rough weights as she's wearing a dry diaper and onesie, an ounce or so, but I'm looking more for just good increases... figured - as long as each week's weigh-in she's wearing the same amount, we're good! and the "slow-down" may not have been one, between the doctor scale and the group scale, and between trying to figure out and subtract what diapers weigh, etc. now we're just watching the amount of increase each week!)


SO - that's the BF story so far... (I'll go ahead and hit "post" on this and have a separate actual Two Months on Ms. Mack post so the insane scrolling isn't required...)

If you made it this far, here's a reward!

evidence...

this is what happens with mommy-brain combines with newborn sleep habits:

you start a post (see here)  which ends with a "promise to tell you the rest of the story soon!" and I have no idea, a week later now, what the rest of "the story" was...

Obviously I was tired that week, and apparently pissed off... lol


(maybe the Valentine's Gift that E got me helped me forget whatever pissed me off - that lovely man got me an hour-long massage!!! *at a nearby spa too, so I "wouldn't have to drive that far" (lol) )
the gift certificate print-out basically read, "I see all the hard work you do as a kick-ass mom to Button and Ms. Mack and you deserve a break!"


I cried a little reading it...

so many intentions

Just pulled out the last tray of lactation cookies** (recipe here!) and Ms. Mack is (finally) asleep... (she likes to take 20 minute naps on me right after nursing... and that's it... she falls asleep every timewe get in the car, so I have her currently in her car seat (unstrapped) and she's finally napping!


Time is just flying by - Ms. Mack is 7 1/2 weeks old, and 9lbs2oz (unofficially - there's a scale available at the Thursday weekly BF support group - it's been GREAT for peace of mind, just to make sure we're on the right track!)  ((8week appointment on Monday for official stats!))
((there's a woman at the Thursday group, ironically a lactation consultant/nurse on staff at our pediatricians' office, who has a 3week-old little boy and she weighed him yesterday, he's only gained 2oz in 10 days... how familiar that sounded to Button... I felt so bad for her... she's at the point I remember, wanting it to work - wondering why her body wasn't working at something that should "be natural" - and losing sanity... she facebook-friended me, I think I'll message her Sunday about getting together for lunch sometime!))

(Also at yesterday's group, we had our "Valentine's Day Party" - all the babies dressed up and we brought yummy snacks (they ate all of my pink rice krispie treats!))

(best picture I got...

and her head's finally big enough (barely!) for headbands! 

good thing - there's still not enough hair for Velcro bows... lol 

Ms. Mack likes to watch TV (in this case - Locked Up: Abroad... don't judge! her eyes can't focus in the images yet anyways! lol)

She also loves to look out on the world, checking out the action:

 She will chill like this for hours,  head on a swivel!

Which makes it hard to get stuff done, but get stuff done I have:

 A pacifier leash (not that Ms. Mack likes anything but her Wub-a-nub... in fact I bought a second ($13!!!!!) - a caterpillar - because regular soothies do NOT stay in, and she won't take any other type of pacifier right now (in fact gags on the NEWBORN orthodontic ones - gags like someone is shoving a tongue depressor down her throat (seen it! totally accurate assessment!)) 

But maybe we'll use the leash one day... lol

And a dress! I crocheted the top and then the rest is just tulle slipped through holes... I need to tuck a few yarn ends in and trim the bottom to be even, but it's basically done! Now just to have somewhere to wear it... =P

Button update - he's doing well with baby sister (E taught him to say to anyone holding her, "Be careful, that's my sister!" He even said it to me once. lmao)

He does get a little jealous/upset if E is holding the baby, and wants him to "give the baby to mommy!" 

And I'm all, "NOPE! Mommy's had the baby AAAAWL DAY!"

He's also acting up (alot) at bedtime lately... it took E almost 1.5 hours two nights ago (in fact, I was the one to finally go up and get him to go down...)

Last night was an hour...

E suggested moving bedtime back (and then maybe he'll sleep in longer) - HA. Has he slept in longer the past two mornings after going to bed so late?! NOT A MINUTE!

Hopefully it's just the winter and being cooped up - once he can get outside more (at daycare as well) he can expend some more energy... 

(We did get good energy out last weekend, taking him ice skating for the first time ever!)

 (future hockey mom?? OMG I'm already dreading the before-school practices at 5am...)

Anyways - that's where we're at... 23 days left until I go back to work (visited yesterday - they were all counting down the days too, anxious for me to return... lol)

We're getting there on a night routine so I should be ok come that first Monday! (Night routine being - Ms. Mack nurses somewhere between 8-9pm, (sometimes) gets 2oz of formula (all E's decision and desire... *sigh*) and I'll probably pump, because then she'll sleep (in her bassinet in the living room) until 1-2am (I usually conk out on the couch around 10:30/11pm.  ((If she's growth-spurting, she'll be up to eat around 11p/midnight, so I'll skip the pumping then...)) 

After the MOTN feeding (anywhere from 1-3am, depending on if she ate around midnight or not) we'll both head upstairs and she'll sleep in the cradle bedside, waking once more anywhere from 5-6am (If it's 5am, we try to go back to sleep afterwards - amidst Button and E getting up and getting ready... If it's closer to or after 6am, we'll be up for the day).  

It probably seems silly that we both sleep in the living room for the first part of the night, and I'd like to get a routine down where she gets put down from the start in the cradle/crib, but with the inconsistent first MOTN feeding (midnight? 2am??) I think us sleeping downstairs helps E get an uninterrupted night's sleep...

Except - somehow, men - sleeping ONE FOOT AWAY - somehow miss hearing anything short of a siren going off during the night... right, mama's?

How many times, after a rough night, has Daddy gone, "wow, baby was good last night - I didn't hear them get up at all!"

Overall, the amount of sleep I get (whatever it may be, in whatever increments - I couldn't even tell you right now...) it seems suffice. I only need one cup of coffee a day!

 Ok - Ms. Mack's been napping for about 30 minutes, I probably have only another 15 - time to wrap it up!

(I fully intend to blog about the first month's weight gain and BFing and all that jazz - I've got it written down in a notebook! Old school journaling at it's best...)

**a woman made these for the Thursday BF group two weeks ago, and while I didn't pay attention, a few women the next week said they noticed a great increase in their milk! I've already eaten two freshly baked ones while writing this post!

I also used, instead of milk, white chocolate chips and craisins (my fave!) 

We just live in their world..

So this is happening right now.. that's E crammed into bed with Button trying to get him to nap, and trying to get a nap himself.
Because he was up feeding a hungry baby every two hours last night from 8 to 2am.

Oh no, wait...

That was me...

Enjoy your nap, buddy. You must be exhausted.

pissed off and tired

so here's how my week's been:

Sunday (had made plans days prior for movies with bestie Dee...

(ha. just kidding. baby's crying.

as she did all day yesterday.

she hasn't pooped for almost 48 hours, the last one being thicker and creamier - kinda FORMULA poop. thanks hubby for probably stopping her up while I was unconsciously sick all day Monday, trusting you were feeding her primarily pumped breast milk from the fridge. ASSHOLE.

***ok, back within the hour... 

so Sunday had been plans to go see the movie Room - a book both Dee and I loved.  Well, E came down with his man-cold sometime Thursday/Friday (of course, not taking anything for it for days... all the better to mope about with congestion.... and of course, I got the same cold Thursday night, woke up Friday morning feeling slightly feverish and stuffy. but -

Anyways - so E's had this cold for days, waits until SUNDAY to decide to go to an urgent care center to get an Rx for a Z-pack... and then on Sunday waits until after 10:30 to go (when I kept reminding him, after changing plans from movies to brunch so I could bring baby and then at least the adult baby (E) would only have to watch one child while sick).

BUTof course, he had to shower and shave first.

Before going to the doctor... (and yes, the guy had showered just the NIGHT before!)

so I'm seething, texting Dee all, "f*ck the mimosas, I need a martini!"

Finally he gets back (2 hours later. yup.) and I'm packing up baby girl and he was all, "Wait you're bringing her with you?!"

uh...
yes...

because also, hunnie, you'd not survive one hour being home alone with both kids, the way your patience has been with Button lately...

When I told him as much, he acknowledged, and then admitted, "I'd probably just keep feeding her to keep her quiet..."

Yes, we're back on that battle - E has somehow aligned with his parents' feelings ("OMG the baby's fussing - FEED HER! SHE'S HUNGRY!")

Seriously.  We were there (at the inlaws') for 3 hours the day before and all I heard was, "Is it too early to give her cereal in her bottle?" ... "Yea, she needs a bottle of formula at night to help keep her full..." ... "I miss her, and it's hard, what with breastfeeding and I can't help feed her..." ... "I think she's hungry, she needs a bottle..."  (no, she needs the boob again.)

and because his parents are like that (and have been like that - all about food - their entire Italian lives) DH is like that... even with Button: we'll eat (a big) breakfast (and by big I mean waffles, fruit, yogurt, cereal, etc) on Saturday mornings around 9.  And come 10, he's like, "ok Button time for a snack!"

anyways - so his comment Sunday about feeding Ms. Mack just to keep her quiet kind of annoyed me, especially because he admitted it out loud. (although I'm glad he did admit that...)

So she'll be sticking close to me for awhile, because as sad as that is - I didn't quite trust him not to seriously just feed her to keep her quiet...



Segue into Sunday night/Monday morning - bout 3am, as I just finished nursing Ms. Mack.

and start to feel nauseous...

Yup, here comes the 24-hour stomach bug...

and as I'm resting my cheek on the cool toilet seat (disgusting, right? it felt SO GOOD at the time) between bouts of upchucking, all I could think was - "GODDAMMIT I have fought hard to get 6 weeks into breast feeding, I better not lose my milk supply! SOB!!"

((Thankfully E had already called out of work the day before due to his man cold that mostly dissipated by Monday morning, so he was around for baby-care while I rocked in a ball all day...))

Of course, I'd already read and discovered it's best to keep nursing baby through illnesses so they're exposed to the antibodies. and of course, E was skeptical of the scientific truth behind that ("Is it just people saying that? or like, doctors?")

So as I sat and pumped around 9am (got almost 5 oz!!), he gave her a bottle of (previously pumped) BM.  And then I hit the delirious stage - twilight sleep dreaming of what was on TV (Homeland), jumping and running to the bathroom thinking I had to hurl (nope, diarrhea. awesome) and trying to sip/suck down water (GOTTA KEEP MILK SUPPLY UP!)

I even got to vomit while pumping... yup. Was laying on the couch, pumping (one side at a side - you try that 'ish laying on your side!) and E was sitting catty-corner on the sectional holding baby, and I said - "I think I'm gonna need a bowl or pot or pan... "
He started to move and I was like, "YUP definitely gonna - HURL" (and yea, spewed a little on the floor, while saying/crying at the same time - "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry it's on the floor HURL!" (the second bout I held in until he got the pot there) 
That's love - holding the pot while your wife is pumping breast milk, vomiting green liquid (bye bye water...) and then cleaning up the previously puked green liquid from the couch, carpet and floor...


**pause the story, time to feed baby...
or maybe better yet - to be continued...

(remember - we're only on Monday afternoon now! lol)